Summer Lawn Care

By Chris Williams  Catscapes  083 225 7451 Ref: https://www.catscapeslandscapes.co.za/

The Summer is a highly stressful time for all lawns, and it’s the things done during the Summer which will determine the overall health and appearance of our lawns and gardens. Generally speaking, we need to prepare the lawn to withstand the heat of Summer by ensuring it is in the best health and condition prior to the onset of the heat, as well as to avoid any sudden shock to the lawn.

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Our aim here is to create a root system which is much deeper than what the lawn would otherwise have under normal conditions. With a deeper root system, the roots of the turf are less likely to dry out and die on hot Summer days, or at times of drought or low water usage. The way this is done is to water the lawn less often, and more deeply. Aim to reduce watering frequencies to half of normal or even less, and when the lawn finally begins to start looking slightly wilted, it’s time to give the lawn an otherwise larger drink of water than what we may normally do. In this way, the lawns roots will continue to travel deeper into the soil profile.

Watering a heavily thatched lawn will result in a lot of the water being applied then being left to sit in the thatch layer of the lawn, with the end result that less water reaches the soil to maintain the health of the lawn, and instead… simply evaporates away in the heat of the day. This problem is further compounded when the lawn is being watered at night, which provides a perfect breeding environment for lawn diseases. Lawns, and in particular Kikuyu and Bermuda should be dethatched (scarified) whenever is necessary.

Wetting Agents are a wonderful invention for every lawn and garden owner around the world. As many soil types begin to dry out in the heat of Summer, they also tend to become more water repellent too. Meaning water will be more likely to run off the soil, and the soil will not hold onto the water for a very long period of time.(hydrophobic) Wetting Agents soak into the soil and coat the particles with a water attracting agent which breaks down any greasy coating on the surface of the soil particle. This allows soils to hold onto water for longer periods of time, as well as allowing dry soils to soak up much more water than would otherwise be the case.

The first change to lawn mowing should be with mowing heights, if the lawn is in excellent health and water is not an issue, then lawn mowing heights can safely be lowered, as this time of year

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is peak growing season and the lawn can easily cope and repair with a shorter leaf. The shorter the lawn the more frequent the cut. If the lawn is subject to heavy water restrictions and may experience drought-like conditions, then the lawn mowing height should be INCREASED. This will allow the lawn leaf and thatch layer to insulate the soil against heavy water loss from evaporation, and the end result will be greater lawn health – using less water, as the Summer progresses. Lastly, mow the lawn regularly during the Summer. Healthy, properly watered lawns will benefit from less weeds and more green leaf with less invasion of the grass into surrounding garden beds. Regular mowing will also ensure the lawn is not scalped by removing too much green leaf in a single mowing, as this can easily kill sections of lawn which are under the stress of Summer heat.

If you’ve found yourself with a string of very hot days and the lawn looks to be under extreme stress and at risk of possibly dying, then the very best thing to do is to give the lawn a very deep watering the next morning. Also ensure the lawn receives and application of Wetting Agents at the next available opportunity, which will allow for the best use and distribution of water in the soil.

The hottest days of Summer are the most stressful of all for any lawn variety. On these days it’s important not to put the lawn under any further stress whatsoever, otherwise the results can become damaging to the lawn for a long time to come.

All chemical treatments should be completely avoided unless they are being applied by a licensed and trained professional. These include weed sprays, insecticides and fungicides.

As a rule of thumb, all fertilising should also be avoided on the hottest days, as the results can be devastating to the lawn if the fertiliser is not watered into the grass thoroughly and completely, and done immediately after application. Let Catscapes landscapes take care of your lawn and let us create the garden of your dreams Some text courtesy of the lawn guide Australia