Summer is a great time for pool parties and backyard barbeques, but all these activities, along with the scorching summer heat, can take a toll on your lawn. You may be left with brown or yellow drying grass instead of a green, uniform turf.
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to prevent your lawn from drying out in the summer.
How Does Sunlight Damage Grass?
Before listing and discussing lawn care tips in the summer, let’s discuss how excessive sunlight damages grass.
Sunlight can help to grow or damage grass, depending on the intensity. Sunlight is essential for photosynthesis, the process that enables plants to produce food. While that is true, excessive exposure to the sun can also damage grass in several ways.
One of the main issues brought about by too much sun is the excessive evaporation of moisture from the soil, leading to dehydration and stress on the grass.
Extreme heat stress can reduce the efficiency of grass for photosynthetic and transpiration processes. Photosynthesis and transpiration are responsible for plant growth and water evaporation. If these processes are inhibited, the development of the grass’s roots will be negatively affected. The roots will weaken, and the grass will eventually turn brown.
Furthermore, ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can damage the lawn the same way it causes sunburn in humans. The sun’s rays damage grass cells, disrupting their metabolic processes and causing discoloration, yellowing, or browning.
To mitigate sun damage, proper lawn care practices must be employed to maintain a healthy and thriving grass cover despite the challenges posed by sunlight. Such practices include providing adequate water, mowing at appropriate heights, and using shade structures.
How Do I Protect My Grass From the Summer Sun?
A lush, green lawn is every homeowner’s pride, but maintaining healthy grass during the scorching summer months can be a challenging task. The relentless heat and intense sunlight can quickly lead to drying out and browning of the grass, turning your beautiful lawn into a parched wasteland. That’s why you need to take preventive measures.
Here are six tips to prevent your grass from drying out, keeping it healthy throughout the hot season.
1. Water: Water your lawn in the morning to help prevent evaporation of the water. Keeping your lawn hydrated during summer is essential in preventing the grass from drying out. But watering your lawn at just about any time of the day may cause even more damage. Proper timing is crucial. It could mean the difference between a lush and healthy lawn and an unhealthy, fungus-infected turf.
The ideal time to water the grass is about an hour before sunrise. Doing so prevents the water from evaporating because the temperature is not too hot at that time of day. Watering the lawn early in the morning allows the water to soak thoroughly into the ground. There will also be just enough heat so the extra water on the leaf blades will likely evaporate, preventing fungus growth.
2. Cutting: Avoid cutting the grass too short or too often, as this can encourage drying out. Proper mowing is the second most crucial factor for lawn care success, especially in the summer. The rule is never to cut the grass too short or too often if you want it to survive the summer heat.
The perfect mowing height typically depends on the type of grass you have. If you are unsure about it, set the mower to cut between 7 cm and 8 cm tall or consult your trusted lawn care services provider. Aside from preventing the grass from drying out, mowing at the right height prevents weeds from growing.
Your mowing frequency should be once every week. You can start mowing at the beginning of May until the grass stops growing in the fall.
3. Mulch: Apply a layer of mulch to help keep moisture in the soil and protect the grass from the sun. Your lawn may not look its best when you apply a layer of mulch or don’t remove the clippings, but doing so can protect the grass in the summer.
During summer, all moisture in the soil will likely evaporate. The soil around the roots of your grass will become hot and dry, which can eventually cause it to wither.
Mulch is known for being packed with nutrients plants need. But that’s not the only benefit of using this material. Mulching can also reduce moisture loss in the soil and regulate soil temperature.
4. Dressing: Top-dress to introduce essential nutrients into the soil. Top-dressing refers to the process of applying a mixture of various materials, like sand and loam, over the surface of the lawn. Like mulching, it also offers many benefits, like keeping the lawn’s surface level, improving soil erosion, and helping seed germination.
This process is also a great way of adding nutrients to the soil, such as potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen, so you can be sure your grass gets the nutrients it needs in the summer. In addition, top-dressing can improve the ability of the soil to hold water, which is crucial since moisture loss is a common problem during summer.
But before you top-dress your lawn, ensure you know all the important details of this process. You need to get the right material for your lawn and determine the right amount to apply. Consider consulting your trusted lawn care company to be sure.
5. Plants: Plant drought-tolerant grasses designed for hot weather climates. If you want grass that does not dry out under the summer sun, even with little maintenance, consider planting Bermuda grass. This type of grass is touted as the most drought-resistant among the warm-season grasses. And fortunately, you can grow it in Canada.
While Bermuda grass does not die after being exposed to drought conditions for an extended period, it can go dormant, and the leaf color will turn brownish-tan. So you still have to water the grass at least once a week to keep its dense, dark green blades. It needs only 1 to 1.25 inches (2.5-3.2 cm) of water per week, which is much less than other grass types.
6. Irrigation: Install an irrigation system to ensure your grass gets enough water during dry spells.
If you do not have time or often forget to water your lawn, consider installing an irrigation system that you can program to release water at a specific time.
Aside from convenience, modern irrigation systems can help prevent water wastage. They will deliver only the right amount of water to meet your lawn’s needs.
Let Pros Help You Keep Your Lawn Green and Lush
You don’t have to wait for dried grass to appear on your lawn during summer before you act. Hire LawnMart and let lawn care professionals handle all the heavy lifting while you enjoy fun summer activities in your backyard with your family and friends.
Lawn care professionals possess the knowledge and experience to create a lawn care plan that works. They can accurately assess soil conditions, identify potential issues, and select the most suitable fertilizers and treatments to promote growth and resilience. In addition, pros have access to specialized equipment that ensures your lawn receives the optimal care it deserves.
And at LawnMart, our team uses all-natural products and methods, so you need not worry about adverse effects from the products used in maintaining your lawn. Everything is safe for you, your family, and your pets.
If you want to learn more about LawnMart’s lawn care services near the Greater Toronto Area or want to get a free quote, please do not hesitate to call our team.