5 Mid-Season Signs that Your Lawn Is Stressed

It’s mid-season. This is the time of year that many homeowners relax and kind of forget about their lawns except for mowing. You spent all that hard work this past spring…fertilizer, weed preventer, watering, etc. But if you’re not paying attention, all that hard work can be undone by the heat in mid summer. The lawn coaches at Heritage Lawns & Irrigation have put together a list of signs to look for before your lawn is damaged irreparably by the heat. Pay special attention to the sunny areas of your yard as those are usually the first to show signs of distress.

Weeds Popping Up

Although weeds and grass are two different plants, weeds tend to thrive in the heat while grass tends to struggle. If you see more weeds popping up, that means it’s been very hot and you should keep a close eye on your lawn. Make sure you are watering regularly.

Color Change in Grass

One of the first signs of drought stress is a slight change in color. Your grass will change from deep green to bluish gray. This is a subtle change, so you have to know to look for it. Without enough water and too much heat, your grass blades won’t be able to produce as much chlorophyll to make their color that rich green we all seek.

Curling Grass Blades

Each blade of grass is its own individual plant trying to survive within its environment. When conditions get challenging as they do in the heat of the summer, the blades will show it by curling or wilting. Get down and look closely at your grass. If you see signs of curling blades, your grass is drought stressed.

Footprints that Stay Visible on Your Lawn

Again, this is a subtle sign, but when grass begins to dry out, it becomes less elastic or resilient and takes longer to recover from stress. When it is pressed down by foot traffic, it doesn’t bounce back as quickly. If footprints tend to linger longer than is normal, your grass could use some water.

Bare or Brown Spots

Brown or bare spots are not a good sign. While they are more obvious, when you see brown spots or bare spots, your lawn is extremely stressed and some damage has already been done. Begin watering regularly.

Regular Watering Is What Your Lawn Needs

Your lawn needs at least one to two inches of water every week. This is critical in the middle months of July and August when heat and sun rob the soil of moisture on a daily basis. Deep watering more infrequently is better than watering a little bit every day. Watering in the early morning hours also helps to reduce water loss from evaporation.

Mid-Season Lawn Care Package

If your DIY lawn care plan isn’t working for you, you’re not alone. We hear from many homeowners who just need a little help this time of year. Don’t give up on your lawn. You’ll just create more work for yourself next spring. Instead, take advantage of our Mid-Season Lawn Rescue Package that will help your lawn look better this year and give it a head start on looking great come spring. It includes all of the services your lawn needs from now until November, all at a competitive price.