Nothing says summertime is quite like never-ending barbeques and long, lazy days spent in the sun. With summer activities right around the corner, now’s the time to ensure your lawn is photo-op ready and looking its best for all of your future events. Here in Charlotte, North Carolina, like most places in the United States, higher temperatures and longer days can make lawn upkeep all the more challenging. However, by implementing these summer lawn care tips, we’ll help you achieve and maintain that gorgeous golf course green grass all season long.
Tip #1- Keep Your Lawn Mowed- But Don’t Cut It Too Short
It’s easy to get complacent with your mowing technique, especially during summer heat waves when lethargy threatens to take over. Nevertheless, putting forth a little extra effort into how you mow your lawn will have enduring benefits guaranteed to make your neighbor’s green with envy.
A lot of people think cutting their grass super short is the way to go, believing it will give them more downtime in between mows, and keep their Charlotte NC landscape healthy. While this might make sense on paper, cutting your grass too short can cause stress and increase the likelihood of weeds settling into your turf. In most circumstances, the rule of thumb is not to cut more than 1/3 of the grass’ length during each mow. By allowing your grass to maintain length, you’ll find it better prepared to withstand drought or other stressors.
Additionally, longer grass shades itself well and can protect its root system effectively, in turn, reducing the evaporation of moisture. During a hot summer here in Charlotte, or elsewhere in the states, moisture retention is key in helping grass maintain its vivid green hue. By preserving a little bit of length, you not only protect your lawn against damage but also help it to preserve its green and fluffy appearance.
Tip #2- Hydrate Your Lawn Strategically at the Right Time of Day
While it goes without saying that keeping your lawn well-hydrated is key to ensuring its health, mulch Charlotte NC like how you mow, and how you choose to water your lawn will definitely have an impact on its appearance. Water is the essence of life, and this is true of all plants. However, vegetation is diverse, and different types respond well to certain watering practices. When it comes to your lawn, you can actually help it to retain hydration by strategically watering it at the right time of day.
Charlotte’s summers can get very hot, and if you water during the warmest points of the day, you’re watering during a time when liquid quickly evaporates. To guarantee your lawn gets the chance to have a proper drink, water it early in the morning. By doing so, you won’t risk quick evaporation, giving your lawn the precious time, it needs to internalize water and effectively hydrate. The same goes for most of your plants and other flowers.
Tip #3- But Don’t Water Your Lawn Too Much.
It’s easy for property owners to get overzealous with their watering because they’re afraid of plants drying up or going without proper hydration in the heat. While you might find your plants require a little bit more in terms of hydration during the heat of the summer, be mindful of drowning your lawn. Yep, even when temperatures are soaring, it is still possible to give too much of a good thing.
Overwatering is a common mistake and can be dangerous to the welfare of your lawn. It can be difficult trying to strike the right balance, so here’s a helpful tip for ensuring your lawn gets the crucial hydration it needs without excess water potentially stunting its growth. The key is to not water more frequently, as one might be inclined to do, but to give more water during the times you routinely provide hydration. Use a heavier amount of water, but don’t water more often than you already do. Higher amounts of water will help penetrate layers of top soil Charlotte NC, or mulch in Charlotte NC, and provide further nourishment during the summertime. Whereas watering more frequently can actually lead to drowning air pockets in your soil, stifling the growth of your lawn and other plants in its vicinity.
If you’re noticing your lawn looks a bit parched, try and incorporate a higher volume of water into your routine. As mentioned previously, ideally in the early morning when it can easily retain the most liquid.
Tip #4 Properly Dispose of Your Lawn Trimmings
When temperatures soar, it’s not uncommon for people to try and take shortcuts when it comes to their lawn care routine. For instance, this might look like leaving behind the trimmings after you go through the mowing process. Unfortunately, this can actually have a negative impact on your lawn, stunting growth. Why? Because lawn clippings can block your grass from receiving the proper nutrients it needs, from the sun. Not only does your lawn not get the proper nutrients it needs, but lawn clippings left all over the place don’t tend to look good either. In order to maintain a clean aesthetic, you’ll need to clear out any excess trimmings or debris left behind from your mowing.
If you’re having a hard time getting motivated to gather up clippings, here’s something to incentivize you. Lawn clippings actually make a great fertilizer. While you might spend some extra time cleaning them up after mowing, using clippings in your fertilizer routine can save you a ton of time, and money, by utilizing what nature already provides. Just remember, you don’t want your clippings to be too long, or else it will defeat the purpose of fertilization.
Tip #5 Let Your Lawn Breathe Every Now and Then
If you’re not in the practice of aerating your lawn already, now is your sign to do so. It is essential for your lawn’s long-term health, especially during the summer, and should be implemented into your routine at least once a year. Aerating helps to ensure your lawn is properly draining, making it possible for water to move through effectively without compounding the soil. Without aeration, you may find your soil to be harder and dryer, making it difficult for water to lubricate as it should. If you notice your lawn is turning yellow or brown, and you’ve been troubleshooting other solutions to no avail, it’s probably time to get your lawn aerated.
You can do this process yourself by purchasing the proper tools, or you can always call on a reputable professional to do the job. Either way, keep current with your aerating, as it has numerous benefits that will ultimately lead to a vibrant, lush, and vividly green, lawn.
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