Follow these tips for a healthy, drought-resistant lawn during hot summer months:
- Keep grass longer and use the highest setting on the mower. Longer blades help shade the soil and prevent evaporation. The taller grass will help maintain the appropriate moisture content in the soil.
- Keep mower blades sharp. Dull blades are more likely to tear and rip the grass. Frayed grass is more likely to brown.
- Stay away from high nitrogen fertilizers. High nitrogen fertilizers increase the green top growth but offer very little for the roots, increasing the need for water.
- Do not overfertilize. Fertilizing at the wrong time can damage your lawn, and overfertilizing can lead to the need to mow more often.
- Water appropriately. Overwatering will prevent your grass from taking in air and promoting a shallow root system which is detrimental to your lawn health.
- Instead of bagging grass clippings, use a mulching mower. Allowing mulched grass to settle into the lawn will help trap moisture, keep the lawn cooler, and be better hydrated and fertilized. Most mowers can be used as mulching mowers.
