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Mid-Summer Lawn Care

Source: NDSU Extension Service Horticulturists

Lawns that turn brown in mid-summer may cause you needless worry and work. The cool season turfgrasses we use in North Dakota naturally turn brown in summer. Permanent perennial grasses, such as bluegrass and red fescue, turn brown and become dormant from a lack of water or too much heat.

You can maintain a lawn throughout the summer with a minimum amount of care. Mow your lawn regularly with a sharp mower. Do not mow bluegrasses and red fescues lower than 2 1/2 inches. A 2 3/4 to 3 inch height cut is even better.

If you want to water your lawn, do it before the grass turns brown. Watering after the lawn turns brown will not be as beneficial. It is better to give it one good soaking a week rather than frequent light watering. Early morning watering is suggested.

Summer dried lawns do not need fertilizer. However, if you irrigate all summer, a light fertilization might be required. Use about one-half the suggested rate for this application.

If broadleaf weeds are a problem on the lawn during mid-summer, wait until early fall to control them. Chemical treatment for weeds will work much better in September than in mid-summer.

Additional information on this topic is included in the Extension bulletin H-244, "A Beautiful Lawn Can Be Yours," which is available at your county office of the NDSU Extension Service.

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For More Information Contact your North Dakota County Extension Office of the NDSU Extension Service for additional information or see our main NDSU Web Page for publications and articles on Agriculture, Horticulture, Youth and Family, Business and Community and Food and Nutrition at  http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/