As the days get longer and the temperatures start to heat up, it’s time to start thinking about summer lawn care. It seems like just yesterday we were talking about spring lawn care and weed prevention. Now it’s time to take your yard into summer which will require some changes to your lawn treatment routine.
How to Keep My Lawn Green in Summer
Summer lawn care consists of battling weed prevention, preventing grub from destroying your yard, and keeping your grass green and healthy. One of the most important and useful things you can do to your yard is to get a soil test. A soil test can tell you exactly what your lawn needs in order for your plants to not only live but thrive. Your soil pH is measured on a scale from 0-14. Ideally, your soil’s pH balance should fall between 6.2 and 7.2. When pH levels fall below 7.0 the soil is considered acidic. Soils in southwest Ohio are generally more acidic due to our glacial past and heavy spring rainfalls. Soils with high acidity levels make it very challenging for plants to take up nutrients such as potassium and phosphorus.
Summer Lawn Care Services
The secret to a healthy, weed-free lawn is keeping your lawn healthy. It sounds so simple but many homeowners don’t understand that with proper weed prevention and lawn treatment, you can achieve that perfect yard.
Grub Control
Grubs are a major cause for concern in Ohio which is why grub control is one of the major areas you should focus on when going about your summer chores. Grubs cause massive amounts of lawn damage in our state by feeding on the roots of the grass. It is vital for the health of your lawn, to keep a vigilant eye out for signs of grub damage. If you haven’t seen one, grubs are the larvae of June bugs and Japanese beetles. They feed underground until they reach adulthood and dig their way to the surface. Adults will feed on the foliage of trees in large numbers and then return to the ground to lay a new batch of eggs. A large grub population can leave devastating results on your lawn.
Signs of Grub Damage
- Bare spots
- Yellowing or dying areas of grass
- Birds picking at the ground
- Skunks and raccoons digging up the yard
- Mole activity.
Weed control
If you are a homeowner in Ohio then you know that weed control is a never-ending battle. In the spring, weeds can be controlled with pre-emergent herbicides but in the summer you will have to change your strategy. Weeds that are not removed in the summer will go to seed in the fall and spread new seeds all over your lawn where they will wait until spring. You can be proactive about next year’s weeds by eliminating summer weeds before they go to seed. Summer weed prevention consists of observing and monitoring your lawn for stray weeds. Once identified they can either be pulled by hand or sprayed with post-emergent herbicides.
Lawn Fertilization
As we mentioned, keeping your grass thick and healthy is key to preventing weeds. The way to keep your grass looking lush is with proper lawn fertilization. Choosing the right fertilizer for your yard can be overwhelming. That is why we recommend getting your soil analyzed beforehand. Knowing the makeup of your soil will help you make a more informed decision and choose the best fertilizer for your lawn. When coupled with lawn aeration, lawn fertilization can revitalize your lawn, prevent lawn diseases, and vastly improve the health of your lawn.
Why is Lawn Care Important?
The effort you put into your lawn now will have lasting effects, not just for the rest of the season but into next year as well. It’s important to start a regular lawn care routine and stick with that routine. With consistent vigilance and care, you can get your lawn to look like the lawn you have always wanted.
Get Lawn Care in Ohio
At Turf Pro Plus we specialize in creating and maintaining picture-perfect landscapes. We offer a full menu of lawn care services designed to keep your lawn looking green and healthy all year. Contact us now to learn about both. You can reach us by phone at 513-545-6295 or visit our website and fill out our form online.