Summertime lawn tips from Mathis Outdoors Inc
We are in the heat of the summer in the west Georgia area. Although we are starting to receive some rainfall with afternoon thundershowers, long dry spells this time of year are common. If you have the means of watering your lawn this time of year, here are a few tips to keep your lawn thick and green this time of year.
- Water less frequently and for longer periods of time. As you water, allow enough time in each watering zone for the moisture to pernitrate the surface of the soil. We recommend at least 20-30 per zone 2 times per week opposed to 10 minutes 4-5 times a week. Watering for longer allows the precipitation to pernitrate the clay soil below sufficiently. That way your grass can continue to access moisture for extended periods of time. Small consistent amounts of water will shallow up your root system within the lawn and cause the plant to stress in the mid and late day heat.
- Continuously raise the height of cut on your mower – When you cut your lawn, it puts stress on the plant. Especially in the heat. As you might imagine, when the lawn is cut the plant perspires more. When that happens it needs to replenish that moisture and regrow. All of those systems within the plant requires water, and in a drought situation, damage can occur. If you are conservative with the amount of “green” that you cut off the plant during drought like conditions, your lawn will perform better. Furthermore, sometimes it is best to skip a mowing all together if severe drought conditions are present.
- Water extra along the drip line of trees – Have you ever noticed that your lawn looks poor around some of the trees in your lawn. One of the reasons is that your lawn is competing with your trees for moisture. If at all possible water extra in these areas and your lawn will improve.
- Water at night or in the early morning – The middle of the day is not the time to water your lawn. You will loose too much water to evaporation, and in our area, water bills can become substantial if you are not drawing from a well or body of water. You will get “more bang for your buck” if you water at night or in the morning.
Thanks
Cory
Mathis Outdoors Inc.
