With warm temperatures and sun-filled days around the corner, there’s no better time to work on your backyard. From dry spells to extreme temperatures, summer can destroy your grass and landscaping without proper preparation. Here’s how to prepare your yard so you can relax when summer rolls around.
Keep your lawn mowed.
Although it can be tempting to put off mowing your lawn, keeping the grass at an appropriate height is an essential element of proper yard care. Mowing your lawn not only brings aesthetic benefits, but it allows grass to retain more water while providing shade for roots. Keeping your lawn healthy eliminates pests from the grass and helps ensure that debris is picked up and cleaned regularly, so nothing accumulates on your lawn.
During summer months, aim to keep your grass at the highest recommended height, and never mow more than one-third of the blade length while mowing.
Clean up debris.
Your backyard is your outdoor sanctuary, and you don’t want to spend all of your free time cleaning up outside. While most people reserve an extensive yard cleaning for the early portion of spring, you’ll have less cleaning to do if you schedule an extensive cleaning at the beginning of each season.
Over the course of a few months, branches can get blown down, and other debris, like pet waste, stumps, and mulch, can pile up. If you don’t have free time to clean up your yard, scheduling an appointment with a local residential pet waste removal company can help you maintain the appearance of your yard.
Update your pool.
Updating your pool might come with mixed feelings, but adding safety features is an important step in preparing your yard for the summer, especially if you have younger children.
For a less aesthetically obtrusive option, consider investing in a removable pool fence. In addition to creating a safer environment for your children and pets, removable fencing for pools also makes it easier for homeowners to satisfy local ordinances and laws. Because all of the parts used in removable pool fences are both lightweight and durable, you’ll be able to remove and refit fencing as needed without much hassle.
Water your lawn.
When watering your lawn, it’s important to keep your grass root systems in mind. Most types of grass require approximately one inch of irrigation each week during peak growing season. Because frequent sprinklings can encourage shallow root penetration, a single, deep irrigation system is preferred. To promote a healthy root system, aim to water your lawn during the early morning or at night.
If you can’t keep up with watering your lawn or dread dragging out the hose every morning, consider installing a sprinkler system. Although a sprinkler system might seem like a significant investment, you’re sure to use it throughout the summer, and your grass will be able to get all the water it needs.
Remove excess thatch.
Thatch, the decaying plant material that accumulates in your yard, can block sunlight from reaching the grass and prevent water from penetrating deep roots. Excess thatch can make your yard look overgrown and unappealing, so it’s important to set aside some time to remove excess thatch before the summer starts. Consider scheduling a specific day of the month to remove thatch to avoid letting thatch become overgrown.
In addition to removing excess thatch, make sure to aerate your lawn before the beginning of summer to allow water, oxygen, and nutrients to reach grass root systems. Aerating your lawn promotes a healthy root system, which can keep your lawn healthy and lush throughout the summer.
Regardless of the recent weather in your area, taking simple steps to prepare your yard can help it look its best this summer.
