Summer Lawn Care Tips and Tricks for South Carolina Lawns
Summer is here and it sure is hot. Now is not the time to take it easy when it comes to summer lawn care. We here at Coastal Turf want you to be able to enjoy your yards this summer by offering you some helpful lawn maintenance tips.
Weed Control
As the summer progresses it’s inevitable that you’ll notice a few weeds sprout up here and there. Weeds take advantage of weak spots in your yard so it’s important to make sure that your yard is fertilized and watered regularly. Weed prevention in the summer consists of targeting stray weeds and preventing them from spreading or going to seed. You can use a post-emergent weed treatment to kill crabgrass and other weeds and it won’t harm your grass.
Follow Proper Watering Techniques
Your grass needs a consistent source of water in the summer in order for it to look its best. Knowing when and how long to water could save you from fighting with lawn pests, disease, and fungus.
Water Early
For best results, water early in the morning before the hottest parts of the day. This will allow your grass to get enough water before the hot sun evaporates it. Do not water in the evening. Keeping grass damp during the cool nights are ideal conditions for mold and bacteria to grow.
Water Deep and Not as Often
You don’t need to water your grass every day. In fact, that’s a good way to grow mold and fungus. What you want to do is water less frequently (about every 3 days) but when you do, do it longer so that the water can soak deep into the ground. This promotes deep root growth and can help during drought conditions.
Use Pulsating Sprinklers
Underground irrigation systems are great was to keep your grass watered but those who don’t have a sprinkler system have to do it the old fashioned way. We recommend pulsating sprinklers opposed to the oscillating kind. Oscillating sprinklers shoot their water straight up into the air, causing the water to be carried by the wind on windy days; this gives your grass an uneven watering.
Tree and Shrub Care
Don’t neglect your trees and shrubs, they need love too. Trees and shrubs may seem hardy and strong, but in the summer these plants are susceptible to pests, diseases, and drought. Proper tree maintenance can ensure your trees last for generations.
- Dormant Oil: This is applied to trees and shrubs in the fall or early spring to kill any insects or eggs that have overwintered there.
- Deep Root Fertilization: Get fertilizer right where it needs to go — the roots. Eliminates competition from other plants.
Pest Control
Pests are a huge problem here in South Carolina. Not only can they prevent you from enjoying your outdoor spaces, but they can also cause a lot of damage to your lawn. As always, the best way to prevent pests is with proper insect control. Here are just a few of the common pests found in the Palmetto State:
Mosquitos
Mosquitos are arguably the most annoying pest in South Carolina. No other pest can end an outdoor party faster. With effective mosquito control, you can take back your outdoor spaces by driving down the population of mosquitoes in your yard. Remove standing water from areas like old tires, flower planters, buckets, birdbaths, dishes, ponds, animal waterers, and toys.
Mole Crickets
These subterranean pests are responsible for extensive turf damage in the southern states. If you’ve lived in the south you’re entire life then the chances are, you’ve spotted one of these scary-looking insects before. Mole crickets are about an inch to 1 ¼ inch long with large mole-like digging claws and large heads. They damage lawns by feeding on the roots and shoots of your grass.
To prevent mole crickets from making a home in your yard, maintain proper soil nutrients by applying the recommended fertilizers. Keep your grass at the correct height for the grass type, irrigate properly, and dethatch or aerate your lawn.
Fire Ants
Fire ants are native to South America but have found the climate of our state very habitable. These pests are widespread throughout the south and can do a lot of damage to your grass when they feed on the roots and create huge mounds of dirt in your yard. Fire ants are very aggressive with an extremely painful sting and will swarm anything that disturbs their nest, including children and pets.
Chinch Bugs
These tiny insects can cause major damage to your turf by sucking moisture out of your grass and injecting them with a poison which kills your grass and resembles the effects of drought. Once a blade of grass is sucked dry, they will move on to the next blade of grass, causing the dead patch to expand.
Chinch bugs love to feed on Kentucky bluegrass, red fescues, and perennial ryegrass. One way to know for sure that you are suffering from chinch bugs and not drought is if your grass does not green up after it’s watered. Chinch bug damage is visible from July through August.
Call the Professionals
When pests become a big problem, it’s time to call in the professionals. At Coastal Turf our lawn technicians are trained in battling these lawn pests and restoring order to your lawn.
We also provide a wide range of lawn care services to boost your curb appeal and give you a dazzling yard to show off to your friends and family.