Summer is here, and the wet season along with it. Your lawn will be loving the humidity and sunshine, but so too will the weeds. Keeping your lawn lush and green during extreme temperature changes while also battling weeds may seem like a lot of work. However, a little planning and these lawn care tips for All Year Round Turf in Sydney will reduce your workload so you can spend more time enjoying your backyard.
Summer Watering
There’s usually plenty of rainfall during a Sydney summer, but the area is known to go through the occasional dry spell or two during the warmer months. Your lawn will benefit most from infrequent deep watering, about once a week, rather than daily light watering.
Daily light watering means much of the moisture is evaporating before it can do the grass any good. Deep watering gives moisture more time to penetrate about 30 cm into the soil, which encourages roots to seek it out by growing deeper.
A more substantial root system makes your lawn competitive against any weeds that may try to take hold, as well as giving it the endurance to thrive through Sydney’s occasional dry spells. Another advantage of deep watering is that it will take less water overall to keep your grass green and vibrant.
Check for Hydrophobic Soil
You may want to check your soil for hydrophobia. A hydrophobic soil is one that will repel water rather than absorb it. You can test for this condition by watering an area of your lawn and watching what the water does. If it doesn’t soak in quickly, your soil may have developed hydrophobia. Aerating your lawn can help, and you can also use a wetting agent like Lawn Soaker.
Summer Lawn Mowing Strategy
Regular mowing during the summer is one of the keys to a great-looking and healthy lawn. Keep your mower at a height that will only remove a third of the leaf as this will minimize stress on the grass. Some lawn advice suggests longer leaves are better at managing heat, while conflicting advice states that shorter grass reduces moisture loss. The best thing to do is to monitor the lawn and adjust your mower height according to how the grass responds.
Mow early in the day, or late in the afternoon. Heat stress is more likely to occur on freshly cut grass during the middle of the day than when it is cooler. Keep your mower blades nice and sharp because a clean cut won’t stress the grass as much.
If you need more professional advice on lawn care during summer, get in touch with the lawn care professionals at All Year Round Turf.
