Keeping your lawn and landscaping beautiful throughout the summer months can be a bit challenging, especially on the Gulf Coast, where there seems to be no shortage of heat and humidity. Here are some tips you may find helpful for your home.
Water, Water Everywhere:
Most lawns require about an inch of water per week. If you’re unsure of how long to water, put a mark one inch from the bottom of several plastic containers and spread them around the watering zone. Clock the time it takes to reach the one-inch mark and water for that length of time in the future. Watering is best done early in the morning, when the summer sun is not at its hottest. Another tip is to consider grouping plants and shrubs with similar water requirements to prevent wasting water and of course planting drought-tolerant and pest-resistant species of grass, trees and shrubs.
Mow, Mow, Mow Your Lawn:
Truland Homes are landscaped with turfs like St. Augustine Grass and Centipede Grass, and these should be cut at 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches. Since mowing opens up the tip of the grass blade, it’s best to mow early in the morning after the dew has dried or in the evening when temperatures have dropped instead of in the heat of the day when the most moisture can be lost. Only mow when your lawn needs it, not sticking to a strict weekly schedule. Don’t feel the need to bag your clippings, instead recycle them back into the lawn for a healthy, organic matter that will encourage growth.
Pests Be Gone!
Insects can attack your lawn at any time, but the lawns are especially susceptible in the warm months. Most insects will hide in the thatch layer of your lawn, so rather than look for the actual insects, keep an eye out for signs of their activity. Obvious signs are a thinning turf or losing color. Hiring a lawn care service professional to identify and treat insect problems is recommended for effective pest managements.
Banish the “Brown Patch”:
“Brown patch” is an actual fungal disease, but is often mistaken for drought or heat stress. Here in the South, the hot, humid weather can be a major factor in this unsightly condition. Signs of brown patch are circular patches of brown or dead looking areas that may appear sunken. Treatment for brown patch includes using a chemical called chlorothanil that kills the fungus. There are also a few preventative measures that you can do to help: 1) Do not water your grass in the late afternoon or evening. 2) Do not over-fertilize with nitrogen fertilizers. 3) Do not allow thatch buildup.
Stand Back, Weeds!
Weeds that germinate in the summer are generally the summer annual weeds, which grow rapidly, produce a flower, go to seed and then die with the onset of fall. Many summer weeds can easily be controlled by pulling them out by hand. Spot treating with a commercial weed control product labeled safe for home lawns is also effective. However, the more thick, and well-maintained your lawn is, the better defense it has against pesky weeds.
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