Virginia’s summer weather can range from mild to extremely hot, which does not always produce the ideal conditions for lawn health. Thankfully, there are professionals like us who know how to approach the fluctuating needs of your Virginia lawn through the dog days of summer. Here are our tips on how to keep your lawn healthy through the summertime!
Watering correctly is one of the most crucial factors in maintaining a healthy summer lawn. Many homeowners make the mistake of watering too frequently but not deeply enough, leading to shallow roots that can’t withstand drought. In Virginia, high humidity combined with sporadic rain can create conditions for both drought stress and fungal diseases.
Watering deeply and infrequently encourages deeper root growth, making the lawn more resilient during dry spells. The timing of watering is just as important, as watering in the morning reduces evaporation and helps prevent fungal infections. Avoid watering in the evening because damp overnight conditions increase disease risk.
Mowing might seem like a simple task, but cutting your grass at the correct height can significantly impact its ability to withstand summer heat and drought. When grass is cut too short, it struggles to develop deep roots, making it more susceptible to stress, weeds, and disease. Taller grass blades provide more shade to the soil, helping to retain moisture and regulate temperature. This is particularly important in Virginia, where summer heatwaves can dry out the soil quickly.
Proper mowing height also helps prevent weeds by allowing the grass to outcompete them for sunlight and nutrients, but there are ways to enhance the benefits of mowing at the proper height. It is important to always keep mower blades sharp to ensure a clean cut and prevent disease or damaged grass. Mow in the early morning or evening to reduce stress on the grass.
Most importantly, never remove more than one-third of the grass blade in a single mowing to avoid stressing grass blades.
Fertilization plays a key role in keeping your lawn strong, but the type and timing of fertilizer application are critical in the summer. Applying the wrong kind of fertilizer or over-fertilizing can lead to excessive top growth, which increases water needs and makes the grass more susceptible to disease. It is best to avoid high nitrogen fertilizers on cool-season grasses in summer to prevent stress. Apply fertilizer in the early morning or evening to prevent burn, and always water after fertilizing to help nutrients absorb properly.
Virginia’s climate demands a balanced approach; cool-season grasses like tall fescue need minimal fertilization in summer, while warm-season grasses like Bermudagrass benefit from continued feeding. The right blend of nutrients ensures the grass can withstand heat stress while maintaining healthy growth.
Over time, Virginia’s clay-heavy soils can become compacted, making it difficult for water, air, and nutrients to reach the roots. While core aeration is best done in the fall, warm-season grasses like Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass can benefit from light aeration in early summer. This helps break up compacted soil, improving water retention and reducing runoff during these grasses’ growing season. Healthy soil is the foundation for a strong, resilient lawn, and proper aeration ensures your grass can absorb nutrients effectively.
Summer is peak season for weeds and lawn pests, both of which compete with grass for nutrients, water, and space. Weeds like crabgrass, nutsedge, and spurge thrive in the hot Virginia climate, often taking over weak or thin areas of the lawn. Meanwhile, pests such as grubs, chinch bugs, and armyworms can cause significant damage if they are not addressed.
A combination of preventative and active treatments will help keep your lawn strong against these invaders. Both weeds and pests can cause similar-looking damage to your grass, so it is important to inspect your lawn regularly during summer. Look for signs like irregular grass growth, different-looking grass, thinning or chewed grass blades, and spongy areas in your lawn.
Summer heat and humidity in Virginia create the perfect conditions for fungal diseases that can weaken and discolor your lawn. High moisture levels from frequent rain, improper watering, or poor drainage can lead to the spread of lawn diseases, which thrive in warm, damp conditions. Many common summer lawn diseases start as small brown or yellow patches but can quickly spread if left untreated.
Some of the most common lawn diseases (brown patch, dollar spot, rust, etc.) can look just like heat stress, pest damage, or many other factors that can cause damage to your grass. It is always best to implement preventative measures against fungal diseases to avoid misidentifying and mistreating the problem. Apply a fungicide only if diseases are severe, using products labeled for the specific disease.
Even with proper watering and mowing, summer heat can still take a toll on your lawn. Grass may turn a bluish-gray color, develop dry patches, or go into dormancy as a survival mechanism. When grass is under stress, it becomes more vulnerable to pests and diseases, so minimizing stress factors is essential. Avoid unnecessary lawn activity during extreme heat and give your grass the support it needs to survive.
While summer isn’t the time to overseed, planning ahead can set the stage for a healthier lawn in the fall. Cool-season grasses benefit from overseeding in late summer to early fall when temperatures begin to drop. Ensuring your lawn stays weed-free and properly mowed throughout summer will improve the success of fall seeding efforts.
For more helpful tips, or to request a free consultation on any of our lawn care services for your this summer, call Blue Sky Landscaping for the best lawn care anywhere in northern Virginia!
