Matilda vs. Sir Walter Buffalo Turf: Which is Right for Your Lawn?
September 10, 2024
Get one of our team members to give you a call to discuss your project!
The grass will be trying to absorb even more water and nutrients than usual to compensate for the increased stress the heat is placing on it; unfortunately the soil will naturally be incredibly dry, making this impossible. Over on our lawn care page, there is plenty of information on the best practises for different lawn situations. Dealing with heat, and quite possibly drought, means that it is best to treat your lawn almost as if it were fresh turf in regards to watering.
There is a considerable difference between the effects of frequent, light watering and less frequent deep watering. When dealing with the heat, a good, deep watering will be a lot more beneficial to your lawn than multiple light ones as it will last longer in the soil and promote strong root growth. On average three or four times a week should be sufficient to sustain a lawn in average conditions, but if you are dealing with more extreme heat then it is probably best to increase this to daily waterings. If you undertake this task in the morning, before the sun has really heated the day up, then the soil will be cool and more able to take in the water you provide it. This time of day also helps ensure that the water will soak in rather than evaporate, reduce the risk of discolouring blades of grass and prevent fungus growth; something that can occur when watering in the evening.
This should not need doing regularly, once or twice a season should suffice in all but the most extreme circumstances. Alongside this, a really simple strategy anyone can implement is to allow the grass to remain a bit longer than usual during the hot weather. Doing so will allow the grass to help protect itself, as the crown of each plant is where new growth begins and having the longer blades above will shield the crown from the sun. Locking the crown away in self-produced shadow will help the grass continue to flourish rather than letting the crown burn in the heat, which will cause the plant to divert its resources to trying to repair this trauma. With the reduced resources available during persistent heat, there is a fairly good chance that it will fail to do so and this will cause the plant to wither and most likely die.
These three simple measures will drastically improve the appearance and overall condition of your lawn during hot summer days. If possible, an integrated or even automated watering system would be an ideal solution if you live somewhere perpetually hot, but all of these tips can be easily performed by hand. Keeping one step ahead of the heat will help your lawn stay green and healthy during hot weather, providing you with that beautiful blue and green contrast to enjoy on those long summer days.
A View Turf