Summer is here! 

Following these summer lawn care tips will help you maintain a healthy and vibrant lawn throughout the warmer months, ensuring your outdoor space remains enjoyable for your family and pets.

1. Protect Against Insects: Summer warmth brings turf-damaging insects like sod webworms and chinch bugs. Protect your lawn to safeguard both its health and your family and pets from disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. Consider Pro Grass’s pest control programs for effective management.
2. Grub Prevention: Apply grub preventative now to prevent beetle larvae from damaging your lawn’s root system later in the season. Prevention is more cost-effective than fixing damage afterward.
3. Manage Pet Urine: Dog urine can burn lawns due to its high nitrogen content. Designate a specific area for your pet and water it regularly to help the grass recover.
4. Combat Lawn Diseases: Higher summer temperatures and humidity increase the risk of turf diseases like brown patch and dollar spot. Monitor your lawn for signs and consider a disease control program if recommended by your technician.
5. Proper Mowing Practices: Maintain a minimum grass height of 3 ½ inches to promote healthy root growth and adequate cooling of the grass. Vary your mowing pattern to prevent wear patterns that can stress the turf.
6. Avoid Mowing Stressed Turf: During periods of heat and drought, let your lawn go into dormancy naturally. Mowing stressed turf can lead to further damage.
7. Mulch Grass Clippings: Continue mulching grass clippings to return nutrients to the soil and reduce waste. However, ensure clippings are evenly distributed and not too thick, which could smother the grass.
8. Monitor and Adjust Irrigation: Maryland summers can vary in terms of rainfall and heat. Monitor your lawn’s moisture levels and adjust your irrigation schedule accordingly. Use a rain gauge to track how much water your lawn receives from rainfall and supplement with irrigation as needed to ensure consistent moisture without overwatering.
9. Optimal Watering: Water your lawn in the early morning to minimize evaporation and reduce the risk of disease. Avoid watering during midday heat or at night, which can lead to surface moisture and fungal growth. Deep, infrequent watering promotes deep root growth and drought resistance.

By following these additional summer lawn care tips tailored for our climate and conditions, you can help ensure your lawn remains lush, green, and resilient throughout the summer months.