Finally!!! Some of you are saying – This feels like summer! It is, as of last Friday! Isn’t it funny, even though we in Ohio are ready to pull out the raincoat or sweaters at any moment, we do enjoy when our seasons are on schedule and predictable. Yes, for those of you new to Northeast Ohio, we do have predictable weather patterns…. sometimes. When you have been planted in Northeast Ohio for a while then you have been around long enough to know the patterns. This my friends, outside of that bizarre once in a decade freeze, is a typical Northeast transition from spring to summer…cold and rainy one day…cook your tulips off the next. Summer has arrived!
Water your lawn ½ an inch or more at least once a week. The deeper you water the better. Some cities have water restrictions – obey the laws in your area. Water when you can – your lawn will always tell you when it needs watered – Water early in the morning 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 is ideal, this gives the blades of your lawn a chance to dry before the blazing sun sets in for the day – You will then have avoided scorching your lawn. If you water in the evening the moisture remains on the blades of the grass and when it is humid this becomes the perfect condition to germinate a fungus or mold –
Now, two lawn art scenarios you do not want on your lawn.
- When spraying a vegetation spray in the landscape beds and you must walk into the beds to spray – then walk backwards. Walking backwards prevents you from stepping into areas that you have freshly sprayed – eliminating the trail of footprints through your lawn from one bed to the other – Perfect footprints created from dead sod – This is based on actual events I was asked to diagnose peculiar dead spots in the lawn at a local condominium association. This was not a difficult diagnosis.
- When using hand tools, electric tools, gas powered tools or anything of the sort on a hot day – DO NOT leave the equipment lying on the lawn in the sun – the metal of a spade or edging shovel will leave a lovely square dead spot in your lawn as it scalds the grass blades from heating in the sun. Or if your more of a curvilinear type of person you can decorate your lawn in polka dots simply by setting your freshly ran for 30 minutes hedge shears on the lawn just as the blades quite rubbing and do not pick it up for 5-10 minutes. Repeat this throughout your lawn and you have successfully created polka dots with the singed lawn.
Most Kentucky blue grass lawns will go dormant when the temperatures reach 85 degrees and higher. If you water regularly you keep the lawn cooler and it will keep growing and you will keep mowing and feeding. If you allow it to go dormant it will brown out which is usually fine and will perk back up the next cool day. It is a good idea to try not to walk on the lawn if you allow it to go dormant as the crown of the grass is dry and brittle and can shatter with foot traffic causing detriment to the lawn.
For a lawn that will stay green in the heat of the summer try a carefree 5- way Fescue mix. This is guaranteed not to disappoint. Do not install your lawn until August 15th through September 15th – if you do this and have prepped the area correctly you will have the lawn of your dreams – Maintenance not included.
Since we have finally gotten to the hot part of the season I know there is a tendency to want to water more. Your vegetable garden will appreciate it as well as your annuals and most potted materials – However most landscape plant material wants the root system to dry out a bit before getting another drink. If it is dry – water – But do not over water. Over watering not the heat was the cause of many plants leaving this green earth the past year. Many plants will go into dormancy during extreme heat to try to conserve energy – they will not uptake as much water – a Hydrangea is a good indicator in the garden if your tender plant material needs watered as you can visually see a Hydrangea wilt.
Gardener Know Thy Plants!
If you don’t – just ask – we are an E-mail away!
