Summer Lawn Care - What to expect in August

Lawn Management

Everyone wants a gorgeous lawn; a thick, lush, green and healthy not only makes your home more inviting, it adds curb appeal.

Lawn care is not difficult however there are many different steps to take in order to keep it looking wonderful; and the region that you live in and the time of year are major factors in lawn management.

In the Northeastern US, August is the most brutal month; the temperature is usually above 85 degrees. Turf management in cities such as Sharon, Foxboro, and Mansfield MA can be very challenging because of the heat, humidity and the effects of the sun.

There are a few steps that you can take to make sure that your lawn stays healthy and beautiful. First, water your lawn in the early morning and early evening. If you water it when the sun is at its strongest, the drop of water can act as a magnifier and burn your lawn.

Most people bag the clippings when the lawn is mowed; if you allow the clippings to be reabsorbed into your lawn, it will give your lawn the nitrogen it needs to stay strong and healthy. Using fertilizer on your lawn even if it doesn’t need it will give your lawn the potassium it needs to stay healthy in the months to come.

Weeds are another problem that most homeowners battle; they are insidious and some are almost impossible to get rid of without professional help. There are different types of weeds that grow during different seasons and in the Northeast, with the climate changing often, they can appear overnight.

One of the toughest weeds to kill is called Paspalum; is a weed that resembles crabgrass however it does not react to the chemicals that are used to get rid of crabgrass. Lawns are treated with special chemical in early spring and late fall to prevent the growth of crabgrass however these chemicals have no effect on Paspalum mainly because it only grows in the hot summer months and thrives in New England weather where sporadic torrential rains appear and then disappear washing away the chemicals needed to eradicate it.

Perhaps the most sinister weed of all is the Nutsedge weed; it not only takes over your lawn, it spreads to lawns all around you. It can literally take over your lawn within days and weed killers that work on almost every other weed has no effect on Nutsedge. Even the healthiest lawns can fall victim to this weed. If you find it in your lawn it is recommended that you contact a professional lawn care company as soon as possible; there is only one type of chemical that eradicate it.

Having a healthy lawn is important and maintaining it is crucial; a beautiful well maintained lawn could actually increase its value of your home.  If you need help in Foxboro, Sharon, Mansfield or surrounded towns, request a free estimate from Turf Pro Inc. owned and operated by Frank and Frank Jr. Sturm.