Subscibe to our feedPlanting for Success this Summer
With hot, dry summer weather here to stay, there are a number of speed bumps you can encounter on your way to a lush, green lawn. But there are several fast projects that will have your lawn looking greener than the frontstretch at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Here’s where to begin.
Plan the course.
Tour your existing turf and determine what needs a tune-up this summer. If you have ruts or holes, fill in with dirt to create a level surface. If you have areas full of weeds or brush, now is the time to eliminate them. You’ll be ready to put out grass seed this fall. Also, if your use of outdoor areas is changing or you’re staring down inevitable drought conditions, consider reducing the turf area for an easier-to-manage lawn and bring more ornamental native plantings into the landscape.
Yellow means caution.
A yellow spot in the lawn or damage to the leaves of one plant can quickly become a major fungal or insect problem during the hot, humid summer weather. When a problem appears, visit the local Lowe’s Home Improvement for help in identifying the cause and determining the right treatment.
Keep the weeds out of the field.
If you hate the yellow of dandelions as much as the yellow caution flag,
Spectracide® Weed and Grass Killer
can help keep weeds out of your lawn and flower beds. This herbicide is non-selective, which means it kills all the vegetation it contacts.
|
It’s formulated to quickly kill weeds and grass down to the root where no growth is desired
—
on patios, driveways, walkways and fences; around flowers, shrubs and trees; and in large areas
, but it is important to watch the temperature when using the product when the daytime temperature is above 90 degrees. Always follow the instructions on the label.
|
|
Keep lawn health on track.
To ensure that your efforts take root, encourage lush, pest-free growth by bringing turf-specific products onto your lawn care pit crew. No matter how green things look at the start, a pest infestation can quickly change the color and health of your lawn. Keep unwanted insects away with
Spectracide Triazicide Once and Done! Insect Killer liquid
, available in either a concentrate or hose-end formula to quickly send pests packing.
Feed for endurance.
Keep your lawn well fed through the ups and downs of seasonal temperatures and watering routines. Look for fertilizer made especially for lawns so that you’re getting the right balance of ingredients for lush results (all-purpose garden fertilizers aren’t a go because of their high phosphorous content, which isn’t something your lawn needs a lot of). One product that works for a range of grass types is
Scott’s SummerGuard lawn fertilizer and insect killer
, which strengthens lawns against heat and drought and won’t burn lawns in hot temperatures.
Build in water stops with wise irrigation.
Fine tune your irrigation system so that the water it expends winds up on your lawn instead of everywhere else. Regular service checks of system components will help, and watering during early morning hours in wind-free conditions ensures that your lawn get the most out of moisture during the dog days of summer. And get some help setting the watering schedule by installing the
Mister Landscaper Easy Set Electronic Timer
, which is simple to adjust as lawn irrigation needs evolve.
Mow and maintain without doing extra laps.
As the temperature ticks up and conditions become drier, grass often goes into a semi-dormant state and is at greater risk of losing moisture. So adjust your mowing routine accordingly─once a week is plenty, and it’s best to keep the grass a little longer in the summer so that it holds moisture rather than letting stress show through in brown stripes left by your mower’s wheels. Adjust the mower blade height to between 2 ½ and 3 inches for a just-right trim of the turf.
Follow these steps, and you’ll be able to spend less of the season in the driver’s seat of a riding mower and more of it enjoying your home’s great outdoors. For more information on how Lowe’s can help, visit
www.Lowes.com
.
Tom Kraeutler
delivers
home improvement tips
each week as host of The Money Pit, a nationally syndicated
home improvement
radio program. His latest book
My Home, My Money Pit: Your Guide to Every Home Improvement Adventure
, is available at bookstores nationally.
For a complete shopping list click here.