Irrigating Your Lawn in July
Lawn care maintenance during the height of the summer is all about finding out exactly what your lawn needs. When it comes to keeping track of your lawn’s needs, the most important factors are mowing, watering, fertilizing, and keeping an eye out for lawn bugs. So, read on to learn how you can stay on top of your lawn’s needs during the month of July.
Irrigation
During the month of July, your lawn requires roughly 2.5 cm of water per week. However, this doesn’t take into account any additional precipitation through rainfall. It can be a risky move to count on rain during July, especially in hot and humid Burlington, Ontario. Without water, your lawn will go dormant. While this is not the end of the world - it’ll perk up next season! But it can be discouraging when you’ve put a lot of hard work into it.
The best lawn care watering is done first thing in the morning, or in the evening. Instead of watering every day, water once or twice a week thoroughly. By watering deeply you will encourage each blade of grass to establish deep roots that help it retain moisture, and ward off insects more effectively.
One of the most effective ways to make sure you are watering your lawn properly is to install a custom in-ground irrigation system. Nutri-Lawn Burlington offers several weather sensing sprinkler control options that automatically take into account precipitation and recalculate the amount of water your lawn needs.
Mowing
During the summer mow your lawn as high as possible. This will help the soil retain moisture that is beneficial both for the health of your grass, as well as for warding off bug infestations. A good rule of thumb to follow is the One-Third Rule. Never mow more than one-third of the height of a blade of grass during a single mowing. Cutting any more than one third causes unnecessary stress on your entire lawn.
Fertilizing
If it has been a particularly wet summer, or your lawn receives regular irrigation, a summertime boost of fertilizer might be called for in July. Over time, water runoff and diluted nutrients can cause the health of your lawn to lessen. A little added fertilizer can give your lawn the nutrition it needs. To determine whether your lawn qualifies for July fertilizing, carry out a soil test using an at-home test.
Lawn Care Bugs
During July, several lawn bugs come into their prime. For example, the Hairy Chinch Bug, Bluegrass Billbug, and Turfgrass Scale. The Chinch bug saps nutrients from individual blades of grass. Meanwhile the Bluegrass Billbug causes damage to small groups of plants. You will notice the affected areas gradually turning yellow and dying. Lastly, the Turfgrass scale - which primarily affects sod - causes small patches of grass to stay dormant into the next growing season.
To learn more about July lawn care, or discuss lawn care & maintenance packages for Burlington and the surrounding area, get in touch with Nutri-Lawn Burlington at 905-632-2445.