Caring for your lawn in arid summer

With summer now in full swing, and temperatures beginning to soar, it’s important to note that care and patience will make the difference between a lush, healthy lawn and a coarse, brown eyesore, especially when rainfall is sparse.

Most people take pride and care in maintaining their lawns, although weather conditions often hamper even a green thumb’s best efforts. And, it’s not just a matter of beauty — or friendly neighborhood competition. Maintaining your home’s landscape is important for property values.

According to the Oregon State University Extension Service (OSUES), many people water their lawn more than necessary. As a result, lawns have developed a reputation for using a lot of water. Instead of following a predetermined watering schedule, check the soil moisture regularly. You can then alter your schedule to better meet your lawn’s needs.

To check soil moisture, the OSUES suggests inserting a screwdriver into the soil. If it penetrates the soil easily, it is moist. If not, you know your lawn is getting dry.

During dry summers, consider watering half as much as usual. Lawns will stay mainly green, with a few brown spots, if they receive ½ to ¾ inch of water per week. Watering once or twice a week to apply this amount of water should be sufficient.

Here are some additional lawn care strategies from Roch Gaussion, Ph.D., associate professor of Agronomy and Horticulture at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln:

Minimize fertilization. Over-fertilized and over-watered lawns tend to lack the wherewithal to thrive under stress. This spells trouble during a drought because the lawn hasn’t developed a deep root system. Heavily fertilized lawns also require more water, so homeowners may want to wait until fall to fertilize.

Mow your lawn properly. A good rule of thumb for mowing is “never remove more than one-third of the grass at one time.” Gaussoin recommends raising the mowing height of your lawn mower to at least one setting higher than you’re using now. He adds that mowing higher forces grass to develop and use deeper roots.

Try mulching — even if you don’t have a mulching mower. Let clippings remain on the grass. Lawns tend to lose more water and nutrients through evaporation when you remove clippings.

If you didn’t aerate your lawn in the spring, consider doing so this fall. Aeration creates small holes in the ground that allow water to soak deeper into the ground and promotes root growth.

Maintain your lawn care equipment. Sharpen mower blades at least twice this summer. Dull blades tear grass, forcing grass to use 40 to 60 percent more water while it struggles to recover from stress.

Finally, water deeply and infrequently. According to Gaussoin, watering from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. is ideal. Irrigating during the day wastes water, because much of the water evaporates in the heat.

Heeding these few guidelines will go a long way to helping you maintain and enjoy your lawn, even through the hot, dry summer.

For all of your new construction, remodeling and home improvement needs, please do not hesitate to call upon the professionals at the Spokane Home Builders Association, 509-532-4990. Whether it’s getting your lawn and garden in tip-top shape, to building your dream home or remodeling your existing home, we have nearly 1,000 local professional companies eager to assist you.