How to Keep Your Grass Green During the Summer Heat

Deep and Infrequent Watering

Water your lawn deeply and infrequently to encourage deep root growth. Aim to provide about 1–1.5 inches of water per week, delivered in one or two sessions. This helps the roots grow deeper into the soil, making your grass more drought-resistant.

Early Morning Watering

Watering in the early morning reduces evaporation and allows the grass to absorb moisture before the heat of the day. Avoid watering in the evening, as prolonged moisture on the grass blades can promote fungal diseases.

Mow High

Set your mower blades to the highest setting, typically around 3–4 inches for cool-season grasses. Taller grass shades the soil, reducing evaporation and helping to retain moisture. It also promotes deeper root growth.

Keep Blades Sharp

Sharp mower blades make clean cuts, which reduce stress on the grass and prevent brown tips. Dull blades can tear the grass, leading to increased water loss and vulnerability to disease.

Use Slow-Release Fertilizer

Apply a slow-release fertilizer in late spring or early summer. This provides a steady supply of nutrients throughout the growing season, helping the grass stay healthy and green.

Test and Amend Soil

Conduct a soil test to determine nutrient deficiencies and pH levels. Amend the soil as needed with lime or sulfur to achieve the optimal pH for your grass type. Healthy soil promotes strong, resilient grass.

Limit Heavy Use

Try to limit heavy foot traffic on your lawn, particularly in areas that are already showing signs of stress. Consider creating designated pathways or play areas to protect the grass.

Rotate Activities

If you have high-use areas, rotate activities to prevent any single area from becoming too worn. This allows stressed areas time to recover.

Monitor for Pests

Regularly inspect your lawn for signs of pests like grubs, chinch bugs, and sod webworms. Treat infestations promptly with appropriate insecticides or natural predators.

Control Weeds

Weeds compete with grass for water and nutrients. Use pre-emergent herbicides in the spring and post-emergent herbicides as needed to keep your lawn weed-free.

Aeration

Aerate your lawn in late spring or early summer to reduce soil compaction and improve water penetration. This promotes deeper root growth and healthier grass.

Mulch Grass Clippings

Mulching grass clippings helps retain soil moisture and returns valuable nutrients to the soil. Use a mulching mower to finely chop the clippings and distribute them evenly.