Now that they hustle and bustle of spring has slowed down we can relax and enjoy our yard…well almost. Here are a few summer tips to keep in mind to keep your landscape looking it’s best!
1. Now that you’ll be out there mowing the lawn, be on the lookout for turf problems. Here are 3 of the most common ones to look out for:
Red Thread: If you notice a pinkish-reddish tinge to areas of your lawn you more than likely have read thread. The reddish color is actually a fungus on the grass blade. Although it is pretty harmless it can be unsightly. A fertilizer application will quickly remedy this disease by pushing out new growth in your lawn.
Dollar Spot: Named for it’s silver dollar sized “spots” it leaves on the turf as it grows. It occurs after prolonged wet spells on nitrogen deficient grasses. Controlled irrigation times and a fertilizer application should do the trick!
Brown Patch: Brown patch is one of the more common diseases in the lawn when it is hot and humid. It appears as a roughly circular shape that is tan to brown in color. They range in size from 6 inches to several feet in diameter. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers and reduce irrigation in affected areas. There are chemical preventives if necessary.
2. As the temperatures rise in summer and the grass begins to slow it’s growth be sure to raise your mower blades and reduce your number of mowings. You want to prevent stress to the lawn, making it more resilient to heat and drought. In extreme temperatures and drought scenarios most lawns will go dormant (the turf in our area is a cool season grass), no point in mowing and cutting grass that isn’t actually growing. Instead of focusing on the lawn you can now focus on other areas of the landscape.
3. Now that your spring shrubs have completed blooming, early summer is the best time to prune them. Don’t wait til fall, otherwise you’ll end up cutting off those spring flowers for the following season.
4. So you never completed that to do list from spring, as in edging and mulching. Well these tasks are not spring only or fall only, they can be completed all season. Be sure to mulch your plants as it helps to retain much needed moisture during those hot summer months. It also helps to keep the weeds down, we don’t need weeds competing for the same life giving water and nutrients. You want to give your plants the best chance of survival. Edging will help keep the mulch within the planting beds. As a bonus it also looks nice and manicured!
5. Lastly inspect your landscape for potential problems. Be on the lookout for things that don’t look right, such as: spots on leaves or curling leaves, browning needles or needle drop, etc. If it doesn’t look right it probably means it’s not healthy. Tackle the issues head on before it’s too late. Disease problems? call your local landscape professional. Drought problems? Turn up your irrigation or get out those sprinklers! Insect problems? Know which ones are good and bad, treat the problems as necessary.
Now sit back, take a deep breath and enjoy the fruits of your labor, or contact us and let us do the work for you!
