Summer Lawn Maintenance Tips

Water, Water, Water

• Water deeply and infrequently: Aim for about an inch of water per week to encourage deeper root growth.

Water in the early morning: This allows the grass to dry before nightfall, which helps prevent disease.

Avoid daily watering: Water deeply once or twice a week, rather than a little bit every day.

Mowing

• Mow high: Set your mower to a higher setting, around 2.5 to 3.5 inches, to shade the soil and help retain moisture.

• Follow the one-third rule: Never cut off more than one-third of the grass blade's height in a single mowing session.

• Keep blades sharp: Dull blades tear the grass, leaving them vulnerable to disease and causing them to turn brown.

• Leave the clippings: As long as they’re not clumping, let the grass clippings decompose on the lawn, as they release nutrients back into the soil.

Lawn Fertilization

• Fertilize regularly: Apply a fertilizer appropriate for summer to keep the lawn healthy and dense.

• Follow the schedule: Fertilize according to your grass type; for most cool-season grasses the goal should be to apply 4-6 pounds of actual nitrogen per season per 1000 square foot of lawn area.

• Water after fertilizing: Apply water after fertilizing to help the nutrients soak into the soil.

Grub Control

• Grubs are a common lawn problem during the late summer months. The damage you see on your turf comes from the feeding of grubs, which are the immature stage of European chafers and Japanese beetles. In late June, these beetles come out of the soil and start laying eggs in the lawn. Between late July and early August, the eggs hatch and the young grubs begin feeding on grass roots.

• Preventative grub control treatments are applied between late May and mid-July. Curative grub control treatments are applied between mid-August and mid-October.

• Good lawn care practices can also help reduce the effects of grubs. Lawns that are watered consistently through the summer tend to handle grub infestations better than those left dry. Another simple tip is to raise your mowing height to about 3.5 inches. Taller grass tends to develop a deeper root system, which makes the lawn more resilient against grub feeding.

Dormant Lawns in Summer

• When summer weather turns hot and dry, cool season grasses naturally slow their growth. If you don’t water your lawn during a long dry spell, the grass may go dormant and turn brown. This is actually a way for the lawn to protect itself and survive until better weather conditions return. But if a drought lasts three to four weeks with temperatures in the mid-80s or higher, the grass can start losing too much moisture from its crown. If that continues, some grass plants could die.

• To keep your dormant lawn alive, give it about half an inch of water every two to three weeks. That small amount won’t make it green again, but it will provide just enough moisture to help it hang on until cooler weather and steady rains return.

• Sometimes your lawn starts looking patchy, and there are plenty of reasons why. Hot weather, lack of rain, or even insects feeding on the roots can all cause bare or thin spots to appear. One of the best ways to bring your lawn back is by reseeding those areas in late summer or early fall.

• Simply sprinkle new grass seed over your existing lawn, and it will start to fill in where the grass is thin. The new seedlings will grow alongside your existing grass, making your lawn thicker and healthier over time. Don’t worry about using too much seed—being generous helps, especially in spots that look sparse. Keep an eye on your lawn throughout the season and reseed as soon as you notice new bare patches.

Should You Hire a Professional Lawn Care Service?

Most homeowners can handle lawn fertilization as long as they are willing to learn about products, timing, and applications. But there are some real perks to bringing in a professional lawn fertilization team. They use professional, calibrated equipment that spreads fertilizer evenly, helping to prevent streaks, burn spots, and wasted products. A local lawn fertilization company knows Michigan’s seasons and turf types, so they time treatments around weather instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach. Plus, they save you time and effort, so you can skip the trial-and-error and just enjoy a healthy lawn.

For many homeowners, working with a trusted lawn care company is an easy way to keep a thick, green lawn with far less hassle.

Fertilizing for a Lush Lawn

Here in southeastern Michigan, your lawn goes through cold winters, wet springs, and hot summers, so fertilization is not just a luxury—it is a must. When you use the right products at the right times and stay on schedule, you can turn your yard into a greener, thicker outdoor space you are proud to come home to.

A well-fed lawn does more than look good. It boosts curb appeal and also helps the environment around your home by holding soil in place, filtering rainwater, and keeping the area a bit cooler on hot summer days. Whether you like doing the work yourself or prefer to hire a professional, staying on top of regular fertilization is one of the best investments you can make in your home and your neighborhood.