Your lawn is an important part of your home's curb appeal so you should always keep it clean and well-maintained. It takes dedicated time and effort to create a healthy, flourishing lawn. And the amount of work required changes with the seasons. Different factors such as weather and temperature can seriously impact the things you must do to take care of your lawn in Silver Spring, Washington DC. Lawn care in summer is a lot different than in winter.
In case you don't have enough knowledge and require some lawn care tips for the upcoming season, check out this comprehensive guide from our Silver Spring lawn professionals.
Types of grass to use on your lawn
Washington DC is situated in an area known as the transition zone, an area with a number of different grasses available to grow. In the United States, the transition zone is a region where both temperate and subtropical climates join. It means that both hot-season and cool-season grass can flourish here, but neither will succeed throughout the entire year.
It's best to use a combination of both types. Lawns with monoculture grass type are likely to be more vulnerable to weeds and lawn diseases, so using a blend is the best option for the Washington DC area.
Try merging a mix of cool-season grass such as Tall Fescues or Kentucky Bluegrass with hot-season grasses like Bermuda Grass or Zoysia Grass.
Watering your lawn during summer
You can water your lawn manually or through an irrigation system such as drip irrigation or sprinklers. You must plan for an inch of water in a week and regulate up or down based on the rainfall and intensity of the heat.
Deeply and rare watering is the best way to help your lawn expand deep roots to stay green throughout the summer. A depth of ten inches is a good depth to aim for, and you can check the depth of your water dribble by inserting a screwdriver or similar thing into the ground after watering the lawn.
As there are no watering restrictions in Washington DC, you don't have to worry about the time schedule.
Early summer lawn care in Washington DC
When the summer season starts, watering and mowing your lawn will be your major concern. You should mow during the cooler times of the day, for example, early morning or late afternoon. This will help to prevent excessive stress on your lawn.
You will have to mow approx two to four times in a month and never trim more than 1/3 the height of your lawn at one time. Cutting the grass too short can make it susceptible to drying out quicker.
Various grasses flourish at similar but sometimes different heights. As you'll be planting a mix, so you have to keep your lawn grass between ½ inch to 2 inches tall. Lifting your mower blades an inch at times of severe heat is a great idea too.
Do not follow the same path each time you mow, as this can develop ruts in your yard. If you leave the clippings on your lawn after the mowing is done, it works as a natural fertilizer for your lawn, which will help it flourish.
Mid summer lawn care
For lawn care during the middle part of the summer season, maintenance is what you need to do. Follow the same practices as you're doing, and your lawn will stay just alright. You may need to look out for common lawn weeds such as white clover, chickweed, plantain, and dandelions.
If you observe an invasion of these weeds growing on the lawn, you may consider the use of any suitable type of herbicide or pesticide. Considering the help of lawn care professionals to get the job done is the best option to get effective results.
Late summer lawn care
Lawn care practices during the end of summer in Washington DC will include aeration and fertilization. You can prefer using a machine for aeration that either has hollow metal tines or tubes used to take out soil plugs caused by foot traffic. It's better to stay careful about not using a machine that will only trickle holes in your lawn. After removing the plugs, your lawn can breathe a lot easier. Make use of a rake or shovel to rupture them up and then re-fertilize your lawn to support its revival.
Fertilization application should be done in mid to late spring, but late summer is also a good time. Apply 1 to 2lbs of authentic nitrogen on every 1,000 square feet of your lawn. Keep in mind never to fertilize your lawn during summer heat hits at the peak, as high temperature can burn your lawn and generate new growth that may fight to endure in the heat.
Proper maintenance of your lawn mower
Other than following the above practices for summer lawn care, one thing you should consider when planning lawn care for summer in Washington DC is mower maintenance. You can buy a sharpening kit at a nearby hardware store and use it to file and sharpen the blades of your mower. Clean the base of the mower by eradicating any clustered grass and debris, and change the oil before storing it after work.
By keeping your mower in a place where it won't undergo any rust buildup or other kinds of damage, it will stay ready to get out of the gate when your lawn needs the next mowing.
Follow all of our Washington DC lawn care tips
Following the above best practices for lawn care will help you keep your lawn green, blooming, and thriving even during the summer season. Contacting Lawn Love experts will help you get this all done without any hassle. How? Just fill out the quote form and schedule a service with a Silver Spring lawn care professionals today
