Lawns are Fighting the Effects of Summer

Once again this year,  a week or two makes a huge difference in the Midwest weather.  Throughout this week the soil temperatures have shot up into the 100 degree plus range in most sunny areas.  Rainfall has been non-existent since July 1 and we are only at .18" of rainfall so far for the month.  This is the opposite of my July 5 post where I was looking backwards at the conditions of the end of June and praising mother nature for cooler temperatures and rainfall.  This turn of events has been ideal for the growth of lawn diseases such as rust and has severely dried out the clay-based lawns found in most of the Lake county area.  The high heat and lack of rainfall has also resulted in many brown and low-growing lawns across the area.  We all have to remember this is normal for the month of July and early August and every fall when the temperatures drop and rainfall is more common the lawns return to their full green and thick appearance.

                                                       Rust found on several lawns in the Lake County area 7/17/13

In the meantime we have to be patient with mother nature and adapt ourselves to the situation.  The following tips will greatly enhance the health of your lawn.  Water the lawn in the early morning hours as permitted by local restrictions.  Try to water heavily- 30-45 minutes before moving sprinkler or per zone of you have an irrigation system.  Keep mowing frequency to a minimum.  This means don't mow the lawn unless it is above 3" and thriving- this will only happen after a heavy rain or daily watering on a regular basis.  Keep mower blades sharp.  Dull mower blades cause the lawn to fray and leave behind a yellow cast to the surface.  Stay off of the lawn when it is above 85 degrees outside unless you are setting up a sprinkler for the kids.  

Summer Lawn on left is left uncut and green while lawn on right is cut way too short and browning out.

Follow these free tips for lawn care in the summer and you will have a much more healthier lawn going into fall.  The best practices for summer lawn care are often the little things that are free to the homeowner and should be practiced every summer to avoid costly and unsightly lawn issues.  For further information or to request services from Lawn Doctor click on the link below so that we can assist you in your desire for a healthier lawn.

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