In life and lawn care, too much of a good thing can turn out to be bad. Though we look forward to the summertime and seeing our grass thrive in the warm weather, too much heat can be detrimentalto our lawns. Heat stress can manifest in an unpleasant aesthetic and a deteriorated yard.
Fear not; we have the tips and tricks you need to care for your lawn this summer to avoid heat stress. From spotting the signs of too much heat to understanding lawn dormancy, you will walk away equipped and ready to take on summer lawn care and potential heat-stressed lawn issues headfirst.
Signs of a Heat-stressed Lawn
With the hot summer months comes the possibility of heat stress caused by sun overexposure or high temperatures. The first step to spotting any signs of a heat-stressed lawn is to observe your grass for changes. Heat stress will deteriorate and then kill your grass if left untreated.
Signs of a heat-stressed lawn:
- browning grass
- wilting grass
- patchiness
- thinning grass
Once you find what’s causing grass issues, you can work to reinstate optimal health with the right lawn care techniques, products, and timing.
Lawn Care for Heat-stressed Grass
Too much consistent heat and direct sun exposure can be overwhelming to your lawn, but the right techniques don’t have to be. To better take care of your heat-stressed lawn, consider these lawn care tips
- Lawn watering - make sure to water your lawn adequately to provide it with proper hydration. A properly hydrated lawn can cool itself effectively through transpiration.
- Reduce foot traffic - avoid causing further damage to weak and sensitive grass blades during extreme temperatures.
- Don’t mow the grass too low - keep the mower settinghigher during heat stress to create a better barrier between the sun and the soil.
Taking extra precautions during this sensitive time frame can make the difference between protecting fragile grass and killing it altogether. While the elements will inevitably affect your lawn, take control with properlawn care.
Understanding Lawn Dormancy
When your grass enters a state of dormancy, it shuts down and temporarily stops growing. Lawn dormancy is a part of a grasses' natural reaction to cold conditions or heat stress. When there is consistent overexposure to the sun, and it becomes too much for the grass to withstand, it will go into a state of dormancy as a protective measure and remain dormant until the conditions improve.
You can’t control the weather, but while you're waiting for better external conditions, you can help relieve a heat-stressed lawn by thoroughly and deeply watering it. It would be best if you also gained an understanding of lawn dormancy in summer so that you can care for your grass the right way and avoid harsh products that will further damage your weakened lawn.
When to Use a Lawn Care Fertilizer
If you’re worried that your grass is stunted or dormant outside of its natural cycle, there may be an underlying lawn issue. In this case, you can apply a growth booster or lawn care fertilizer. However, if your lawn is heat-stressed, avoid fertilizer products. Lawn fertilizer on a heat-stressed lawn can have the opposite effect and can cause further damage to an already sensitive grass area.
If other issues such as nutrient deficiency are causing your lawn to look worse for the wear, you may want to consider applying fast-acting, nourishing lawn fertilizer. Our liquid lawn fertilizer and otherliquid lawn care products are formulated for smaller particle sizes that are quickly and more effectively absorbed by the soil.
Simple Lawn Solutions offers lawn care products to combat any lawn issues, including heat stress, so you can worry less and enjoy your lawn more.
FAQs
Lawn Care for Heat-stressed Grass
How to repair a heat stressed lawn? ›
- Time your watering. Water your lawn between 6am and 10am. ...
- Water the right amount. Water deep, always. ...
- Set your mower blades high. Set your mower blades on the highest level for your grass. ...
- Reduce lawn use. ...
- Rethink fertilizing.
Scotts® TurfBuilder® UltraFeed™is an excellent choice for fertilizing lawns that tend to get stressed in the summer. It holds onto nutrients until your lawn needs them, then releases them. Because of this, a single feeding can last up to 6 months.
How to maintain grass in extreme heat? ›
Letting your lawn grow longer during summer months can protect from heat stress and encourage deeper root growth. Longer grass offers a richer, deeper green. Set your mower at the highest level during hot summer months. Turf should be at least 3 inches and does best between 3-4 inches, mowing once per week or less.
How do you revive a stressed lawn? ›
Lightly rake the healthy areas to get rid of dying grass and aerate the soil for root stimulation. Once you have the land prepared, take a rotary seed spreader and lay down new grass seed over the dead spots. Using a lawn roller, gently press the seeds into the soil of the dead spots.
Can grass recover from heat damage? ›
When your lawn has heat damaged, it doesn't just turn brown — the dead, brown grass will eventually disappear and reveal the ground beneath it. These bare patches of ground are easily susceptible to weeds. This is why you need to cover bare patches of your lawn with seeds in order to try and regrow the grass.
What does lawn heat stress look like? ›
If your lawn is experiencing heat stress the colour will quickly start to brown and become hay-like in colour. As the problem worsens, you may notice the dried grass disappears and your lawn will appear patchy and is at risk of dying off.
Should you fertilize grass in extreme heat? ›
If you want to fertilize because the grass is growing slowly, keep in mind this is normal in hot weather. If you want to make the lawn look healthier, do not fertilize in high temperatures if the lawn is dry. Applying fertilizer during dormancy or normal slow growth will not provide proper nourishment.
How often should you water your lawn in 100 degree weather? ›
As a general rule, it is ideal to water a lawn in hot weather infrequently, yet thoroughly, instead of lightly misting in various times of the day. You must water your lawn in hot weather at least three times per week, as long as you soak the soil to a depth of at least six to eight inches.
Should you water grass in extreme heat? ›
Water at the right times
Experts advise the best time to water your lawn is early morning or late evening when it's cooler. If you water during hot periods of the day, most of the water will evaporate, and won't absorb into the lawn.
Lawn Care for Heat-stressed Grass
Don't mow the grass too low - keep the mower setting higher during heat stress to create a better barrier between the sun and the soil.
Does leaving grass clippings help grass grow? ›
The most important thing you can do for your lawn is to feed it regularly, and grass clippings contain the same beneficial nutrients (like nitrogen and potassium) as lawn food, though in smaller amounts. Overall, grass clippings can provide a portion of the annual nutrient requirement for your lawn.
How do you rehab a bad lawn? ›
Basic steps for lawn renovation
- Conduct a soil test. Contact local county extension offices for information on soil testing. ...
- Begin weed control. Use broadleaf herbicides if the weeds are primarily non-grasses. ...
- Provide adequate soil moisture. ...
- Mow. ...
- Remove thatch. ...
- Prepare soil. ...
- Fertilize. ...
- Seed.
If the burnt area is small, reseeding will be the most cost-effective choice. However, if it is a larger area, sod would be a better choice. If the damage has not reached the roots, then a consistent watering schedule will potentially and hopefully revive your grass.
Will grass grow back after hot weather? ›
If you're lucky your lawn will usually recover rapidly with renewed rainfall after the drought. If not, simply wait until the heat wave passes and begin your lawn care routine again.
How do you fix heat stress? ›
Lay the person down and raise the legs and feet slightly. Remove tight or heavy clothing. Have the person sip chilled water, a sports drink containing electrolytes or another nonalcoholic beverage without caffeine. Cool the person by spraying or sponging with cool water and fanning.
Should you mow heat stressed lawn? ›
Once grass starts turning brown or wilting, or growth is slowing, it's important to hold off on mowing, nutrient, and pesticide application. Most homeowners can tell just by looking at their lawn if it is suffering, whether from heat stress or otherwise.
