Help your lawn beat the heat

Dry, hot weather negatively impacting local lawns.

The continued hot, dry weather we are experiencing is taking its toll on area lawns.  Using a summer fertilizer will promote the health of your turf by providing necessary nutrients along with weed and insect control.  It’s helpful to continue with a regularly scheduled application and following the provided dry weather tips.

During dry weather, professional lawn care is more important than ever

It’s important that you adhere to a regularly scheduled program.  A delayed or skipped application will deprive your lawn of essential care it needs during this stressful time.  At TruGreen, we’re working to ensure that your lawn survives this weather, here’s how.

• Fertilizer. We will adjust your fertilization program to accomodate current weather conditions and make sure your lawn is receiving the right amount of nutrients, at the right time.  As moisture levels improve, your lawn will recover more quickly if properly fertilized
• Weed Control. During hot, dry conditions, weeds are often more visible because their deep root system allows them to survive longer than your grass.  Using a weed control fertilizer will help prevent this and may require several applications as directed.
• Insect Control. Damage from some insects, such as sod webworm and chinch bug, is more severe in dry weather because the lawn is growing at a slower rate or not at all.  This makes your lawn less able to recover from their damaging effects.  Because insect damage can be hidden by or mimic drought conditions, you may want to consult with a local grass specialist.
• Consultation. Your specialist will evaluate your lawn’s condition and determine its needs at each visit.  He/she is also available to answer questions to take the guesswork out of caring for your lawn.

Dry weather tips

WATERING – Watering is critical to the health of your lawn especially during times such as these.  It is important that you follow one of the two watering plans listed below.  Your choice will depend on local watering restrictions and/or your expectations for your lawn.  Once you pick one of these plans – stick with it.  If you alternate between the two or fail to water correctly, it could result in damage to your turf.

Plan 1.   To maintain a green, healthy lawn

• Apply 1 inch of water to all areas of your lawn once or twice a week.  To measure, set a container that is at least one inch tall (such as a tuna can) in the sprinkler’s pattern.  Move the sprinkler only after the water reaches the one inch mark, not before.
• If you have an automatic irrigation system, follow this procedure to determine the correct time to set each station.
• Please pay special attention to sunny and high use areas, and along curbs, sidewalks, and slopes.  They require more water than other parts of your lawn.

Plan 2. To protect your lawn from permanent damage

• If watering restrictions or bans do not allow weekly watering, or if you choose    not to water regularly, a light watering or rainfall of one half inch every two weeks will minimize permanent damage to your lawn.  This should supply just enough moisture to keep the grass plants alive without greening up the lawn.

MOWING – Mow only if the grass is growing.

• Mow in the evening to reduce stress on your lawn.  Mowing wilted grass during the hot part of the day can cause additional damage to the lawn.
• Make sure the mower blade is sharp and set to its highest setting.

USING YOUR LAWN – If possible, minimize the use of a severely wilted or brown lawn to reduce damage to the already weakened grass plants.