By following the late summer lawn care tips below, you can ensure that your lawn thrives year-round.
As August and summer temperatures begin to wind down, now is the perfect time to assess your lawn and see what you can do through the rest of August to keep your turf healthy and prepared for cooler fall temperatures. By following the late summer lawn care tips below, you can ensure that your lawn thrives year-round.
Pull Weeds
Eliminate weeds when you notice them cropping up on your lawn. A single weed here or there won’t do serious damage, but when one is allowed to produce seed, a single weed can explode into an infestation.
Mow Your Grass at the Proper Height
Generally, 2 ½ to 3 inches is the height of cut for lawns in our area. Lower heights of cut allow sunlight to reach the soil surface. Sunlight promotes weed seed germination. Also, sunlight heats the soil and evaporates valuable moisture.
Prepare to Aerate Your Lawn
Aerating your lawn allows for more oxygen and moisture to reach the roots of your lawn. Healthy turf is not possible without healthy roots
Overseed with Improved Turf Varieties
Late summer and fall is the best time to rejuvenate your lawn with new improved varieties of turf. You can check with your state’s land grant university for current variety recommendations. During this time, there is less competition from weeds. Temperatures are moderating and the new seedlings will mature before winter. Next spring the new turf will have a head start crowding out weeds.
Irrigate Properly to Promote Seed Germination
It is very important to keep the new seed moist once the seed you planted absorbs moisture and sends out its first root. If allowed to dry out in this early stage of development, the seedling is likely to fail. By keeping the soil surface moist, the seedling can continue to send out roots and mature. Warm, sunny, and windy days may necessitate multiple watering cycles to keep the soil surface moist.
Have Your Soil Tested and Apply Fertilizer
If your soil is deficient in either pH (acidity level) or nutrients, your lawn will suffer. Having your soil tested will alert you to any deficiencies which can be corrected before renovation. Applying an enhanced release fertilizer will promote a healthy vigorous turf without the need to make multiple fertilizer applications.
Try Grasscycling
This practice allows grass clippings from mowing to fall back into the grass rather than being collected and thrown away. The nutrients in these clippings will absorb into the soil and be available for the roots. Many of the mower manufactures offer “mulching mowers” which chop the grass clippings into small pieces that filter into the turf canopy. As microbes break down the clippings, nutrients are released and are available for your turf.
By practicing these late summer lawn care practices, you can help keep your lawn looking refreshed and revived even after a long, hot summer.
Scientific Plant Service Is Your Go-To Source In Landscape Healthcare
Scientific Plant Service, located in Baltimore, is a privately owned corporation, chartered in Maryland in 1957 by Frank J. Burke. We started as a full-service Arborists specializing in the care of shade trees and ornamental shrubs, but today we are a Lawn Care company that is a huge part of the community. From aquatic environments and snow management to deer and mole control, SPS has services tailored specifically for your lawn and landscape.
We offer services in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia, including: Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Calvert counties in MD, as well as Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church in VA. For more information, contact us online, or call us at 410-321-0970. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest!