Did the Summer Heat Kill my Lawn?

Short answer… Maybe.

Yes, summer heat can stress grass and ruin beautiful landscaping. However, many factors can cause a beautiful lawn to dry out and look dead. 

Common factors that cause grass to die:

• Heat

If you live in an area that has cooler temperatures, your lawn will have little tolerance for summer weather. On average, you can expect grass to be affected by temperatures hotter than 77 degrees fahrenheit. It will not die at this temperature, but roots will slow or stop growing. This can cause grass to be less tolerant of stressors such as drought or mowing. At 90 degrees, it will begin to fall dormant. At this point, it is not dead, although it appears to be. It is, actually, protecting itself from extreme heat. Dormancy can last from 3 weeks to a month. 

• Drought

Extreme drought (lack of water) will kill grass. This means that your grass can go 6 weeks without water before it can no longer be restored. 

Drought can cause grass to brown from dormancy. It takes 2 weeks of watering your lawn normally for to revive brown grass. 

• Disease

Another factor that can impact your lawn’s green luster is fungal disease. You may notice brown or yellow patches appearing among healthy grass or colored spots on individual blades. 

To treat fungal disease, apply fungicide during the fall to spring seasons, not during the summer. 

What not to do when it’s hot?

• DO NOT water grass during the hottest part of the day. The water droplets left on grass can heat causing stressed grass to become even more damaged. 

• DO NOT mow grass during extreme summer heat. Grass loses its ability to recover from being mowed when it’s under the stress of hotter temperatures. 

What to do for perfect summer landscaping.

• Water the lawn early in the morning before the hottest part of the day. Ensure that grass is watered thoroughly, but limit watering to 3 times a week. 

• Mow your lawn in evening after the sun has set. Ensure that your lawnmower blades are sharp to prevent damage to already delicate grass.

Contact us for a free estimate today!