Baton Rouge Lawn Care Service: 5 Yard Tips for Summer

When it comes to maintaining a healthy lawn during the summer in Baton Rouge there are a few key tips to keep in mind. From dealing with lots of rain or very little, hot sun, or copious amounts of shade, keeping your lawn fresh and vibrant during the hot summer of south Louisiana doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Here are a few tips to get you started and on your way to a lush landscape.

Watering Your Lawn and Irrigation

Lawns often struggle in Baton Rouge's hot climate and at times, dry, so watering is essential to ensure a green dense lawn. For deep rooted growth, water deeply but consistently. Use your lawn’s irrigation system or rainfall to provide your lawn with around 1 inch of water per week with watering daily to even twice a day during high heat and high drought periods. Water early in the morning starting around 4 to 6 am as this will help to give plants and turf the ability to draw off the water to combat heat and it reduces waste by way of evaporation during the heat of the afternoons.

Mow Your Lawn to the Appropriate Height

In the summer, raise the height of your lawnmower's blades progressively until they are at a height that is both comfortable to mow (doesn’t bog down mower) and one that isn’t too thick which may lead to disease and other issues. Taller grass shadows the soil reducing evaporation, encourages the development of deeper roots (the longer the blade grows, the deeper the roots grow to support it), and inhibits the growth of weeds (sunlight heads soil to allow germination of weed seeds). When mowing your lawn, try to do so when the grass is completely dry and keep the height between 3 and 4 inches, less if you run varieties like Bermuda grass or Zoysia grass that are naturally low growing turf varieties.

Lawn Fertilization

Late spring to early in the summer, treat your grass with a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer or a weed n feed type of fertilizer. In Baton Rouge, warm-season grasses like St. Augustine, Bermuda, or Zoysia are frequently grown, so look for a fertilizer made especially for lawn type. For the suggested application rate and timing, refer to the package directions. This will help the grass to replenish nutrients that are taken out throughout the growing season.

Weed Control for Your Lawn

Taking care of weeds in your yard is best done in spring through early in the summer either before weeds germinate or as they are young and easier to treat. Apply a broadleaf weed-targeting selective herbicide, being cautious to adhere to the label's directions and prevent overspray. To reduce the chance of harming your grass, it is recommended to apply herbicides while the temperature is below 85°F and early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid burning of the blades due to high intensity rays from the midday sun.

Pest Control for Your Lawn

Common insects and pests can also thrive in your yard, making outside time unpleasant, and they can even infiltrate your home or business if your lawn isn’t properly maintained. This can be a big issue for your home or your business’ lawn. However, before you call an exterminator, or fight back against pests with different poisons and other toxic materials, some simple lawn maintenance habits can keep your yard looking great and insect-free. There are plenty of granular and liquid controls you can apply yourself to eliminate ants, grubs, mosquitoes, fleas and more, and products that give you an extended length of control as well. Pretreating your yard for insects before they become a problem both for enjoying your turf or for the health of the turf is always easier than trying to repair the damage or having playtime ruined and is much more cost-effective too.

Remember to apply these tips based on the specific type of grass you have in your lawn, as different grass varieties may have specific requirements. For all of your lawn care needs, the experts at Kyle’s Lawn and Landscape are here to help home and business owners in the Baton Rouge area.