Ahh, summer… time for enjoying the outdoors and the backdrop of a lush, green lawn. Unfortunately, keeping that lawn beautiful presents unique challenges. As landscaping professionals, we’re offering these six summer lawn care tips.
First, let’s set the stage. In Cincinnati, your grass has a tough job: It has to stand up to intense heat, drought and increased pest activity every summer. It’s enough to turn a verdant carpet into a languishing lawn.
We know you want your home and yard to look their best, so we’re sharing what goes into our expert summer lawn care and the tips we follow:
1. Assess the Situation
Our first summer lawn care tip is to understand your lawn’s challenges. In the summer, high temperatures and lack of rainfall impact grass at a cellular level, leading to dormancy, browning and thinning. Both cool-season and warm-season grasses are vulnerable to the heat of summer.
When we begin work with our Seiler’s 360 landscape maintenance clients, we look closely for signs of stress indicators, whether they’re due to heat, drought, pests or some other cause.
2. Watch for the “Bad Guys”
Are pests and diseases lurking in your lawn? We look for grubs, chinch bugs and diseases like brown patch and dollar spot that thrive in warm, humid conditions. These unwanted yard crashers can cause unsightly damage to grass. Early and accurate diagnosis is important, and is often beyond the scope of DIY yard maintenance.
3. Water, Water and Water Some More
After we install plantings, we remind clients to water deeply to maintain their yards. As landscaping professionals, we can design irrigation systems to ensure the health of plants and offer advice on optimal watering schedules, based on soil type, grass species and microclimates. Today’s soil moisture sensors and smart irrigation systems can promote efficient water use and prevent damage from over- or under-watering.
4. Feed It Right
Other summer lawn care tips involve nutrients and fertilization. Summer growth and stress can deplete essential soil nutrients, impacting the health and color of your grass. Unfortunately, DIY fertilization can sometimes cause burning or patchiness from uneven application.
When we work with homeowners, we use soil tests to understand specific nutrient deficiencies, then apply slow-release fertilizers to provide sustained nutrition without promoting excessive growth that can be vulnerable. Customized feeding plans based on the species of grass and the climate are designed to help grass resist stress and disease, unlike generic store-bought options.
5. Deal With Pests and Disease
Integrated pest and disease management (IPM) is a holistic, environmentally conscious approach to maintaining a healthy lawn. Early intervention and targeted treatments are the cure for these lawn woes. The good news is that professional-grade products are safe and effective in treating pests and disease.
6. Go With the Mow
Mowing involves more than cutting grass. Choosing the proper mowing height (taller in summer for shade and moisture retention) is critical, as is using sharp blades. Professionals are trained in optimal mowing practices and know that “grasscycling" is an effective technique for returning nutrients to your lawn.
The Pros of Pro Lawn Care
We all love the look of a perfectly manicured summer lawn, but achieving and sustaining that yard is often challenging for homeowners. The real value of professional lawn care extends far beyond simply "getting the job done." It's an investment in your property's enduring beauty, health and your own peace of mind.
Take Back Your Time
Consider the most precious commodity: your time. Weekends are times for relaxing, traveling or family activities. Without professional landscaping help, those weekends can quickly be lost to a never-ending battle with your lawn. You could spend too much time researching product labels, trying to figure out when to apply what treatments and wrestling with unfamiliar equipment. The DIY approach to lawn care takes hours and may not give you the lush, green lawn you’re looking for.
With our professional services, you get your time back and can simply enjoy your outdoor space, rather than perpetually working on it.
Bring Better Health to Your Lawn
Professional care addresses problems your lawn has now and cultivates long-term health and resilience in your turf. Think of your lawn as a living ecosystem; consistent, expert intervention fosters a deeply rooted, robust system. This healthy grass is much better at standing up to environmental stress like drought, heatwaves and even unexpected pest outbreaks.
The old saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” holds true when it comes to lawn care. Preventative strategies and precise treatments reduce the likelihood of costly "rescue" missions down the line. By leaning on professional maintenance, you ensure your lawn remains a vibrant asset, year after year. This proactive approach minimizes the need for reactive, often more intensive, interventions that can disrupt your landscape and your budget.
Boost Your Curb Appeal
Picture your lawn meticulously maintained. It’s a sure way to increase your home's curb appeal and, consequently, its market value. A lush, well-cared-for landscape signals attention to detail and makes your home even more desirable. Rather than a superficial green coat, professional care and treatment for grass build a foundation of health down to the roots. You’ll discover good looks that go beyond the summer season to provide beauty that endures.
Count on the Pros
When you partner with professional landscapers like Seiler’s, you get access to a level of specialized knowledge and commercial-grade equipment that just aren’t available to the average homeowner. Our crews train continuously and stay on top of the latest advancements in turf science, pest management and sustainable practices.
After almost 50 years serving Cincinnati, our team has an intimate understanding of local climate patterns, soil compositions and the common challenges lawns in our region face. When you combine this expertise with precision tools for aeration, fertilization and targeted pest control, you’ll be rewarded with a lawn you’ll love.
Think of it this way: Professional lawn care isn’t just a service; it's a strategic partnership in making your home look great and giving you peace of mind. We transform yardwork, a common household chore, into something that brings you delight, with both immediate beauty and lasting value.
Your Summer Lawn Care Solution
How will your yard hold up to this season’s scorching temperatures? Following our tips will ensure it looks great all summer long and resists pests and disease. Let our team develop a customized plan that ensures your lawn not only survives but thrives this summer and for many seasons to come.
Contact us today for a personalized consultation and discover the peace of mind and time savings that come from a professional approach to maintaining your outdoor spaces.
