June Lawn Care Tips

Mowing:

• Raise the blade on your lawn mower for summer.  Mow as high as possible. Lower mowing produces a shallow root system. Shallow grass roots cannot take up enough water and nutrients, making the lawn susceptible to drought stress. Low mowing encourages broadleaf weed invasion and invasion from grassy weeds such as creeping bentgrass and annual blue-grass. It is best to mow a lawn when the leaves are dry. Dry grass cuts cleanly, and clippings distribute more evenly.
• Mow weekly, especially if you’re mulching the clippings.

Fertilizer:

• If you haven’t fertilized yet in June, do so.  Fertilizing in June promotes a thicker lawn, while fertilizing in spring promotes a green lawn.
• Picking a fertilizer: The three main nutrients required by lawns are: nitrogen (N);  phosphorus (P); potassium (K)

Nitrogen promotes dark green colour, leaf and blade development, and density of the turf. Phosphorus is important for good root and rhizome development and promotes plant maturity. Potassium contributes to the general vigour of the plant and promotes wear, drought tolerance and winter hardiness.
Weeds, Insects & Seeding:

• To control weeds, spray or pull before they bloom and disperse seeds. Consider corn gluten meal and deal with crabgrass at the same time.
• Make sure your lawn gets one inch of water per week. If you irrigate, water deeply to encourage deeper roots.
• Monitor for grabs
• Over seed areas damaged by insects.

Amount of Water:

• Too much water can cause thatch, fertilizer leaching, increased disease or grassy weed problems such as creeping bentgrass, annual bluegrass or rough bluegrass. Too little water applied frequently can cause shallow rooting of the turf, which makes the lawn susceptible to disease, drought stress or winter injury.
• Be sure to water deeply and infrequently. Avoid watering from 11 AM-3 PM, the hottest part of the day. It is best to water between 6-10 AM.
• Watering at night invites mildew and fungus but if you can’t water in the morning aim for around 4-7 PM.