Taking care of your lawn and garden during our super hot summer days can be a bit tricky, but following a few tips, your plants and grass will stay happy and healthy!

First, let's talk about watering our thirsty turf. Giving your lawn a nice, deep drink, but not too often, is key – 4-5x’s/week. It's best to run your irrigations/sprinklers early in the morning when the sun isn’t too strong, so the water doesn’t just disappear into thin air. Try to avoid night watering as that can lead to dreaded fungus!!

Second, your grass loves a good trim, but not too short. Keeping your lawn mower on a higher setting lets the grass grow longer, which helps shade the soil and keep everything nice and hydrated.

What about your landscaping? Adding a cozy blanket of mulch around your plants can help keep the soil moist and the roots cool, like a little sunhat for your plants! Water your landscape plants roughly 2x’s/week in intense summer heat and periods of little to no rainfall. Enjoy your summer!

Summertime has arrived and with it the onset of hot, summer days. It's time to put our lawn sprinklers and irrigation systems to work! This raises the following important questions.... When do I water? How much do I water? What if I don't water? Let's review the answers below:

When is the best time to water my lawn?

MORNING!! (Approximately 5-9 a.m.) Morning is the best time to water for maximum benefit. The soil will become nicely saturated with morning watering, but the turf blade will be allowed to dry more quickly, helping to prevent lawn disease. Watering in the evening is not recommended as it will keep the grass blade wet overnight, causing a major breeding ground for fungi.

How much water should I apply?

Water deeply and infrequently, with the goal of adding 1-inch of water to the lawn at each session. This should be done 2-3 times/week, more if we are in drought conditions. Water pressure and irrigation heads may alter water output, so set out a shallow bucket (or a tuna can works great for this!) while watering the first few times and allow an inch of water to collect. Note the time the sprinkler/irrigation was running in order to accumulate the inch of water and then you will know for a certainty how long to let your sprinklers/irrigation system run at each session.

What will happen if I decide not to water my lawn and my area is in a drought?

If we experience drought conditions and you choose not to irrigate, the turf will go dormant to protect the root system of the plant. The grass will green right back up with adequate water following a mild to moderate drought BUT if our area experiences an extended drought, some areas of the turf may be thinned or even completely die off if the lawn does not receive water. If this occurs, plan to seed (and water!) in the fall.

Remember, investing a little extra in watering your lawn during the summer is far more cost-effective than reseeding and watering a new lawn in the fall!!

Spring is right around the corner, and for many homeowners, that means it's time to start thinking about their lawn. After a long winter, your lawn may be in need of some TLC to get it looking its best. In this blog post, we'll cover everything you need to know about preparing your lawn for spring.

1. Clean Up

The first step in preparing your lawn for spring is to clean up any debris that has accumulated over the winter. This includes removing any leaves, branches, and other debris that may have fallen on your lawn. You should also rake up any dead grass or thatch that has built up, as this can prevent new grass from growing.

2. Fertilization, Pre-Emergent and Weed Controls - Lawn Cure's Early Spring Application

• Fertilizing your lawn is another important step in preparing it for spring. Fertilizer provides essential nutrients that your grass needs to grow and thrive as we move through the growing season. A properly balanced fertilization is necessary as the lawn comes out of winter’s dormancy. This will help the turf recover from winter conditions and help contribute towards a beautiful, healthy green lawn this year.
• Pre-emergent, which is designed to control the majority of annual crabgrass and some weed varieties, must be applied prior to crabgrass germination for premium effectiveness. The window of opportunity to get our pre-emergent down is generally from now through late April/early May.
• 
  
• As soon as warmer temperatures return, spring weeds will begin to ‘pop’. Appropriate broadleaf weed controls need to be applied to keep chickweed, henbit and dandelion populations ‘in check’ as they make their seasonal appearance.

3. Spot-Seeding

If your lawn has bare patches or thin areas, you may want to consider some spot seeding after your first application has been done. Seeding can help to fill in these areas and promote a thicker, healthier lawn.

4. Mowing

Finally, mowing season is upon us. You should mow your lawn regularly to keep it looking its best Choose to mow when the grass is dry, leaving behind a 3-4 inch blade. Be sure to keep your mower blades sharp, as a dull blade can tear the grass and leave it vulnerable to disease.

In conclusion, preparing your lawn for spring is an important step in maintaining a healthy, beautiful lawn. By following these tips, you can help to ensure that your lawn is ready to

As we have seen over the past couple of winters, extreme cold temperatures can cause winter vegetation burn on our prized landscape plantings. Winter burn is easy to identify as it appears as brown, discolored patches on leaves and evergreen needles. It happens because the roots of the plant freeze and have a difficult time delivering water and nutrients to the rest of the plant.

What can you do?

• Mulch! Mulching the base of our landscape plants, covering the root zone, will help insulate the soil around the root of the plant and therefore better regulate the temperature of the soil.
• Young trees or extremely delicate plants can be wrapped in burlap or tree wrap to protect against harsh winds
• Pruning diseased or dead branches before winter reduces the risk of ice or snow accumulation, preventing breakage
• Be cautious with de-icing salts, as they can harm trees and shrubs
• Plan on a good fertilization of your trees and shrubs at the beginning of winter and once again in early spring for a more lush growing season.

By taking these measures, you can safeguard your trees and shrubs, promoting their resilience and ensuring a healthy return when spring arrives.

Why Winterize Your Lawn?

Winterizing your lawn is the process of spreading a combination of a high-quality fertilizer and bio-solid nutrients over the turf anytime between mid-November-early January. According to Purdue University and the University of Kentucky, the winterizing fertilization is your lawns most important feeding of the year for several reasons:

Granular, winter fertilization along with bio-solid nutrients…

• promotes deeper root growth during the lawn’s winter dormancy
• encourages an earlier green-up of your lawn next spring
• results in a healthier, more vigorous stand of turf next year

Helping our clients’ lawns reach their full potential and preparing those lawns for the 2024 season is our greatest concern. If you are already a regular 6-application lawn client with Lawn Cure, rest assured this important fertilization is already a part of your program as the Round 6 application. Not scheduled for Round 6 now? It’s not too late! Simply contact our office to add this valuable service to your regular schedule.