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During the summer, having a green thumb or not doesn't matter when it comes to yard care. It is a time when your lawn either remains looking lush and green as it did in the spring or turns brown and patchy. It is also when hydration and lawn maintenance matters more than planting more plants.Therefore to have the best-looking yard in your neighbourhood, here is how you can take care of it in the summer.

1. Plant Drought-Resistant Lawn Grass

To have an easy time and save water consumption, ensure your landscaper plants drought-resistant lawn grass.

Drought-resistant lawn grass thrives better, especially in the summer.

The table below shows three of the most drought-resistant lawn grass varieties you can plant in the Lower Mainland.

Grass Type	Pros	Cons
Kentucky Bluegrass	Very hardy since it has a deep root system and can withstand excessive heat Dense and lush, making it a good choice for high-traffic areas	Requires more sun instead of shade so it won't do well in shaded parts of your yard Needs regular mowing to maintain its appearance
Perennial Ryegrass	Very fast-growing, making it a good choice for areas that need reseeding quickly Can withstand heat and high traffic Tolerant of a variety of soils	Can be coarse  Doesn't have the same lush appearance as Kentucky bluegrass
Creeping Red Fescue	Drought-tolerant and can also withstand extreme cold Low maintenance as it does not require as much mowing as other grasses	Not appropriate for high-traffic areas  Can be susceptible to pests and diseases

 

2: Mow Your Lawn at the Right Height

Mowing your lawn doesn't mean you cut it as they do on golf courses or football fields that still use natural grass.

It means mowing it at a height that promotes healthy growth. 

So during the spring, mow your lawn at a height of 3 to 4 inches to allow the grass to catch more sunlight and recover from the winter dormancy.

Then during summer, increase the mowing height to about 4 to 5 inches because

1. Grass with longer height provides shade to the soil, maintaining moisture which reduces the need to water your lawn more frequently.

2. It encourages the roots to deeply penetrate the soil absorbing the water and nutrients from deeper soil layers.

3. Weeds don’t thrive under taller grass because they have limited access to sunlight and nutrients.

4. Improves air quality by filtering any pollutants. So as your lawn enjoys a lush green, you get to breathe fresh air.

3: Use Mulching to Retain Moisture

Mulching requires adding shredded leaves, straw, grass clippings, wood chips, and compost to your lawn to retain moisture.

You can also use a mulching lawn mower that finely cuts the grass chippings and deposits them back onto the lawn instead of collecting and bagging them.

This provides numerous benefits to the lawn including:

• Gives the soil much-needed shade from the scorching sun.

• Enriches the soil with nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that improve its structure and fertility to support lush growth.

• Saves you time by eliminating the need to collect and dispose of the grass clippings. 

• Recycling grass clippings helps you reduce green waste as they act as a natural fertilizer. This reduces the use of any chemicals found in synthetic fertilizers as well as the pollution of water.

• Tips on Using Mulch to Boost Your Lawn’s Health in the Summer

  Here's how to use mulch in your yard to effectively retain moisture:

• Apply the right amount of mulch over the soil surface, but do not overdo it. Over mulching creates a thick barrier between the atmosphere and the soil which hinders water penetration into the soil.

• Do not over-pile mulch against the base of the plants or trees to avoid accumulating excess moisture around the stems which can cause the plants to rot. 

• Do not overwater your lawn and plants when you have mulch at the base of trees or plants.

• Always leave a small gap around the stem and mulch to ensure that moisture can evaporate easily.

• If you do not use a mulching lawnmower regularly, ensure that you replenish the mulch often like once or twice a year, to maintain its effectiveness.

• Water your lawn immediately after adding mulch, especially in the summer, to seal in moisture and prevent rapid evaporation.

• Sources:

• https://www.landscapeeast.com/blog/irrigation-systems-keeping-grass-green-during-summer-2011-08 

• https://theturfgrassgroup.com/turf-maintenance/5-tips-for-summer-lawn-care/ 

• https://weedman.com/en-ca/resources/lawn-care-library/generaltips-western-canada

• https://www.ualberta.ca/folio/2019/04/how-to-keep-your-lawn-green-and-healthy.html

• https://www.pennington.com/all-products/grass-seed/resources/all-you-need-to-know-about-perennial-ryegrass

• https://getlawnstar.com/blog/grass-identification-guide/

• https://www.calgary.ca/property-owners/lawn-seeding

• https://www.nlinc.ca/5-different-types-grass/

• https://www.homesandgardens.com/gardens/which-mower-height-is-best-for-spring-lawns

• https://www.thespruce.com/perennial-ryegrass-a-serious-lawn-contender-2153133

• https://www.nutrilawn.com/grass-types-kentucky-bluegrass

• https://lawnmowerguru.com/creeping-red-fescue-pros-and-cons/