Summer can be a tough time for your lawn. Heat and drought can cause stress, and different types of grasses need different care. Warm-season grasses love the heat, but cool-season grasses need a little extra help to make it through.
That’s where summer lawn fertilization comes in! Feeding your lawn the right nutrients is essential for keeping it healthy and strong all summer long. It helps your grass grow, recover from stress, and stay green and lush.
This guide will give you everything you need to know about how to fertilize in summer, including the best practices for different grass types.
Understanding Your Grass Type: Warm-Season vs. Cool-Season
Before you load up that fertilizer spreader, it’s a good idea to understand which type of grass you have growing in your yard. The answer to that question will guide your fertilization schedule.
Warm-Season Grasses
Warm-season grasses thrive in warmer climates, so they’re more common in the southern regions of the U.S. Buffalo grass and Blue grama are two examples.
These grasses benefit from fertilization during the summer, when they’re at their peak growing phase.
Cool-Season Grasses
Cool-season grasses perform best in cooler climates, such as you find in Colorado. Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and turf-type tall fescue are cool-season grasses.
Spreading a high-nitrogen fertilizer on cool-season grasses in the summertime can actually be harmful, so be sure you know what you’re working with before you start.
Fertilizing warm-season grasses in summer
If you live in a climate where the summers are hot and the winters are mild, you probably have warm-season grasses. These grasses thrive in the heat, but they still need the right nutrients to stay healthy and green throughout the summer.
Timing is key
A two-step fertilization schedule is often recommended for warm-season grasses like Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysia. Fertilize at the beginning of summer to prepare the grass for heat stress. Then, fertilize again toward the end of summer to help the grass recover and prepare for dormancy.
Choosing the right fertilizer
Look for a fertilizer that’s specially formulated for warm-season grasses, preferably one that contains micro-nutrients such as iron to enhance color and overall health. Liquid fertilizers can be easier to apply and absorb.
Weed control is important
Weeds compete with grass for nutrients, water, and sunlight, so it’s important to eliminate them before or while you fertilize. Spot treat any weeds that pop up during the summer.
Don’t fertilize cool-season grasses in the summer
Adding high-nitrogen fertilizer during the summer months can cause your lawn to grow too fast. This can make it more vulnerable to heat and drought. If you fertilized your lawn in the fall, it probably doesn’t need more in the spring.
For cool-season grasses, fall fertilization (October/November) is the most important time to feed your lawn. This helps the grass store energy for the winter and promotes healthy growth in the spring.
During the summer, focus on watering your lawn deeply and mowing it properly to keep it healthy.
Summer lawn care beyond fertilization
Fertilizing is only one aspect of summer lawn care. Here are some additional tips to keep your lawn healthy during the hot months.
Watering practices
Water deeply and less often to encourage strong root growth. You’ll want to give your lawn about 1 to 2 inches of water each week.
Water early in the morning to reduce the chances of fungal diseases taking hold.
Mowing techniques
Mow your grass high — about 3 inches — to protect the roots from summer heat and stress.
Leave the grass clippings on the lawn to decompose. The clippings act as a natural fertilizer, returning about 25% of the grass’s nutrients back to the soil.
Addressing brown spots and lawn issues
Figure out what’s causing the brown spots. Possibilities include drought, dormancy, insects, or disease.
Fix any bare spots by reseeding. When you reseed, aim for 7 to 10 seeds per square inch.
In Conclusion
The first step to a healthy summer lawn is understanding what kind of grass you have, so you can choose the right fertilizer and maintenance schedule for your lawn’s needs.
Fertilizing at the right time, watering deeply, and mowing correctly are essential to keeping your lawn healthy and strong.
If you follow these tips, you can have a lush, green lawn all summer long.