Is Your Grass Suffering from Summer Lawn Stress?
For many homeowners, summer increases the time they get to spend outdoors caring for the lawn and landscaping. It is supposed to be the season of fun and relaxation, not stress. But, if your lawn goes from looking beautiful and green to brown and desert-like, stress is the cause. Lawn stress is a common cause of grass losing its lavish appearance. Knowing how to identify the signs of lawn stress is the first step in getting your yard back on track.
Signs of Lawn Stress
- Brown patches throughout your yard.
If you notice brown patches in your yard, there are two possible culprits, an insect known as grubs or lack of water. To determine which is the cause, try to pull on the grass in one of the brown patches. If it doesn’t pull away easily from the soil, the problem is lack of water.
- Gaps at the edges of your lawn.
Take a walk around the perimeter of your lawn and look for gaps in the soil edges where they meet your patio or sidewalk. When grass loses too much moisture from heat stress, it actually shrinks and separates itself from connecting areas.
- Lasting footprints or mower tracks.
It is normal to see footprints or lawn mower tracks in the yard after you walk through it. These imprints should disappear in a few seconds though. If you see them long after, it is a sign of lawn stress and most specifically drought stress. Just like your skin loses elasticity without proper hydration, so will your grass.
- Change in color.
Depending on the type of grass you have, you may notice a change in color before it turns brown. Some grass types such as Kentucky Bluegrass will appear gray while others get darker.
- Crunching sounds.
Next time you take a stroll in your backyard, listen to the sounds as you walk. If you hear it crunch when you step, this is a sign of lawn stress in the summer and can occur even when the grass is still green.
Protect Your Grass from Lawn Stress
If you notice any of these signs suggesting lawn stress, contact a professional lawn care services company for advice on how to properly manage. Some additional steps you can take include:
- Only water the lawn early in the morning, so it has enough time to dry.
- Check your mower blade and adjust its height, so you don’t overcut the grass.
- Avoid walking on your grass.
- Feed your lawn prior to the hot, dry weather and then again after it cools down.
If your lawn is experiencing any of these lawn stress signs, call Perennial Lawn Services today to schedule a consultation with one of our lawn care experts. We can review your existing landscape, make recommendations, and create a plan of action to manage and prevent lawn stress from reoccurring in the future.
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