Taking lawn care measures in the spring and fall is the key to a lush green summer lawn. Starting your summer lawn care early can help make your lawn resilient and resistant to the adverse effects of heavy foot traffic, pests, weeds, and the sun. If you’re in Ames, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, or any other Iowa location, these tips are for you!

Listed below are tips to prepare your lawn for the hotter months.

Lawn Care Tips to Prepare Your Lawn for Summertime

1. Aerate Your Lawn

It is essential to aerate your lawn before summer because it lets oxygen, water, and nutrients reach the roots of your grass more efficiently. This facilitates a healthy root system for your grass that results in a lush and healthy lawn. A lawn care expert can help you determine the best times to aerate your lawn as well as the frequency of aeration required by your lawn.

2. Fertilize Your Lawn

Fertilizers add to the nutrients found in the soil of your lawn and support a thick and lush grass growth. We suggest you fertilize your lawn six times a year. Reduce fertilization around one month before the hottest days of summer begin. Always fertilize your lawn based on the grass type you have.

If your lawn has cool-season grass, fertilize at the onset of fall and during the early spring. When fertilizing in the fall, apply fertilizer having high concentrations of nitrogen to make sure that the grass survives. Consult a lawn care professional to know about the other appropriate times of fertilizing your cool-season grass lawn.

3. Mow the Grass

Lawns should be mowed about once a week. Mow your grass to maintain a height of around 2.5 to 3 inches. By mowing on a regular basis, you can make sure that your grass is growing at a healthy rate.

During the hottest months of summer, grass should be allowed to grow a bit longer to retain moisture in the soil and provide shade to the grass roots. Ensure that you do not cut more than around one-third of the grass blade at a time because this can lead to structural damage to grasses that can inhibit growth.

Also, examine your lawn mower before you start it for the first time after the winter hibernation. Sharpen the dull blades, inflate the tires, and keep adequate oil in the motor.

4. Conduct a Soil Test

If you do not have a lush lawn and fertilizer does not make any difference, consider getting a soil test done. A soil test can help you know your soil’s pH level. For healthy grass growth, your soil needs to have proper pH level that is between 6 and 7. A reliable lawn care company can conduct a soil test for your lawn and suggest the measures to be taken for your soil to have healthy turf growth.

Kickstart Your Summer Lawn Care with AATB!

It would not be long before the summer heat sets in. If you are thinking about how to prepare your lawn for summer, All American Turf Beauty (AATB) can help you out.

We specialize in summer lawn treatment and summer lawn weed control. Our lawn care professionals in Ames can help you keep your lawn green in summer. Plan your summertime lawn care with AATB by your side!