Essential Lawn Care Tips for Late Summer

Late summer is a time when many homeowners are ready to stop thinking about their lawns after a busy spring and summer of mowing and watering. Yet, this is the time when Charlotte aeration and overseeding services are most important, helping you prepare your lawn for a strong growing season in the next summer. Here are some lawn care tips for late summer that will set you up for success in the coming year.

Look for Signs of Distress
Late summer brings hotter weather in North Carolina, and this is when your lawn is going to show signs of distress. If you notice that bugs, disease or drought are attacking certain areas of your lawn, make plans to change the way you care for your lawn to improve the problem.

Aerate the Soil
Late fall is the ideal time to aerate the lawn, providing access for oxygen, water and fertilizer to get to the roots of the grass. Aerating punches small holes into the soil to extract tiny plugs of dirt, providing the air in the soil that the lawn needs for growth. For homeowners in Charlotte, aerating the lawn provides the necessary circulation for growth in the next year. You can either do this yourself, or you can hire a Charlotte aerate lawn service to ensure that it is done well.

Consider Overseeding
Overseeding is also valuable in giving the grass a good basis for growth. Overseeding involves spreading grass seed over an existing lawn to improve its health and quality. Overseeding in the late summer or fall limits the competition from summer weedy grasses that can make growth difficult for young grass. Also, warm soil temperature combined with cooler air temperature helps encourage germination and growth.

Address Dead Grass Problems
Over the course of the summer, some of your grass has died off, and grass clippings have also been added to your lawn. If you do not address the problem, you may notice thickening underneath your grass that makes growth difficult. Dethatching removes some of this thickness so the grass has a chance to grow well. Keep in mind that some thatch helps protect the roots, so only dethatch when it is necessary.

Fertilize for Next Year’s Growth
Finally, fertilize in late summer or fall to give the roots the nutrition they need for the slower winter growth, encouraging deep root growth that will lead to better summer growth. If you fertilized in the spring, do it again in the fall. If you will only fertilize once per year, choose the fall or late summer for the best results.

Late summer may be a time when you are tempted to overlook lawn care, but avoid this temptation if you can. Your lawn needs attention now more than every so give it the TLC it needs to enjoy healthy growth all year long.