In Southern Ontario, weather can be unpredictable, swinging from early warm spells to unexpected snow and back to scorching heat in a matter of weeks. This volatility doesn’t just drive us humans crazy—it’s tough on our lawns too.
Understanding the Impact on Your Lawn
Lawns in our region are primarily composed of cool-season grasses, which thrive in moderate temperatures but struggle when exposed to prolonged heat and drought. When temperatures soar and rain becomes scarce, lawns can quickly enter a state of dormancy, turning yellow or brown as they conserve energy. However, dormant doesn’t mean dead. With the right care, your lawn can bounce back once the weather cools down and the rain returns.
Why LawnSavers is Your Best Defense
When facing the challenges of high heat and low rainfall, having a knowledgeable partner like LawnSavers can make all the difference. Here’s how we help:
- Expert Fertilization: We use Ultra Slow-release Premium Polyon™ Granular Fertilizer, which provides a steady release of nutrients, helping your lawn stay strong even under stress. Unlike competitors who might apply quick-release fertilizers that spike growth and then leave your lawn vulnerable, our approach builds resilience.
- Weed Management: We apply FIESTA® Weed Management, designed to target weeds without harming your lawn. Weeds thrive in stressed conditions, but our treatments keep them at bay, allowing your grass to recover.
- Soil Health: Healthy soil is the foundation of a healthy lawn. Our NO-MESS Liquid Aeration and SEA KELP Strengthening Bio-Stimulant improve soil structure and water retention, crucial during dry spells.
- Customized Care: We tailor our services to your lawn’s specific needs, ensuring that even during extreme weather, your grass receives the right care to survive and thrive.
Proactive Tips for Homeowners
While LawnSavers provides the expertise and treatments your lawn needs, there are steps you can take to help your grass endure the summer heat:
- Water Wisely: Aim to provide 1-2 inches of water per week. It’s better to water deeply and less frequently than to give your lawn a shallow, daily sprinkle. Consider using a cycle-and-soak method to combat hydrophobic soils—water for 15 minutes, then wait 30 minutes, and repeat. This allows the water to penetrate deeply into the soil.
- Mow High and Less Often: During heat stress, raise your mower blades and cut your lawn less frequently. Taller grass shades the soil, reducing evaporation and encouraging deeper roots.
- Limit Activity: Try to minimize foot traffic and other activities on stressed lawns. The less stress your lawn faces, the better it can handle the heat.
Stay Ahead with LawnSavers
Extreme weather can challenge even the healthiest lawns, but with LawnSavers, you’re not facing Turfageddon alone. Our team is committed to keeping your lawn Green, Thick, and Healthy, no matter what Mother Nature throws at it. For tailored lawn care that adapts to the weather, get in touch with us today.
For more information on how LawnSavers can help your lawn thrive even in tough conditions, fill out our free estimate form, text, or call us. We’re here to partner with you in maintaining a beautiful lawn.
Here are my 5 best summer lawn care tips:
1. Water deeply at least once a week for about 1.5 -2 hours in each area. Lawns need 1-1.5 inches of water each week to look their best. Apply the water deeply no more than twice a week to deliver the prescribed amount.
If we have more than 2 days of 28 deg C+ temperatures in one week, than water twice that week!
2. Mow high, at least 2.75-3 inches. Longer blades up top, support deeper roots below!
3. Only mow during the morning or evening, and only when the lawn reaches about 4 inches in height. Mowing in high heat causes mechanical damage from the weight of the machine, and even more stress with walking on it during the intense heat and sun. Plus the longer blades provide shade cover for the root system and the crown of the plant. (leaving the lawn to get too long and then hacking it down causes even more stress- expect yellowing within days!)
4. Limit activity on the lawn. The dormant blades and fragile crowns are easily injured at this time.
5. Check for Chinch bugs! Chinch bugs love the heat and sun and can actively be sucking the remaining juices from your grass blades and inserting their turf killing toxic poison while you sit idly by. Chinch damaged turf will not grow back and you will need to seed and top-dress these areas in September. There will be lots of time to grow and rehabilitate your lawn during the great growing season of September through November!
5 1/2. Fertilize only with a proper summer-balanced High % slow release fertilizer. Using the wrong fertilizer can cause surge growth using up the plants vital energy for no benefit. Better yet, you can burn your lawn by using quick release fertilizers or using too much at the wrong time of the year.
Important Notes: The typical Ontario lawn is primarily the cool season plant called Kentucky Bluegrass. It is important to note that you need to accept that most plants (including turf) just can’t grow in intense heat with no rain. Even Organic and chemical Weed Controls are not as effective during high heat as the plant under stress can not absorb it adequately. It is not reasonable to expect a Thick, Green lawn during times of drought, but with proper care, your lawn will bounce back beautifully in September while your neighbours are left scratching their heads.
Unsure of what to do on your lawn with all this heat? Don’t fret, a well maintained lawn will recover. Call us for help, we can provide advice and assistance, and provide tips on your watering. Please leave us a comment, we’d love to help!
