Taking care of your lawn during summer is crucial for maintaining its health and appearance, especially in the dry Reno heat. The hot weather and increased sunlight can stress your lawn, making it susceptible to drought, weed growth, and nutrient deficiencies. To keep it looking lush and green all summer long, it's important to apply the right summer lawn fertilizer.

Following the tips in this blog will ensure your lawn thrives throughout summer and remains healthy afterward.

Understanding the Need for Summer Fertilization in Reno

It is common in Reno for the intense summer heat and dry conditions to stress your grass, causing it to become weak and vulnerable to pests and diseases. Applying the right fertilizer during the summer months can give your lawn the essential nutrients it needs to withstand the heat and maintain its green color. Understanding the specific needs of your lawn and the soil conditions in Reno, NV will help you choose the right fertilizer and apply it at the appropriate time.

The Climate Challenge: Hot, Dry Summers in Reno

Reno, NV, is known for its hot and dry summers, which present unique challenges for lawn care. With temperatures reaching the triple digits and limited rainfall, lawns in Reno require special attention during the summer months. The lack of water and intense heat can cause grass to go dormant or even die if not properly cared for.

To maintain a healthy lawn in Reno, it is essential to choose a fertilizer that can withstand drought conditions and provide the necessary nutrients.

The Benefits of Summer Lawn Fertilization

Fertilizing during the summer months helps to replenish nutrients lost due to heat stress and frequent mowing. It also supports top growth, which allows the grass to compete with weeds and withstand foot traffic.

Additionally, summer fertilization can enhance the color and density of your lawn, making it more resistant to pests, diseases, and environmental stressors.

Enhancing Growth During the Toughest Months

Using high-quality lawn fertilizer is essential to enhancing growth during the toughest summer months. Summer lawn food is specifically formulated to provide grass with the nutrients it needs to thrive in hot and dry conditions. These fertilizers are designed to release nutrients slowly, ensuring continuous feeding and reducing the risk of nutrient burn.

In addition to using summer lawn food, you can also consider overseeding with heat-tolerant grass seed to fill in any bare patches and improve your lawn's overall resilience.

Selecting the Right Summer Lawn Fertilizer

Selecting the right summer fertilizer is crucial for the health and appearance of your lawn. There are several factors to consider when choosing a fertilizer, including the specific needs of your grass type, the nutrient content of the fertilizer, and whether to use organic or synthetic options.

Key Ingredients for Summer Lawn Fertilizer

When choosing a summer fertilizer, it's important to understand the key ingredients that promote healthy lawn growth. The three key nutrients to consider are nitrogen, potassium, and sulfur. Nitrogen promotes lush green growth and is essential for overall lawn health. Potassium helps improve the grass's ability to withstand stress, such as heat and drought. Sulfur is important for maintaining soil acidity and nutrient availability.

To ensure your lawn receives these essential nutrients, look for a fertilizer with a balanced nutrient ratio and consider conducting a soil test to determine any specific nutrient deficiencies. Incorporating these key ingredients into your summer lawn care routine can give your grass the necessary nutrients for optimal growth and health.

Organic vs. Synthetic Fertilizers: Pros and Cons

Choosing between organic and synthetic fertilizers for your summer lawn care program is a personal preference. Both types have their pros and cons. Organic fertilizers are derived from natural sources and provide slow-release nutrients that feed your lawn over time. They also improve soil health and microbial activity. However, organic fertilizers can be more expensive and require larger application rates.

On the other hand, synthetic fertilizers offer concentrated nutrients that provide quick results. They are often more affordable and easier to apply. However, synthetic fertilizers do not improve soil health and can lead to nutrient runoff.

Application Tips for Summer Lawn Fertilization

Proper application of summer lawn fertilizer is crucial for achieving optimal results. Here are some essential tips to follow:

Fertilize early or late in the evening to avoid heat stress and reduce nutrient loss.
Follow the recommended application rates the manufacturer provides for your grass type and fertilizer.
Avoid applying too much nitrogen, which can lead to excessive top growth and increase the risk of disease and pest problems.
Use a spreader to ensure the fertilizer is evenly distributed across your lawn.
Avoid using the wrong fertilizer for your grass type, as different grasses have specific nutrient requirements.

Best Time of Day to Fertilize

The best time of day to fertilize your lawn during the summer is in the early morning or late evening when temperatures are cooler. Fertilizing during the hottest part of the day can increase the risk of nutrient burn and stress your grass, especially in areas with high summer temperatures. Applying fertilizer in the early morning or late evening allows nutrients to penetrate the soil and be absorbed by the grass before the day's heat.

Liquid fertilizers can be applied at any time of day as long as they are watered into the soil immediately. Granular fertilizers should be used when the grass is dry and then watered thoroughly to ensure proper absorption.

How Often to Fertilize During Summer Months

The frequency of summer lawn fertilization depends on several factors, including your grass type, soil conditions, and the specific fertilizer being used. Generally, it is recommended to fertilize warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda and Zoysia, every 4-6 weeks to promote their vigorous growth. Additionally, consider incorporating a crabgrass preventer into your summer fertilization schedule to control the development of this common lawn weed.

Watering Practices for Fertilized Lawns

Proper watering practices are essential for maintaining a healthy lawn, especially after fertilization. Deep and infrequent watering promotes deep root growth and reduces water evaporation. Watering in the morning allows the grass to dry before evening, reducing disease risk. Watering deeply and less frequently encourages the grass to develop deep roots, making it more resilient to drought conditions.

It is important to monitor the moisture levels in your soil and adjust your watering schedule accordingly. Avoid overwatering, leading to shallow root growth and increased disease susceptibility.

Conclusion

Proper summer lawn fertilization is crucial for maintaining a healthy and vibrant lawn, especially in challenging climates like Reno. By understanding the specific needs of your grass type, selecting the right fertilizer, and following best practices for application and watering, you can enhance growth and resilience during the hot summer months.

Avoid common mistakes and regularly monitor and adjust your fertilization strategy to ensure optimal results. You can enjoy a lush and thriving lawn throughout the summer with the right approach.

Whether you knew it or not, late summer means a change in how to care for your lawn.

We know, we know. Yet another thing to worry about amidst a pandemic, smoke-filled air, and more.

Well, we can help with that: get a FREE quote here!

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Or, you can help yourself and your lawn with these 5 quick-tips to preserve and prepare your summer lawn for the last run into Fall.

Key Takeaways

Late summer lawn care essentials:

Proper Watering: Deep, infrequent watering fosters deep root growth.
Mowing Techniques: Mowing with a higher blade setting promotes healthy lawn growth.
Attention to Weeds: Addressing weeds promptly prevents them from overtaking healthy grass.
Fertilization: Late summer fertilization prepares the lawn for fall and strengthens it against pests and diseases.

Check out our sprinler, mowing, weed control, and lawn fertilization services.

What Should You Do for your Late Summer Lawn Care?

1. Watering in the early morning

Nothing too crazy or out of the ordinary. But, you’ll want to start with changing your watering times to the early AM.

Why?

This is the coolest time of the day with summer still here, and it will allow the grass to soak up every last drop to maintain throughout the warm day without being affected by evaporation or wind.

Need a recommendation for timing? Try between 4 - 10 AM. Maybe have a cup of coffee first.

Pro Tip: Start to cut your grass at a higher level than before. This will provide more shade for the soil to stay cooler for longer.

Speaking of cutting your grass…

2. When was the last time you checked your lawn mower blade?

Like a good chef’s knife, you want an always-sharp mower blade. We won’t judge you if you haven’t checked all summer. But you’re going to want to see what you’re working with right now because believe or not a clean cut will keep your lawn healthy and help retain water.

Obviously, you can eyeball your blade to determine if it’s dull. Another method is to look at the grass edges after a fresh cut: are they ragged or clean cut? That will give you your answer.

So, how exactly do you go about sharpening a lawn mower blade to retake control of your summer lawn?

The answer is completely up to you.

A few of the common options are to file by hand, find a blade sharpener drill bit attachment, a suitable grindstone, drop off at a local small engine shop, or any method you’re jazzed to try out.

Just be careful, okay? You don’t want to prematurely end your hand modeling career.

3. Weeds. The roaches of the lawn care world!

This is the bane of any homeowners summer lawn care routine. Unfortunately, your weed problem is just as persistent as ever now as it was in the beginning.

But you’re up for the challenge, right?

The tried and true option for weed control is to keep on pulling so it doesn’t grow to be out of control. And to double-down on a an in-lawn broadleaf, spray-on weed killer to keep them at bay.

Pro Tip: If you are pulling weeds, be sure to water down to the roots 24 hours before. This should help ensure you get the entire root. Also, make sure to get the correct spray for the type of weed you are dealing with.

And you’ll want to be mindful of where you spray. If you have or plan to grow other things outside of grass, just be careful of both where you spray and the type of spray.

It could be a determinate to your vegetable plans. But no one likes broccoli anyways.

4. Add fertilizer, the good kind.

Not all fertilizers are created equal, but you’ll want to find one made especially for late summer heading into the Fall.

During the warmer months is when your grass experiences rapid growth and damage (heat, insects, etc.) which is why you need to apply fertilizer to keep it healthy.

Just like your growing teenager, there’s never enough food in the house to keep them satisfied.

Look for fertilizers with soil-amending properties to slow release nitrogen to give your lawn the boost it needs to carry you through the remainder of summer!

It will also serve you well to preserve key nutrients for a triumphant return next spring.

5. Give us a call.

Does everything above seem like too much work or a little too late?

We get it. I mean, our slogan is “Hire us and take your weekend back!” for good reason.

It may not be too late to save your lawn or at least get it ready for a better start next spring.

We love what we do and we like to think we do it well. That’s why we offer a Free Quote here!

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No matter what, we hope this was helpful and we look forward to sharing more pro lawn care tips and tricks with you!

With grass-stained clothes and smiles on our faces -- thank you for reading!

- Cory’s Lawn Care Services

Reno in the Summer: Is Using Lawn Fertilizer in the Summertime OK?