With the weather all over the place it’s hard to know what tomorrow’s going to bring, but this summer has been an exceptionally hot one and most lawns across Australia, and other countries, will be struggling. Unfortunately for your lawn, whatever the weather brings it has to bear it, but there are ways you can help your law survive the summer heat.
Let it Grow
Keep your grass at a longer length during the summer months. By doing this the roots are able to extend deeper into the earth and tap into more of those vital nutrients and water that your grass needs to thrive. Once you are ready to trim, make sure you have a good lawnmower to do the job. If you don’t have a push mower or an electric one, then now is the time to get buying so you are ready for that all important trim.
Rise and Water
Water your lawn early in the morning. This will keep your lawn hydrated and healthy during the hot sunny days and will give the grass ample time to dry out before nightfall so your lawn isn’t staying damp and prone to rot. If you’re not one to wake up early, or it your mornings are a chaotic rush of getting kids to school and parents to work, then look into irrigation supplies that will do the job for you, and make sure that it’s done regularly. Watering in the morning 2 or 3 times a week will keep your grass fresh, happy and healthy.
Slice Don’t Dice
Keep your mower blades sharp. If you haven’t had them sharpened in a while, or ever, then now is a good opportunity to get that done. If your mower blades are nice and sharp they will slice through the grass leaving a clean, crisp cut. However, if your blades are dull they will hack at the grass and leaves the blades of grass frayed and damaged which makes them more prone to browning and drying out.
Don’t Bag It
Rather than catching your lawn clippings and stuffing them in the bin, leave the bag off and allow the grass to mulch itself while your trimming the lawn. This means you want to be trimming the lawn not allowing it to overgrow before cutting it. By letting the clippings fall onto your lawn you will help the lawn self-mulch which will keep the grass roots cooler, hydrated and protected from the harshness of the sun.
Rip the Weeds Out
Weeds compete with your grass for water and nutrients, so getting rid of all weeds in your lawn will give your grass a better chance at surviving the harsh summer months. If all your grass has to worry about is the heat, then it should be fine. It’s when it has to compete for water and deal with damage that it will start to brown and really struggle.
Avoid Overuse
What’s the point of having a lawn if you can’t walk on it? That’s a fair question, but you want to limit the foot traffic (and other traffic) on your law during the hot summer months. If you are going to walk on it, then go barefoot instead of wearing heavy shoes that will damage the grass. Especially limit any sort of vehicle, even bicycles, traveling over the grass and flattening it out.
If you have a dog, try to keep it from playing rough games or chase where it will tear up the ground. Heavy foot and paw traffic on the lawn can lead to the grass getting damaged but also the soil getting packed down which will block airflow down to the grass roots.
Extended periods of heat and humidity can be a real challenge for lawns and most tend to show signs of heat stress and dry soil. Use the tips above to keep your lawn healthy and green even through the summer months, and try to give your grass some shade by planting trees in your yard. If your grass does start to brown, don’t panic just take the time and care to get it back on track and keep people and pets off it as much as possible.