With all the delights of summer, it also comes with its own list of concerns when it comes to lawn care.
Drought, garden pests, summer weeds, and fungal lawn diseases are among the most worrisome. Fortunately, Frisco Lawn Pros is ready to take care of you and your yard no matter what you’re facing.
Let’s take a look at each of these factors and learn a bit more about why they’re an issue specifically in the summer:
Drought
This one seems like a no-brainer. Even though Texas can experience drought any time of the year, it is most hazardous to your landscape in the hot, long days of summer.
But the solution may not be as clear-cut as you think.
For instance, did you know that grass that’s allowed to get just a little bit thirsty is actually better prepared to withstand a drought, compared to grass that gets watered really frequently? That is because, just like animals, plants are able to build resiliency through adversity.
Let’s break that concept down a bit further.
When the roots of your grass are thirsty, they will begin to grow deeper into the soil in search of water. This can only happen if your grass goes unwatered long enough to prompt the root system to grow.
Obviously you don’t want to let your turf dry up, but letting it get thirsty once in awhile helps the root system deepen. Thus, when a drought does hit, it’s already prepared to work harder for water.
Garden Pests
There are all kinds of pests to look out for in the summer season.
Popular suspects include aphids, chinch bugs, armyworms, mealy bugs, and grub worms. Whether they attack the roots, the soil, or the foliage itself, these guys will wreak havoc on your lawn and garden in very short notice.
A small number of grub worms is pretty common for most lawns, and the beetles they produce are often harmless. However, more than 5 per square foot of soil can be a problem. You can determine this by digging up a trouble spot and inspecting.
There are other pests like armyworms and chinch bugs that you simply do not want at all. Insecticides and beneficial predators (like ladybugs) are effective against most adult insects. Just keep in mind that a chemical treatment will kill the good guys too.
Learn more about Treatment for Chinch Bugs, Grub Worms, and Armyworms.
Fungal Diseases
There is a whole host of lawn diseases that thrive in both the heat and the cold. The common denominator for most of them, however, is excessive moisture. The first thing to make sure of if you want to avoid fungal lawn diseases is that you aren’t overwatering your lawn.
There are other risk factors as well, such as cutting your grass too low or too high, and even using too much or too little nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Basically, lawn diseases will set in anywhere there is an imbalance in your lawn’s health.
The problem with summer diseases is that many of them simply look like a dry patch, at least initially. So how can you tell if your grass is suffering from drought or from a fungal infection? And what do you do about it?
Our friends at Ryno Lawn Care have an extensive list of fungal diseases and how to identify them. Some key factors to consider are whether they yellow patch has a red or brown tint, whether it is hollow in the middle, and whether the surrounding grass is healthy. If you can say yes to any of these, then you’re looking at a disease rather than a dry patch.
Keeping a healthy lawn is not difficult, but you need to have the right information and know how to execute it properly. If you would rather leave the work to the professionals, check out our Frisco Lawn Pros Service list to find out how we can help your lawn stay beautiful.