When people think about Seattle, most of them will conjure images of a rainy city where grungy hippies would sip coffee. However, it is not what Seattle is all about. Its unique location right between the Cascade Mountain Range and the Puget Sound is one of the reasons to love this city.
Seattle is in its technological boom, and people here adore not only coffee but also wine and beer. The city is known for several coffee chains, including Tully's, Seattle's Best, and of course, Starbucks. The climate in the Pacific Northwest is often cool with lots of rain, which is why a caffeine boost is much needed.
The city is also full of famous companies and is mostly made of Fortune 500 businesses, including Amazon, Costco, and Microsoft. While there are large buildings everywhere, Seattle is also abundant in Mother Nature's gifts, including mountains like Mt. Rainier, which is well-loved for its snow capped peaks.
Parks and spaces are everywhere as well, including the Discovery Park that has more than 530 acres of beaches, meadows, and forests. There are a plethora of trees, too, making the entire area look green all year round, especially with the help of evergreen trees.
Aside from these trees, there is also one thing that you want to remain green throughout the year, and that is your lawn. The key to achieving a healthy lawn is regular maintenance. The best way to accomplish this goal is to have a professional who knows the proper way to take care of your turf. Here at Lawn Love, we make sure our customers are satisfied with the results.
Preparing Your Lawn for the Summer Season in Seattle
A green lawn is what homeowners want. In the summer, you probably long to grill barbecues in your yard, host a party, and enjoy outdoor activities with your family and friends. You already know it takes effort and time to achieve a picture-perfect turf.
In Seattle, you can either let the green grass go dormant for the rest of the summer or work on it, so it thrives. Whichever you prefer, you surely want to keep the lawn thick throughout the year. Before the summer, spring kicks in, and this is the season when Seattle looks truly beautiful.
The Pacific Northwest is typically rainy during springtime, which is not fitting for a grassy yard. However, as the season progresses, spring becomes the ideal time, especially for those who want to prepare their lawn for summer. Here are some tips that will help you get ready in time for the warmer days by starting the preparation during spring:
Use herbicide.
At this time of the year, Seattle homes would often see weeds sprouting all over their yard. Spring is when you should eliminate the pesky weeds, including crabgrass, which is quite common in the city. They germinate in springtime, which is why we recommend that you apply an herbicide before the problem gets worse. The pre-emergent product will reduce the possibility of weed growth, so they die before they start propagating.
Time for aeration.
Spring is the best time to aerate the soil because winter may have resulted in a compacted ground. Grass will not grow in this soil condition and cause weed to pop up instead. When you aerate the soil, you reduce compaction, which is very helpful because grass tends to grow in the spring.
Aeration has many benefits, including:
- Allowing the grass seed to move closer to the soil for achieving seed-to-soil interaction, a necessary process for germination.
- Needing less fertilizer.
- Encouraging water to reach the root zone where hydration is needed the most.
With the list of benefits above, we strongly recommend that you do not skip this step.
Use the best type of fertilizer for your Seattle lawn.
When you apply the right fertilizer, you get the grass growing off to a good start. We advise homeowners in Seattle to pick a slow-release fertilizer, which should be performed around the time you mow after a long winter. Apply lightly without going too much rapidly. You should also time the procedure, so you avoid burning the grass blades or doing harm to the lawn.
With a slow-release fertilizer, you spread nutrients steadily all over the grass. The most significant benefit here is that it prepares your lawn so it can withstand the stress it will possibly encounter.
During the Summer Season
When summer is already here, you may not have enough time to perform your lawn maintenance duties. However, it does not mean you should neglect it. Call Lawn Love so we can assess your lawn's situation and we will provide you with the most suitable service for you. Meanwhile, here are useful tips so you can keep your grass healthy during the summer:
Water properly.
You already know the grass needs water, but it is not a good idea to drown it. Instead of watering too frequently, you should hydrate the greens deeply. Most lawns, particularly those that use the warm-season kind, require approximately an inch of water every week. The grass needs more if the weather in the city is hotter than normal summers.
You can reduce the risk of quick evaporation if you water the lawn early in the day. Also, make sure that you water deeply, which will motivate the roots to grow. It will help increase drought tolerance when you forget to water, for instance.
Mow regularly.
Mowing your lawn is essential, which is why you should carry out the task regularly. At the same time, you should also know the correct height as you mow. We teach homeowners not to mow too much, which can cause health problems to your lawn.
A tall grass means that it has deeper roots and usually has high drought tolerance. It also gives the soil the shade it needs to thrive and prevents the weed from germinating. It is not always easy to determine the right grass height, which is why you should simply leave the job to us professionals. Lawn Love will cut your grass expertly so your lawn will remain exquisite throughout the summer.
