12 Expert Tips to Keep Your Grass Green in the Georgia Summer Heat 

Nobody wants to see an ocean of dried-out brown grass in their front yard. Still, it’s a reality many Georgia residents face while they wait for the growing season to begin and again during the hottest months when the sun and heat take a major toll. Sometimes, it might feel like your grass is brown more than it’s green. That’s why we’re here with summer lawn care tips you can implement right now in the midst of the blazing heat or prepare ahead to be ready for next season. Read on for a dozen of our best practices to keep your grass green in summer… and keep it that way all season long.

Starting Early: Best Lawn Care Practices Before Summer

You know what they say about an ounce of prevention. The best way to “cure” your lawn of the mid-summer dry doldrums is to start ahead of time by taking preventative measures in the spring. If you’re wondering why your lawn isn’t greening up yet, it may be due to a number of reasons, including:

• Not having the right type of grass for your location
• Inclement or unseasonable weather patterns
• Lack of spring preparation

You can’t change the weather, but the rest is in your control. Here are some of the steps you can take every spring to ensure you have a greener, happier lawn through the summer months:

Soil Testing

Knowledge is power, and knowing what type of soil you have (clay, sandy, silty, etc.) will tell you a lot about how to keep your lawn green. By understanding the foundation of your lawn,  you can make appropriate soil amendments, plant the right grasses, and keep an eye on compaction. This will all help you achieve the lawn you’ve been dreaming of, starting right at the roots.

Spring Aeration

Soil compaction can be devastating for turfgrass, especially in high-traffic areas, but aeration can help manage the problem. There are different types of aeration — core aeration and liquid aeration, most often — that work to break up dense soil and allow more oxygen to penetrate the ground, reaching your root system and promoting healthier grass. All Turf offers professional core aeration for Atlanta lawns to help homeowners maintain a happy, healthy lawn year after year. 

Fertilization

Finding the right balance of fertilization and applying it at the right time is key to keeping your grass green in the summer heat. Most of the time that means applying fertilizer in the spring months, before the hottest part of the season kicks in. It’s also important to use the right fertilizer, which has the nutrients your grass needs to flourish.

Pre-emergent Weed Control

A pre-emergent is an herbicide or weed killer that is applied to your lawn before weeds have a chance to germinate. While highly effective, knowing when to apply pre-emergents is key to your success. For many of the weed types common in Georgia, including crabgrass, you will need to apply a pre-emergent solution during the spring. Depending on other seasonal weeds, you may need follow-up applications throughout the year.

Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Lawn During Summer

Summer is for fun in the sun, but it’s not so fun if all it does is dry out your lawn, leaving unsightly brown spots. You want the best lawn possible, and we can tell you how to get it with these summer lawn care tips.

Choosing the Right Type of Grass

In Atlanta and surrounding areas, both cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses can thrive. However, you need to understand how much sunlight you get across your yard before you can choose the right grass type. For your Georgia lawn, there are some grass varieties that grow better and stay greener than others, including:

• Bermudagrass
• Zoysia
• Tall fescue

Most of the above grasses are dormant during winter but have long green seasons with the right maintenance.

Watering Techniques to Keep Your Lawn Green

In Georgia, most lawns need 1 to 1.5 inches of water every week to thrive. The average monthly rainfall in July is 4.8 inches in Atlanta. That’s usually enough, but since the weather is unpredictable, it’s important to keep an eye on the forecast and water deeply if you see more than a few days without rain. Another tip is to use a tuna can while you water (or while your sprinkler system is on). If the can isn’t full, you haven’t watered enough.

Mowing Practices

You don’t want an unruly and overgrown lawn, but you need to know when to mow. In Georgia, it’s recommended that you mow every 5-7 days during the growing season and keep a close eye on mowing height, never removing more than the top 1/3rd of the grass blades. Taking a little grass at a time means you can skip the bag and let the clippings lie, where they can continue to nourish the remaining grass.

Summer Fertilization Schedule

In the spring, you likely used a fertilizer high in nitrogen. In summer, you’ll want to pull back on that and instead use something higher in potassium and phosphorus. However, this isn’t a hard and fast rule, so it’s wise to always check on what’s indicated for your soil and grass type.

Pest and Disease Control

Fire ants are at their peak during the summer months, as are the grubs that eventually grow into June bugs. These pests can be extremely damaging to your soil and, ultimately, your grass, along with common lawn diseases that thrive during the summer season. There are many pesticides available to drive out insects or treat fungal diseases, but it’s always best to contact the professionals.

Shade Management

Too much sun or not enough sun can lead to brown, dry grass. It’s important to understand which areas of your lawn receive the most shade, and at which times of the day. It may mean that you’ll need to supplement with a different type of grass in some areas or overseed with something that supports more shade or more sun in certain spots.

Regular Lawn Maintenance

The key to all of these hot weather tips is building them into a routine. Mowing, watering, fertilizing, and weed control all need to happen on a schedule. Make sure you select grasses that fit your lifestyle and don’t need more upkeep than you’re able to provide. If it is simply too much, a trusted lawn care provider may be your best option.

Dealing with Drought Conditions

Drought isn’t inevitable, but it is always a possibility during the long, hot summers. Homeowners can be ready for it by choosing drought-resistant grasses for your lawn, like tall fescue or St. Augustine grass. It’s also important to reduce stress on your lawn during a drought, which means you should skip mowing, try to lessen foot traffic, and take pets to the park or on a walk rather than letting them roam around the yard.

How All Turf Lawn Care Can Help Keep Your Grass Green

It is certainly possible to care for your lawn and keep your grass green and vibrant through the summer months, but it can be a huge relief and a weight off your shoulders to have some support in the process. Check out our full list of lawn care services at All Turf, and reach out for a consultation to find out how we can help you and your lawn beat the heat! Contact us for a free quote.