Your Guide to Summer Lawncare

By Bethany Beebe

Going for a drive with the windows rolled down on a perfect summer day offers a great chance to see the world around us nearing the peak of growth. Homeowners clearly enjoy the chance to play artist with myriad shades of natural tones.

Some of those stewards call on the assistance of a professional yard crew, while others take up the entire task. Deciding where you fall in that range is a case-by-case decision, depending on the homeowner. Purdue Agronomy weighs in on the topic. The turf experts say those who enjoy working on their yards may find a professional service too expensive, or face scheduling difficulties with busy companies and might consider doing it themselves(1). A care company could be appropriate for many reasons, too(1). Ease to the homeowner, expertise, the availability of chemicals only open to professionals, and the general challenge of selecting, storing, and maintaining equipment for chemical application all bend the scales toward hiring out the job(1). Even if you decide to hire out some yard care, grass can offer generous opportunity for labor. Mowing has many considerations, for example. Grass should be cut frequently, according to Purdue Extension HO-236-W. Trimming off no more than one-third of the blade height at a time, cut grass should be three to three-and-a-half inches tall(2). Keeping a shorter yard helps prevent disease, weeds, and insect issues(2)

All that mowing creates yard clippings to address. Extension recommends not collecting the clippings in favor of spreading them more evenly across the space and allowing their decomposition for beneficial nutrient addition(2)

The more common types of grass grown in Indiana grow fastest in the cooler, wetter Spring and Fall seasons (H)-236-W). Mowing more frequently than once a week might be needed during the high growth times but require less when the mercury rises(2) Should the summer prove to be a particularly hot and dry one, you might consider simply allowing the yard to slip into dormancy(2) The normal, naturally occurring brown color that results from a lack of water will be replaced by green when Fall’s lower temperatures and rain return(2). A half-inch of water per four weeks will keep it alive through this time of rest(2). Watering less frequently, instead watching for signs of need, is kindest to the grass; a half to one inch of water will moisten soil four to six inches down, the recommended depth for watering(2)

Chemical controls, should the homeowner choose to use them, may also be employed this time of year. In June, for example, Extension offers that a post-emergent herbicide for crabgrass might be considered, but only if the temperature is 80 or under, the grass is not exhibiting signs of drought stress, and crabgrass is a notable problem in the yard(3).

Considering where one’s own drought of knowledge and fount of resources available meet can lead to a beautiful yard, but still leave enough time to enjoy that drive with the windows down. a