Summer is the time your lawn sees the most use by pets, family events and for this reason summer lawn care is especially important. Growing grass in the summer is faster than the cooler months and this gives different considerations when planning to have your summer garden looking its best.
These summer lawn care tips will give you a great start but head to our full Lawn Care Guide for more information.
1. Mow Before the Heat of the Day
For the best summer lawn cut, mow mid-to-late morning after the dew has evaporated. If you’re fortunate to have had some rain, wait at least a day before mowing to achieve a straight cut. Growing grass in the summer is dependent on balancing nourishment, manicuring, and growth.
2. Don’t scalp your lawn
“Scalping” means mowing off one-third of the grasses height making your summer lawn less able to cope with hot, dry weather. Mowing your lawn too short reduces its root system, which in turn prevents it from growing strong and healthy. For a luscious lawn, a general rule of (green) thumb is not to mow more than one-third of the total leaf surface at any given time. Grass about 8cm tall usually looks better, encourages a deeper root system, and helps prevent invasive weeds from spreading. This might mean mowing every four to five days during the summer months when growth is at its most rapid.
3. Switch Up your Lawn Mowing Route
Mow different patterns into your lawn in consecutive mowing sessions to avoid putting unnecessary strain on your mower and causing grass to grow in the same direction – and eventually falling flat. Summer lawns need a workout just like people do. Changing things up and mowing on a diagonal instead of in straight lines can do wonders to encourage healthy grass growth in the summer.
4. Sharpen your Lawn Mower Blades and Tune Up Your Mower
A sharp lawnmower blade keeps your lawn looking better while helping your mower to run more efficiently. For a professional service, contact your nearest Victa Gold Dealer. You can also achieve a cleaner cut quicker with a new blade, especially in the warm summer months.
Sharp mower blades are vital for growing grass in the summer as it allows your grass to heal quicker and gives a neater look; a dull lawn mower blade rips the grass, giving an untidy, frayed look and gives a yellow appearance as well as being more vulnerable to diseases.
Furthermore, a properly serviced mower will do the job quicker and more efficiently, decreasing wear and tear and increasing the time you spend enjoying your lawn rather than maintaining it. To get the most out of your mower, Victa has a number of maintenance tips on its website (www.victa.com.au).
It's important to keep your mower tuned and serviced correctly as grass in summer needs a clean cut, a mower that's not performing properly can tear and frey your growing grass in summer.
