May 7, 2009
Keep Your Lawn Happy in Summer
Its summer, a great time for us to go outside and enjoy our landscapes!
Unfortunately, not everything in the backyard is happy now our lawns hate the
heat!
Most lawns in North Dakota begin to turn yellow and go dormant in the summer
heat. This is a natural way for
lawns to survive.
It okay there is nothing wrong in letting your lawn take a summer nap.
You can take a break from lawn care, too.
You can both be happy.
But many of us dont like a yellow lawn in the summer.
For these people, lets talk about summer lawn care.
The first concern is watering.
Theres an old trick to see if your lawn is thirsty.
Take a walk across your lawn and look back at your tracks.
If you can see your footprints in the grass, the lawn needs a drink.
Lawns need 1 to 1 inches of water per week, either from you or Mother Nature.
Its better to give your lawn a big gulp of water, rather than a series
of sips. Thats because roots grow
where the water is. If you give you
lawn a big gulp and water deeply, you will develop a deep root system.
On the other hand, if you only sprinkle the surface of the soil, you will
create a shallow root system.
If you have a clay soil, apply the weekly dosage of water approximately once per
week, depending on the temperature and any natural rainfall.
If you have a sandy soil, youll need to irrigate more often.
Sandy soils cant hold an inch of water.
As a general rule, these soils should receive half of their weekly
application twice per week when needed.
Watering in the early morning is best.
The grass plants are active and will absorb the water they need.
Watering during the middle of the day is not recommended since much of
the water you apply will evaporate before the plants absorb it.
The worst time to water is during the evening since the water will sit on
the turf all night, leading to disease.
Here are a few more ways to keep your lawns happy in summer.
*Your lawns will be healthier and less thirsty if you let your grass clippings
fall to the ground. These clippings
will shade the soil surface, keeping it cool.
*You should also mow your turf tall- the taller the better.
A tall turf will shade the soil, keeping it cool.
A taller turf naturally develops a deeper root system, protecting you
lawn against drought damage. The first lawns that turn yellow are almost always
lawns that are mowed short.
Whether or not you actively take care of your lawn in summer, expect the lawn to
wake up when the temperatures cool off.
Autumn will be the best time to reseed, kill weeds, and develop a strong
root system heading into winter.
Also see
Landscaping, Lawn and Houseplants Information
Weed Control
in North Dakota Lawns
Lawn Pests
