There are few things more important to the aesthetic appearance of your property than your lawn. It is the centerpiece of your landscape and will determine the thoughts of guests and visitors when they see your property. As the de facto first impression, you need to keep your lawn happy and healthy, so it stays green. This is easy enough in the spring or the fall, without extreme temperatures beating down on your turf. When summer rolls around, the sun can be problematic. Drought damage is a real possibility, and an excessively dry lawn can invite disease and pests. However, if you stay attentive you can keep your lawn healthy during the summer months.
Water: One Way or Another
Whether you choose to install an irrigation system or hand water, your lawn needs water in the summer. A good rule of thumb is an inch of water per week, and this can come from either natural rainfall or your irrigation efforts. This is why it is important to pay attention to the weather to be aware of water levels. Additionally, when watering you want to ensure that water is soaking into the soil, not sitting on top. Excess moisture is just as bad as a dry environment and can attract lawn predators.
Fertilization for Added Nutrients
The proven way to give your lawn support through tough times is by adding nutrients. Most lawn fertilizers contain a combination of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which each individually contribute to the long-term health of your lawn. Nitrogen deepens the color of your turf, while phosphorus and potassium provide energy and energy storage to the chemical processes that motivate growth in your lawn. If you have not fertilized in the spring, fertilize now.
Increase Mowing Heights
If you are working with Dream Greener, this should be of no concern. Many amateur landscapers make the mistake of cutting turf too short, which causes a lot of stress for your lawn. It is much better to mow high and teach your turf to develop deep root systems. Mowing too low opens your lawn up to potential disease or pest infestations, as it will essentially be a sitting duck, cut off from nutrient stores.
Routine Lawn Monitoring
This is a routine part of the Dream Greener lawn health program, but something you should do no matter what. We have talked about the potential for disease, pests, and weeds in your landscape, and the best-case scenario is catching any of these early. The sooner you are aware of the problem, the less it will spread, and the easier it will be to deal with. While this can be good to do yourself, you cannot beat the professional technicians at Dream Greener, as they will be able to identify exactly what a potential issue is, and how to treat it quickly and effectively.
Dream Greener Lawn & Landscape is led by a staff of service experts, each with ten years or more of professional experience, focused exclusively on lawn care & maintenance, landscaping, and snow & ice management. Locally owned and operated, we are proud to serve the greater Pittsburgh area. Visit our website or give us a call today at (412) 835-1035.
