Summer Lawn Care Tips

We all have enjoyed the cool moist spring weather in southern New Hampshire this year. Our lawn maintenance services have managed to keep up with the demand, all the while dodging raindrops! Lawns everywhere are lush and green and growing well. But that is about to change.

As hot summer months approach, the needs of turf grass change. Most grass seed used in New England is made up of cool weather grasses. Bluegrass for example, will stop growing when the temperatures exceed 80°. Broadleaf weeds are at their zenith in July and August, taking advantage of the hot dry soil and struggling turf grass. Lawn funguses will also multiply in the high humidity.

Groundhog Turf Care manages the needs of your lawn with fertilizer that is balanced for the seasons as well as timely applications of insect and fungus control to minimize the impact of these turf problems. Here are several summer lawn care tips to help your lawn survive in the heat:

Mowing height. As the grass starts to slow down in growth, increase the cutting height setting on your lawn mower. During the spring, as the grass is growing its fastest, the length of cut should be 2 to 3 inches. By the end of June, however, is best to cut your lawn at a finished height of 3 ½ to 4 inches. There are good reasons for this. The extra length of grass will help to shade the root system, and improve the photosynthesis process that turf grass requires to generate its own food.

Chances are your lawn is a blend of several types of grasses. While your bluegrass slows down, the perennial Rye grasses that grow well in heat will shade the bluegrass and prevent unnecessary stress. A lawn that is cut higher also prevents weeds from becoming established in your lawn.

Watering cycles. Generally it is better summer months to water deeper less often. If you have an irrigation system, set your controller to water it the grass at 4 AM or 5 AM instead of midnight or 1 o’clock. Even a few hours can make a difference in spreading fungus. Fungus control works better if the grass blades have a chance to dry – and if you are leaving your grass longer, it also takes longer for the moisture to evaporate. You may also need to prioritize the zones in your yard that have different watering needs. Any lawn sprinkler system should have a rain sensor that shuts off the system if sufficient rainfall has occurred. Besides being bad for the turf, it is very embarrassing to see a sprinkler system running during a rainstorm! Groundhog Landscaping’s irrigation maintenance division can help you calibrate your system for optimal summer growth.

Your lawn is in good hands and Groundhog Landscaping and Groundhog Turf Care! We want you to enjoy your lawn…and enjoy your summer!

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