How to Keep Your Lawn Green During Summer Heat
As you well know, hot, dry days are just an inescapable part of summer. Many lawns seem to bake in the heat. But, look around and you’ll see one or two in the neighborhood that look as green as can be. No reason to wonder how to make your grass thicker, greener, and ultimately healthier. Just add these steps to your summer lawn care routine:
Understanding Why Lawns Struggle in Heat
Before learning how to keep grass green in hot weather, it’s important to know why grass suffers in summer. Heat stress happens when temperatures rise faster than the grass can adapt. If combined with low rainfall, the soil dries out and the grass goes into survival mode, turning brown to conserve energy. This is especially true for cool-season grasses common in areas like Clarence, NY. Without the right summer lawn care Clarence NY approach, your grass can quickly lose its healthy look.
Water Deeply and Less Often
One of the most important steps in summer lawn care is proper watering. Many people water a little every day, but that actually encourages shallow root growth. Instead, water deeply and less frequently.
Watering seems like the most obvious part of summer lawn care, but the way you water may not be helping your lawn as much as you think. If your grass has been cut short all season, you’re going to have to water more frequently. But even longer grass needs moisture. So if you choose to water during a dry spell, be sure to water deeply and infrequently. Frequent, shallow watering encourages grass to grow short roots, causing the grass to stress out during droughts. An inch of water a week serves as a good rule of thumb for keeping your lawn green during the hot summer.
It’s also best to water early in the morning, when temperatures are cooler and evaporation is minimal. Avoid watering during midday heat because most of the water will evaporate before it reaches the roots. This small change can make a big difference in keeping grass resilient in hot weather.
Mow High
If you cut your grass short, you’re short-changing your lawn. Longer grass allows the growth of longer roots, which can reach down for moisture even on hot, dry days, resulting in happy, healthy grass. Mowing high also helps crowd out weeds so they can’t move in while your grass is stressed from heat and drought. Just set your mower on one of the highest settings. You’ll be surprised by what a difference this simple step can make. Don’t forget to leave the clippings so your lawn can recycle the nutrients.
If you live in a region like Clarence, NY, where summers can be hot but nights are cooler, mowing high is especially helpful. It helps maintain steady moisture and reduces the risk of brown patches. Always keep your mower blades sharp so cuts are clean and the grass heals quickly.
Fertilize Wisely, Not Excessively
Fertilising your lawn during summer will help it to remain nourished and healthy. The healthier the lawn, the less susceptible it is to weeds, insects, and disease. Think of lawn fertilisers as a booster shot for your grass, giving it added protection from the summer heat.
Fertilizing in the middle of extreme heat can sometimes harm your lawn if done incorrectly. Too much fertilizer can burn the grass, especially during drought conditions. Instead, apply a slow-release fertilizer designed for summer use, which feeds the grass gradually without stressing it.
In the Clarence, NY area, late spring or early summer is a good time to feed your lawn so it has the nutrients it needs before peak heat hits. If your lawn already looks stressed, wait until the weather cools a bit before applying more fertilizer.
Mulching to Keep Moisture In
Mulching grass clippings back into your lawn instead of bagging them can be a great summer strategy. The clippings act as a natural mulch, helping the soil retain moisture and providing extra nutrients as they break down. This also reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
If you prefer using a mulch layer in flower beds or around trees, consider organic materials like shredded bark or compost. These will protect roots from temperature extremes and lock in soil moisture, which indirectly benefits your lawn’s health.
You can find more region-specific tips from the Cornell Cooperative Extension, which offers guidance tailored to New York lawns, https://cals.cornell.edu/cornell-cooperative-extension.
What Causes Your Lawn to Lose Color?
Before you learn how to keep your lawn healthy in the heat, you need to understand why it may be deteriorating. Oftentimes, it comes down to three main reasons. Below, we’ve provided the most common reasons your lawn isn’t turning as green as you want it to be.
Improper Watering
Watering your lawn too lightly or too heavily can prevent the roots from being fully saturated. In addition, the time of day you choose to water your grass can affect its growth.
Improper Mowing
Mowing your grass too short or waiting too long between mowings can be detrimental to the growth of your lawn. Later in the blog, we’ll discuss how the length of your grass affects the way it grows and absorbs water.
Disease & Pests
When the weather gets warmer, so does the risk of disease and pests hurting your lawn. Many times, these problems are connected to your watering habits and can be easily avoided once you know how to properly hydrate your grass.
Plan Ahead for Next Summer
Lawn indeed turns green in the summer heat, but in actuality, it needs preparation throughout the year. Overseeding in the fall with hardy varieties, fertilizer application in the spring, and maintenance of healthy soil all contribute to making the lawn more stress-resistant.
If your project calls for a great lawn makeover, talk to local experts who are versed in summer lawn care Clarence NY conditions.
Conclusion
A healthy, verdant lawn in the summer does not happen accidentally; it’s created from regular care, proper watering, maybe, and a choice of a grass suitable to the environment.
With an appropriate plan for summer lawn care, you will have a glamorously luring lawn to enjoy all season long, whether in Clarence, NY, or in any other region facing the summer heat challenge.
FAQs
When Should You Water Grass in Hot Weather?
Time matters, and the best time to water your grass when it’s hot out is between 6 AM and 10 AM. Doing this allows you to reduce evaporation. Watering when the sun is out allows your grass to go through the photosynthesis process.
When your grass isn’t able to go through this process, for example, because you’re watering at night, the water doesn’t have the time to properly absorb, resulting in increased dampness, which can lead to the risk of disease.
Is it OK to Fertilize in Hot Weather?
The simple answer is yes. Water is important to keep your grass healthy, but so is food. A slow-release fertilizer works well to give your grass a proper source of nutrients. Most fertilizers take about 6-8 weeks for the microbes in your soil to process the nutrients.
Replenishing your fertilizer regularly is the best way to ensure you have thick and healthy grass. To do this, apply your fertilizer at regular intervals. The best time to apply is after rainfall. Always avoid using fertilizer if your grass is dormant.
Is it Bad to Mow Your Lawn When it’s Hot?
It’s better to mow your lawn more frequently in the heat. A best practice to follow is to avoid cutting your grass shorter than 3-3 ½ inches. Mowing more frequently can make it easier to keep a consistent length.
This is important because it allows the roots of your grass to establish a longer and healthier system. When the roots are longer, they are less likely to dry out in the heat, plus having longer grass blades ensures your roots are protected from the sun.
Call Soil and seed landscaping today for the best expert service you could expect 716-320-7707.
