Lawncare Tips For Hot Summer Months

July has arrived and summer is in full swing. The seventh month of the year has kept tradition and brought high temperatures along with it. For most parts of the country, July is the hottest month of the year. In Colorado, the temperatures consistently reach 90 degrees and even rise into the triple digits. The effects of the blistering summer sun can felt be by anyone who spends time outside. Whether it be spending time at the lake, hiking, or watching your favorite sports team, it is common knowledge that people who spend time outside need to take certain precautions. Sunscreen should be applied to protect skin from harmful UV rays and lots of water must be consumed in order to stay hydrated.

While you can seek the shelter of your homes blasting AC on summers hottest days your grass cannot. Being subject to the blazing sun day after day can be detrimental to your lawn. Just as there are actions that you need to take to ensure your health and safety during the hot summer months, there are actions that must be taken to ensure that your lawn is taken care of.

Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate. Water is important to all forms of life and the same is true for your lawn. You should be watering your lawn with one and a half inches of water per week. You can measure this by placing a rain gauge or a straight-sided can on the ground to keep track of water received through irrigation and rainfall. Short watering cycles keep grassroots close to the surface, so you should water your lawn with longer cycles to develop deep drought-tolerant roots. Professionals recommend watering for 30 minutes 2 to 3 times a week during the heat of the summer.

It is also best to water early in the day. Watering during the evening increases the chance of your lawn getting a fungal disease. Watering during the heat of the day does not give your lawn time to absorb the water and some of it will be inefficiently lost to evaporation. On the other hand, watering before 10 am gives your lawn plenty of time to absorb the water and reduces the chance your lawn has of getting a fungal disease.

Just as we need sunscreen to protect our skin from the sun, your lawn needs protection too. In order to preserve moisture, let your grass grow higher when it is hot out to protect the soil from too much sun exposure. Too much exposure to the sun's rays will dry the soil out and will require more watering. It is also important to not cut your grass too short. Raising the deck on your mower will reduce the stress on your lawn, helping it to withstand the heat of the summer. A good rule of thumb would be to never cut more than one-third of the grass height at one time. Checking your blades during the summer heat is also important. Make that they are sharp because cutting your lawn with dull blades may shred the grass, providing a poor cut and creating entryways for diseases.

Fertilizing is an important factor regarding the health of your lawn too. Although it is important, it must be done in moderation. Just as it would be unwise for you to eat a large meal before you were to go perform a physical activity in the heat, the same is true when it comes to fertilizing your lawn. Fertilizer provides nutrients to the soil that allows your grass to grow. Over-fertilizing can burn your lawn, so be sure to research the recommended amount of fertilizer that should be applied to your specific variation of grass. Experts recommend leaving clippings on the ground because grass clippings are beneficial to the lawn and act as a slow-release fertilizer.

Just as you take care of your body during the heat of the summer, apply these tips to help take care of your lawn. Your lawn is an important part of your family's home. It is where backyard BBQ's are held and games of catch are played. A healthy lawn is the foundation of your homes curb appeal and provides a beautiful landscape to come home to every day. Take care of your lawn and enjoy the beautiful Colorado summer!