Insects may come out in full force in the summer—just keep in mind that not all of them will hurt your lawn. If left untreated, Japanese beetles will feed on your grass and lay eggs, which will hatch into grubs and start feasting on your grass. Head this off at the pass by applying a preventative grub control product. Use according to directions. If you act fast in the summer, you can kill established weeds before they can bloom and spread seeds. Use a targeted post-emergent herbicide designed to eliminate broadleaf weeds but leave your grass unharmed.
Be mindful that even these herbicides may hurt your grass, so use them sparingly. Dry, hot weather can deplete your soil moisture.
Moisture stress can lead to wilted grass blades, reduced shoot and root growth, and greater susceptibility to pests and weeds. The water should reach 4—6 inches deep. If you meet a lot of resistance, you need to water more. If it slides in too easily, you need to water less. Your lawn may need a mid-summer feeding to promote healthy growth. Check with your local garden store to see if they have any recommendations on whether you should fertilize, and if so, which type to use.
That should do the trick, but if you want to get a jumpstart on fall , you may consider aeration and overseeding. This will give your lawn extra hardiness, helping it to withstand stressors. If your lawn is struggling from bare patches or thinning grass, you can restore it to its former glory with overseeding.
Season-long controls are more effective on small grubs. Grub control is typically available as a granular product. Organic controls are available such as milky spore and beneficial nematodes. We recommend you research the specific application requirements of these options. Insect pests, surface feeding — Insect pests come in two basic categories, root feeders and surface feeders. In our area the primary surface feeders are sod webworm and chinch bug.
Do not treat if there is no sign of insect damage; needless use of chemicals promotes resistance. Insecticides for surface feeders are available in granular and liquid form as well as a component of Step 3 fertilizers. Identification of the specific insect is key to effective treatment. There is a wealth of information on line to help with identification see the link below. Lime — provides calcium carbonate that, although it is not a fertilizer, is crucial to plant growth and helps plants to use other important soil nutrients.
Lime raises pH. Lawn grasses prefer a higher pH than most local soils provide. There are two basic types of lime: calcium carbonate and dolomitic which provides magnesium with other trace elements in addition to calcium. Lime comes in several forms: pelletized, granular, powdered, hydrated caustic — use on bare soil only , or liquid.
Pelletized limes are the easiest to use, are the least likely to burn, and can be applied with any spreader. Overseeding — Bagged grass seeds usually list on the label an overseeding rate that tells you how many pounds of seed you should use per square footage of area. If no overseeding rate is given, apply at half of the regular seeding rate. You should use a blend that matches the growing conditions in your yard and is compatible with the existing turf. Use a slice seeder for best results.
Pre-emergent weed control — Chemical pre-emergents inhibit germination of all seeds and are usually combined with Step 1 fertilizers. The most common target is crabgrass. To prevent germination of weed seeds but allow germination of grass seed, use only Tupersan or a comparable product. Corn gluten is an organic pre-emergent that relies primarily on promoting lush growth which crowds out weeds. All pre-emergents must remain undisturbed after application to be effective.
Seeding — All bagged grass seeds list on the label a seeding rate that tells you how many pounds of seed you should use per square footage of area. Grass seed mixes vary according to sun and wear requirements. You must use a mix that matches the growing conditions in your yard. Thatch — is a layer of decomposing grass stems, roots, and debris that builds up above the soil surface. Normally microorganisms breakdown and maintain thatch at beneficial levels. Use a dethatching machine, a thatching rake, or a vertical cutter.
Go over the whole lawn once; rake up the debris. Repeat at right angles; rake up the debris. You should not need to dethatch every year. View All Videos! All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Lawn Care Month by Month. Share Via:. Share on facebook Facebook. Share on twitter Twitter. Share on linkedin LinkedIn. A thick lawn will crowd out weeds. Weed seeds need light to germinate and a dense lawn will prevent light from reaching the surface of the soil. Hand-pulling weeds may make sense when there are few weeds, especially if the weeds are annuals, however, even the best protected lawns can have broadleaf weeds.
Hand pulling weeds will often result in re-growth as it is very difficult to remove the weeds root. Avoid applying when the temperature is over 90 degrees with no rain expected for 24 hours. These products provide weed control without any fertilizer. The label on any lawn product is there to give you valuable information on how the fertilizer or herbicide should be used.
Before using any product, read the label to make sure the product does what you want and can be used on your lawn grass. Putting down the wrong product or too much can severely damage even the toughest lawn grass. Summer annual weeds complete their life cycle within 12 months.
Summer annual weeds emerge in the spring or early summer, grow during the summer, produce seed in mid to late summer, and are killed by frost in the fall. However, some seeds will germinate again the following spring. These weeds need to be controlled with a pre-emergent fertilizer in early spring. Annual weeds are generally the easiest to control because they do not produce root structures capable of beginning new plant growth. Annual weeds produce a great deal of seeds at the end of the season, but do not return the following year.
Summer perennial weeds are active for two or more years; plants grow as long as conditions are favorable and frequently die back to soil level with the first hard frost. New growth emerges at the start of the growing season, originating from roots or stem remains; in warmer regions, some perennial weeds can be green year-round.
Summer perennial weeds spread by various means, including seed, stems that root as they creep along or pieces of root. Examples are creeping charlie, curly dock, dandelion and plantain. Applying weed and feed fertilizer in the middle of summer may give a nitrogen boost that could damage the delicate roots of a stressed lawn. For this reason, applying a broadleaf weed and feed should take place in spring or early summer, when both weeds and grasses are actively growing.
For example, the granules of weed-and-feed products, which must be applied with a spreader, have to stick to the leaves of the weeds to be effective. That requires moisture. Whether you use a granular weed-and-feed or liquid broadleaf weed killer, the weeds must be actively growing for the chemical to work. Treating during a hot, dry spell in summer may yield disappointing results. Spring and fall, when temperatures are moderate and moisture plentiful, are the ideal times.
Feeding your lawn in the summer protects and strengthens it against insects, heat stress, drought and foot traffic problems. Weeds will be harder to kill in the summer as many have developed a strong root system. Examples of common broadleaf weeds are dandelions, clover, chickweed, wild violet, oxalis and thistle.
Broadleaf weeds are at their most vulnerable in the spring when they are growing fast, using nutrients through their roots and adsorbing water through their leaves. But you can still apply a weed and feed fertilizer. Spring lawn care is about getting your lawn healthy and green. Drought-stressed summer lawns are more susceptible to insects like grubs, chinch bugs, cutworms, and sod web worms.
If you see insects in your grass, use a feeding product that also contains insect control, such as Scotts Turf Builder with SummerGuard. It contains 0.
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