Summer Lawn Care

JUNE, JULY, AUGUST

Summer is an ideal time to water the lawn, especially during periods of drought. It is also an ideal time to control insects and diseases in the lawn. Broadleaf weed prevention should be done in August (if seeding in the fall). Do not spray lawns with weed killers when temperatures are above 86 degrees F. Insects can be controlled in June and grubs can be controlled in August.

• Apply 1" - 2" of water to lawns each week by thoroughly soaking the turf areas.
• If needed, apply Bayer Lawn & Garden Multi-Insect Killer in June to control insects such as chinch bugs, sod webworms, billbugs, ants and fleas.
• Apply Dylox in August to control grubs.
• Apply Bayleton Lawn Fungicide to help prevent & cure lawn diseases such as brown patch & dollar spot (see our staff for guidance).
• Apply an organic lawn food such as Cockadoodle Doo, Milorganite, or Lawn Restore to help maintain green color.
• If you plan to seed in the fall, you can apply Portrait in early August to prevent winter annual weeds (seeding can be done 45 days after applying Portrait, which would put seeding at mid September).
• Feed zoysia lawns with Merrifield Premium 26-4-12 Lawn Food during June, July and /or August.
• If needed, sod or plug zoysia lawns during June or July.

If you are planning a total renovation of the lawn in the fall, which involves killing off all of the existing grass & weeds first and then starting over with seed or sod, do the following:

• Spray Roundup in early August (gauge effectiveness after two weeks).
• If needed, spray Roundup again in mid August to ensure total kill of existing grass and weeds.
• Once all vegetation is brown, roto-till to a depth of 6" or more and add organic matter and Merrifield Select Lawn Fertilizer to the soil.
• Rake it smooth and level. Then seed or sod in late August or Early September.