Quick Guide for Summer Lawn Care

Summer lawn care basically boils down to four tasks: mowing, re-seeding, weeding and watering. Staying on top of these tasks give you a healthier, hydrated, nutrient-rich lawn.  Thanks to my partnership with Husqvarna, I’m inspired to share my quick guide for keeping your lawn healthy this summer.

Healthier lawns need less maintenance, freeing up more time for you to enjoy more fun in the sun!  Stay on top of your summer lawn care with these tips:

Mowing the lawn in the summer

It may be tempting to mow the grass relatively short to extend the amount of time between cuttings, but don’t!  This practice leads to a drier, less healthy lawn. It’s best to mow with the blades set high, cutting the grass no shorter than 2 to 2 ½ inches.

Longer blades of grass shield the surrounding soil from intense heat and sunlight, helping to retain moisture. They also have a far easier time drinking in sunlight and turning it into energy.  This is used by root systems to soak up nutrients. You may need to mow more frequently but your grass will stay lush and green.  Take care to keep lawn mower blades sharp for an even cutting.

Hands-free with Husqvarna Automower

The newest tool in our summer lawn maintenance is the Husqvarna Automower.  We’ve received a complementary Automower to test out from Husqvarna and couldn’t be more pleased with the results.   This robot mower helps keep you out of the heat while keeping your grass healthy.

Part of the charm of the Automower is its razor-sharp cutting blades.  These blades slice the grass (instead of tearing as other methods do,) leaving small grass clippings to help fertilize the soil and reduce grass yellowing.

Every yard owner knows, if you leave clumps of grass clippings on your lawn, it damages the grass below it.  By tending to your yard daily, Automower prevents this from happening and saves you the chore of raking, bagging, sweeping or blowing the grass away after each mowing session.  Automower also lighter, so theirs no trampling of grass and as a bonus, its more energy-efficient.

Re-seed during the summer season

Summer is a great time to re-seed bare or dead patches on the lawn. This can be achieved by preparing the site with leveled loam, spreading seed and loosely covering it with a light layer of mulch hay.

Keep the re-seeded area lightly watered, making sure it does not dry out, while taking care not to cause water runoff, which essentially washes away seed.

Weeding: diligence is key

Weeds are thought of as pesky and persistent for a reason: they have a habit of popping up even after spring herbicides are applied. In the summer, pull weeds while they are young and have weak root systems.

Being diligent helps prevent weeds from setting their seeds for a new generation to grow the following season.

Watering the lawn: when and how much

Before hooking up the sprinkler or dragging the hose around the lawn spraying it from top to bottom, always check to make sure there isn’t a ban on watering. Bans are more common in the western U.S. were summers tend to be drier.

Lawn care experts advise to provide about an inch of water on a weekly basis to keep the lawn well hydrated. Manual watering isn’t always needed if Mother Nature has provided the needed hydration.

Spring and fall lawn care have a significant impact on how healthy the lawn will be come summer. Apply fertilizer in the fall and herbicides in the spring to ensure ample nutrients are available and to stave off an infestation of weeds.