Brown spots on the lawn during summer is a problem every homeowner faces. Excessive heat and stress from drought are common reasons why lawns turn brown. The best way to avoid lawn damage is to practice good lawn care. It's crucial to water and mow the lawn, remove thatch and excess debris, overseed and fertilize. Taking the proper steps while caring for a lawn will create a lush, green lawn all summer long.

How To Care For Your Lawn During The Heat Of Summer

Water
Water is essential for grass. There is no way to keep a lawn from turning brown without water. Grass needs about an inch of water every week, more during a drought. The best time to water is between 4 am to 4 pm. Do not water during the middle of the day because the water will evaporate. Do not water too late at night because fungus could develop.

Thatch
Remove thatch and excess debris with a rake. Thatch are stems and roots that aren't decomposed and accumulate above the soil. The layer of thatch should be less than an inch thick.

Mowing
Raise the height of the mower blades. Never cut off more than 1/3 of the length of the grass. Not cutting off too much grass helps retain water, which relieves stress from heat and drought. It's best to use the mulching option on the lawn mower. Leaving the clippings on the lawn helps recycle nutrients back into the lawn.

pH Balance
Test the pH balance of the soil. The pH balance is the degree of acidity and alkalinity of the soil. The appropriate pH level varies according to the different types of grass. Test the soil with a soil test kit. Apply the product that lowers or raises the pH level, depending on the circumstances. Healthy soil is an essential foundation for growing a beautiful lawn. The soil is permeable, which allows air, water, and grass to penetrate the soil deeper. Unhealthy, compact soil promotes fungus, weeds, and insects.

Grass Seed
Overseed the lawn, which means disperse grass seeds over the existing lawn. Overseeding fills in thin layers by replacing dead grass with living grass. Use a quality grass seed mixture that is genetically superior. Quality grass seeds are resistant to heat, drought, and insects. Overseeding also creates healthy, growing grass, which helps prevent weeds.

Fertilize
Fertilizing grass is a crucial part of growing a healthy lawn. Healthy grass resists diseases, which prevents insects because insects attack weak lawns. Healthy grass is also tolerant of heat and cold, which helps prevent brown spots.

What To Do If Brown Spots Occur
A common problem that everyone faces when caring for a lawn is what to do if brown spots occur.

1) Determine the cause of the brown spots (drought, heat, fungus, pH, and insects are all possible) * Insects attack unhealthy lawns. If insects are the problem, apply insect control. Only apply insect control if there is an insect problem. * Fungus grows in hot, moist climates. If fungus is a problem, apply fungus control. Only apply fungus control if fungus is a problem. 2) Clear away brown grass and excess debris with a rake 3) Test the pH level of the soil (fix if necessary) 4) Loosen the soil 5) Scatter grass seeds over the soil 6) Apply fertilizer 7) Water daily for 2 weeks

Maintaining a lush lawn requires active preparation and participation. Develop a cycle from Fall to Spring that includes everything the lawn requires to thrive. It is possible to enjoy a beautiful lawn, even during the middle of Summer.

5 Smart Irrigation Tips

Water is essential to all growing plants, and knowing how to properly water your plants can help them grow properly. Being knowledgeable about irrigation can help both with the growing process of your plants as well as conserving as much water as possible. Here are 5 beneficial irrigation tips for you to follow:

#1- Schedule
The best way to save the most water and money is to set up a watering schedule for your plants. With an electronic or a battery timer with a rain sensor port, you can suspend the timer's program when there is about to be a great deal of rainfall. It is important to regularly check your timer, at least once a month, to experiment on frequency and length of time for watering. Setting the timer up for early or late days is important because of water evaporation.

#2- Inspection
With a smart irrigation, or any irrigation system for that matter, there are always small issues that need to be inspected. Those issues can consist of leakage, breaks, or other issues that would cause water gushing. Sometimes it is hard to notice leakage, however, if you look at your water bill, you can see if you are wasting more water than usual.

#3- Right Plants
Around 60% of the water that Americans use in their homes are solely used for plants and cultivating other parts of the landscape. You can use your smart irrigation more efficiently if you find plants that do not require as much watering. However, a lot of this water wastage is also due to a poor irrigation system. Having a smart irrigation in your home can prevent this much water wastage, especially if you have a timer set up for watering.

#4- Roots
Make sure you are using a soil probe to measure how deep the water has penetrated the soil after irrigation. If it goes easily through the soil it is wet, and if you are struggling to push in the probe through the soil, then it is dry. This probe will determine if the length of your irrigation is sufficient. With this method, you will know when the appropriate time to water your plants is.

#5- Design
Set up your plants accordingly. Irrigation must be separated into different zones. Within those zones, set up plants with similar water requirements. This way, you conserve water as well as use your smart irrigation system efficiently.