End of Summer Lawn and Tree Care Tips
Summer is coming to an end and it's time to start thinking about how to prepare your lawn and trees for the cooler months ahead. Here are some tips on what you can do to help them stay healthy and looking great!
Lawn Care Tips
Keeping your lawn green and healthy all season long takes some effort, but it's worth it! Here are a few things you can do to keep your lawn looking its best:
Mow Your Grass on a High Setting
Mow regularly and at the proper height. Depending on the type of grass you have, you'll want to mow it anywhere from two to four inches tall. Taller grass will help protect the roots from the heat, will lead to deeper roots, prevent weeds from growing, and will also help your lawn to better withstand drought conditions.
Water Early in the Day
Watering early in the day will allow the water to penetrate deep into the soil before evaporating. This will encourage deeper root growth, which is important for a healthy lawn.
Fertilize Your Lawn
Fertilizing your lawn helps it to better absorb nutrients and moisture. It's best to fertilize your lawn in late summer or early fall, so that it has time to green up before winter sets in.
Insect And Disease Control
Hot summers can leave lawns susceptible to insect infestations and disease. Bugs like fire ants, fleas, chinch bugs, and mosquitoes thrive in hot weather. Some of these insects won’t just ruin your family’s time outside, they’ll ruin your lawn as well. If this happens to you, learn more about our insect and disease control treatments & get protected today.
Aerate Your Lawn
The summer sun and heat make the soil of your yard compact, making it hard for water, air, nutrients, and fertilizer to get to the roots of your grass. Aerating your lawn will reduce compaction, improve drainage, and increase the effectiveness of your fertilizer.
Tree and Shrub Care Tips
Trees and shrubs make your lawn look complete, so don’t forget about them when you’re doing your end of summer lawn care! Here are a few tips to prepare your tree and shrub for the summer:
Water Trees Slowly
Sunny days make watering your trees seem like a quick and easy task, but beware! Watering your trees too quickly can cause the water to run off before it has a chance to soak in. Instead, water your trees slowly and deeply to encourage deep root growth.
Spread Mulch
Mulching helps protect your tree’s roots from heat and drought stress, as well as provides nutrients for the tree. Apply mulch around the base of your tree, making sure not to mound it up against the trunk. The ideal depth is 2-inches to 4-inches.
Fertilize Your Trees and Shrubs
Healthy trees resist insect damage and diseases. Fertilizers can give trees the macronutrients they need to thrive, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. Because it can be difficult to determine the right fertilizer ratio, we recommend contacting the professionals here at Custom Turf to help!
Prune Your Trees Regularly
Summer weather in Pittsburgh is unpredictable. It is not uncommon for late afternoons to bring heavy winds and rain. If the branches on your trees are weak, it won't take much for wind to blow them off. Also, if you have any dead branches, now is the time to trim them! Not only will this help your tree look its best, but it will also prevent any accidents.
Need Some Help From The Lawn Care Professionals?
Lawn care is incredibly important, but it’s also incredibly time-consuming. At no time is this more obvious than during a hot summer! If you notice your lawn starting to wilt or see mosquitoes starting to take over your property, give us a call and we’d be glad to help. Here at Custom Turf, we know how important your lawn is to you, and we hope these end of summer lawn care tips help your yard thrive!