- Keep your lawn a little taller than usual. The taller your lawn is allowed to grow, the better your lawn can keep the water that it has available. A slightly taller lawn will allow a little more shading of the soil which allows more water to remain in the soil.
- Hold off on the fertilizer. With hot summer temperatures taking a toll on your lawn, adding fertilizer can be a hindrance instead of a help. If you really need fertilizer in the summer, consider a slow release fertilizer to reduce the amount of nitrogen that is reaching your lawn.
- Water your lawn in the morning or evening. Any water applied is only beneficial if it reaches the roots of the lawn. Watering during the cooler parts of the day will allow more water to soak into the soil instead of being evaporated away by the hot sun.
- Water for longer periods of time. When you water for longer periods of time, you allow more water to soak down into the soil. This prompts the roots of your lawn to grow deeper into the soil where the roots may find water even when the top inch of the soil becomes dry.
- Don’t mow during the heat of the day. Mowing your lawn causes the lawn blades to leak fluids until they can heal themselves. Leaf blades will lose more water in the middle of the day as opposed to mowing in the morning or evening.
I have a tip: Lawn aeration can improve water and nutrient absorption by reducing soil compaction. It’s best done in the spring or early fall.
Weed Control: Keep weeds in check, as they compete with your grass for water and nutrients. Hand-pulling or spot-treating with herbicides can help.