Summer: Time to properly water your lawn- lawn watering

The temperature in New Jersey starts to rise at the end of August and can last through the end of September. With the weather typically ranging from between 82°F to 87°F. But the state is not immune to heat spells that can raise the Mercury close to, and even above, 100°F.

For those with a lawn, this is critical time. On average, during the cooler season grass needs just an inch and half of water each week to keep growing actively and maintain its vibrant, green hue.

However, and contrary to what you may believe, warmer weather impedes growth. It can even wither grass and plants.

Just as the seasons change, so does lawn care and the secret to keeping your yard looking healthy year-round in New Jersey starts with the most basic element: water.

ADEQUATE H2O

Too much or too little water can damage your lawn during summer months. You don’t want to start watering actively once the lawn turns yellow or brown, but you don’t want to irrigate so much and so frequently that you flood your grass and wash away important nutrients in the soil, preventing the roots from absorbing the vital liquid.

Knowing the appropriate amount of water for your lawn can be confusing, and costly. And it can rob you of precious time with your family or hobbies.

One way to avoid problems is to hire the experts. Quench Irrigation, a full service irrigation installation and repair company, has over 50 years of combined experienced keeping yards looking their best in the Garden State.

The company’s experts help you save time by installing an irrigation system that properly covers the entire lawn, providing enough water for your grass without wasting water or your time.

Quench Irrigation workers can also check your system and adjust irrigation heads for optimal coverage, update rain sensors for proper operation and re-program controllers according to the season. This assures you are protecting your landscape investment.

For most people, their biggest investment is their home and a good-looking lawn adds value to your biggest asset.

Quench Irrigation also customizes their systems according to the needs of your lawn for maximum efficiency, responding to specific needs and spreading water uniformly, preventing over-watering and over-spending.

And if you want to help the environment, a customized water irrigation system is the way to go. It can help you conserve water by making sure there are no missing patches and you provide enough water to keep the garden at its best.

SUMMER MOWING

But lawn watering is only part of healthy lawn care. There are other elements that help you maintain your grass a luscious green in summer months.

One of this is proper mowing, which starts with knowing when it’s the best time to do it, and also how to do it.

Summer calls for weekly mowing sessions, but don’t mow the lawn when it’s damp or when the sun it’s at its highest. If it’s too hot for you, it’s also too hot for your grass. The heat exposes the freshly cut leaf blades to even more stress from the excessive summer heat. The best time to mow the lawn is late-afternoon or early evening.

Cutting the grass too short also leaves grass blades exposed to the sun’s rays. The higher the grass blades, the more water it can retained. Shorter grass means more shallow roots, reducing the vigor of your lawn. Remove no more than one-third of the grass blade. And don’t remove grass clippings, which add nutrients to the soil.

WATCH OUT FOR WEEDS AND INSECTS

Aggressive weeds like crabgrass, dandelions and foxtail steal valuable nutrients from your grass. If you see them creeping among the grass blades, remove them with a garden fork or hand tool. To prevent them from coming back, the solution is herbicides, but apply the correct amount so as not to further damage the grass.

Summer is also the time to watch out for grub worms and other beetles that feed on turf roots, leaving brown patches or areas of wilted grass. Not all insects are bad for your lawn, but aphids, mealybugs, caterpillars, beetles, and grub worms can quickly destroy it. Grub worms are especially problematic. The only way to get rid of them is with pesticide, but you should be careful when applying it, because if done improperly it can also wreck havoc on your grass.

FERTILIZER

Timely applications throughout the season can help strengthen the root system, helping your lawn better withstand the harsh elements.

Nitrogen is the most important ingredient in any fertilizer, but different types of grass and soil require different amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen produces new growth, phosphorus promotes root growth, and potassium improves plant vigor. It helps to take a sample of your soil to find out what’s the best formula for your particular needs

Also remember that fertilizers estimulate root and plant growth, so the more you use it, the more frequently you’ll have to mow the lawn.

DON’T FORGET THE MULCH

Mulch is a simple and inexpensive part of any lawn care maintenance plan. Mulch offers a protective layer of material on top of the soil, helping retain moisture, even soil temperatures and protect from erosion. Organic mulches like bark chips, straw and grass clippings decompose naturally, adding nutrients to your grass, so they’re your best option.

As you can see, proper lawn care has many components, each playing a vital part in helping your grass look its best at this time of the year, when a great-looking yard it’s an invitation to spend more time outside with your loved ones.

PROPER LIGHTING

And to enjoy those moments, there’s nothing better than a landscape lighting system that offers security, value and adds beauty to your green areas and your house. Quench Irrigation also specializes in installing low-voltage landscape lighting systems that keep burglars and vandals out, enhances your home’s curb appeal and makes your house come to life.