June 14th

By Mutt Mulligan

TurfMutt’s hot weather tips for your family lawn

The mercury is skyrocketing in some places across the country, and it will only get hotter as the dog days of summer drag on. Your lawn might go dormant and turn brown during the hot summer months, and that’s ok. Turning brown is part of the natural plant cycle for turfgrass. It will spring back to green when cooler temps and rains return.

But you don’t want your grass to die, so here are three things you can do to help your family lawn survive the stress of summer.

1. Mow high. Most grass prefers to be left a little longer during the summer, which helps protect the roots from sun damage. Put your mower blade on the highest setting before cutting your lawn.
2. Avoid walking on it. Dormant grass is more fragile than green grass. Try to minimize traffic on your lawn when it’s dry and brittle to protect it.
3. Water wisely. Overwatering your lawn is actually really bad for it. Overwatering causes your lawn to get “lazy” and grow its roots in a horizontal, rather than vertical, pattern. If you decide to water, do so early in the day to ward off evaporation.

Learn more about the benefits of your family lawn and other aspects of your living landscapes.