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It's officially the hottest part of summer, which means high temperatures, sunny days, and backyard barbecues — all things enjoyed more on a lush green lawn. You don't have to accept defeat and let your lawn turn brown in the heat — there's still plenty of potential for excellent lawn care in the peak of summertime.
In spite of the blistering hot weather, with the right tools and know how, you can still make your lawn the pristine green oasis you deserve.
Here are five tips to keep your outdoor space at its best.
Set up a good watering schedule
In hot Utah summers, watering deeply and less often is the best way to keep your grass hydrated and lively. According to the Utah Department of Natural Resources, every county in the state should be irrigating their lawns about three times per week. Depending on what type of sprinkler you are using will determine how long to run the water. Check with your local water authority for recommended volumes.
According to the Lawn Doctor, watering grass in the morning before 10 a.m. is ideal. More water will reach the roots of the grass, making it stronger and healthier. When you water later in the day, higher temperatures evaporate the water before it can really do its job.
Keep an eye out for signs of overwatering or underwatering, such as yellowing grass or soil that remains wet for long periods. Avoid watering in the evening, as prolonged moisture can promote fungal growth and other lawn diseases.
Be aggressive with weeds
Remove weeds early and often. Not only will your outdoor space look better (hello, curb appeal) but aggressively trimmed weeds will not be able to spread as easily. Since weeds compete with the grass for water, sunlight, and nutrients, they can be a major cause of a patchy, dry lawn. Make sure to pull them up by the root to remove the whole weed.
Gardnersworld.com recommends filling the hole left behind with compost and grass seeds to make a seamless look.
Adjust your mowing height
Leaving your grass a little longer allows it to shade the soil — like a million little umbrellas keeping the dirt underneath cool and damp. This reduces evaporation, meaning the soil stays moist longer and you get more out of your watering!
The Salt Lake City website recommends keeping your grass 3-4 inches high. Keeping your turf long helps with drought tolerance and resilience against heat. It can also develop deeper roots which will search for water sources farther down in the soil layers, according to Turf Grass Group.
When you're done mowing, you can even leave the grass clippings on the lawn to add organic matter to your soil.
Use mulch around plants and trees
If you have plants such as flowers or greenery, spreading mulch around their bases will help keep the roots cool and moist. The USDA says mulch can be anything from grass clippings, straw or bark chips to stones, brick chips and even plastic.
Whether your landscaping is planted in soil or a garden, mulch will help shield and shade your plants from the heat. Mulch can also help deter pesky weeds by blocking the sunlight weeds need to grow from getting into the dirt.
Get organized
The best way to save time and stay consistent in caring for your yard is through a properly organized storage system. Stop wasting time looking for your watering can, pruning shears, or gardening gloves by installing a sturdy shed with shelf storage.
A shed or outdoor deck box can be the perfect storage solution to keep your equipment and tools where they're easy to get to and painless to put away.
Lifetime Products has an array of high-quality sheds that will complement any backyard aesthetic. They're designed to withstand the elements, and each shed's robust steel-reinforced construction ensures long-lasting stability.
Lifetime sheds feature lockable doors and weather-resistant seals, offering secure and reliable storage for tools, equipment, and other outdoor items. With their low-maintenance design, these sheds require minimal upkeep compared to traditional wooden structures.
For hands-on, in-person help with storage sheds, visit any Lifetime Store location or visit online.
