Lawn Care Tips By Dreamlawns

With the extreme heat conditions in the Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads area Dreamlawns wants to make sure you (and your lawn) are prepared! Dreamlawns is the areas #1 lawn care company helping you grow the greenest grass in the area.  Here are a few tips for maintaining the grass in extreme heat.

REFRAIN FROM CUTTING TOO SHORT

One common mistake made by both homeowners and commercial landscape maintenance companies is cutting a lawn too short. If a lawn is cut too short, it reduces the plants’ ability to produce energy for growth. When cut at the proper height, however, grass develops stronger roots that support more vigorous plants that are more tolerant of stress. Keep in mind that different varieties of grass have different growth habits that directly relate to mowing heights. For example, cool season grass and warm season grass types require somewhat different maintenance techniques. Research which cutting height is right for your lawn.

REMEMBER THE “ONE-THIRD” RULE

When deciding on the correct height to cut your grass, it is important to also remember the “one-third” rule: never remove more than one-third of the grass height at one time. By doing so, the lawn is kept cooler because less plant tissue is removed. In fact, cool season grass types actually benefit in the heat of the summer by setting the blade higher. If a lawn is normally cut at 2.5 inches, for example, increasing it to 4 inches in the heat of summer will come with many benefits.

LIMIT WATER INTAKE

One collective misconception about maintaining grass in extreme heat is the necessity to over water. A glaring issue is that after rainfall, people still irrigate their lawn. A general rule to keep in mind is that turf grasses do better managed on the dry side rather than wet; when soil is constantly wet, it creates too many physiological problems for plants and soil organisms alike. The grass roots will be deprived of oxygen and may become more susceptible to disease because diseases thrive in wet conditions. In general, the drier the grass and soil, the less disease there will be.

Another rule-of-thumb is to water “deeply and infrequently.” Water deeply to wet the entire root zone, and then do not water again until the grass is dry. To determine next watering time, simply “eye-it.” If it starts to look dry, then water. If you would like to be specific, water the hot spots (spots that get dry faster than the rest of the lawn) and then wait for the rest of the lawn to dry out.

While it is important to be adequate on hydration, do not water the grass daily. Lawns need only one-inch of water per week, including rainfall.

WHEN IN DROUGHT

Avoid mowing the lawn during drought stress. Lawns under such stress are limited in their ability to recover from mowing and can be damaged even more. Instead, mow the grass after a rainfall or after irrigation day. Also, resist mowing wet grass to avoid clumping.

KEEP BLADES SHARP

When grass is cut with a sharp mower blade, the plant will heal faster than when cut with a dull blade. Dull blades will actually tear the plant tissue, not cut it; this torn grass tissue will develop a brown appearance at the surface and may become more susceptible to stress and disease. Sharper blades will prevent a brown appearance and help to prevent further harm to the plant.

DO NOT BAG GRASS CLIPPINGS

Return clippings to the lawn by using a mulching mower. Clippings are actually beneficial to the lawn, as they act as a slow-release fertilizer for the plant as they decompose. It is important to aim the clippings away from streets, storm drains, and bodies of water.

Are you in need of lawn maintenance? We work with some of the areas finest lawn maintenance companies and can offer you a referral that’s right for your needs, just give us a call 757-631-9773.

Have more questions about lawn care or how you can have the greenest lawn in all the land? Please call a Dreamlawns lawn care associate and we’ll be happy to help! 757-631-9773

 

[su_box title=”757-631-9773″]Call Now For the Greenest Grass & Be the Envy of your Neighborhood[/su_box]

WE SERVE

NEWS AND UPDATES

Refer your neighbor (friend, family, co-worker) and receive $25.00 credit on your Dreamlawns account when they sign up for the basic program.