7 Tips for Maintaining Your Yard During Extreme Heat

Summer has always been hot, but it has gotten hotter and longer in recent years. That trend is not likely to reverse itself any time soon, so you need to know how to protect your lawn from the damage that the extreme heat can inflict on it. Read on to learn more about how to maintain your yard during extreme heat.

1- Water Late or Early

One way to help your yard survive the heat is to water either early in the morning before it gets hot, or in the evening after it has cooled down. If you water in the heat of the day, the water won’t have a chance to get down to the roots where it will do the most good.

2- Water Deeply

Another way to keep your yard in good shape during the heat is to water your yard deeply. If you give it a good deep soaking, the roots will grow deeper and stretch out more. The deeper the roots are, the more access they have to resources. That allows the plants to be more resistant to heat or drought. Make sure to check watering restrictions in your area before you start to water.

3- Let Your Grass Grow

Your personal lawn preference may involve very short grass, but short grass isn’t resilient and won’t stand up to the heat. If your grass is 3 inches or longer, it will be better able to bounce back from the heat. If you live in a HOA neighborhood, check to see what the regulations are for grass length.

4- Consider Not Mowing

Extreme heat and drought go hand in hand. If are dealing with that double whammy, reconsider mowing your yard at all. Mowing can cause trauma to your grass, and lack of water and extreme heat can exacerbate that damage.

5- Change Your Watering System

While you are watering your yard, you may want to change how you are watering it. For example, you may want to use a soaker hose. These hoses let water seep out from the sides of the hose. They are slower and promote deeper watering. One drawback is that these hoses work better in relatively small areas.

6- Avoid Fertilizer

You may think that summer is the perfect time to fertilize your grass, but not if it is extremely hot. The chemicals in fertilizer can cause damage when the temperature is over a certain point. That means that the fertilizer would cause damage to your lawn, not help you get the look you want.

7- Use a Sharp Blade

You also need to make sure that you are using a good lawn mower with a nice, sharp blade. The right lawn equipment for your yard will make mowing your lawn easier on you, and better for your grass. A sharp mower blade cuts through the grass easier, letting you get out of the heat sooner.

Maintaining a nice lawn even when it is very hot outside is possible, as long as you pay attention to your lawn, and follow some easy tips.