It's been an extremely hectic season but we've managed to get lawns back into beautiful shape from last years drought.  Even lawns that were seeded at odd times in late winter and ones that were not watered one iota recovered and are looking great.  So where do we go from here?  First thing is we have to be careful during mowing.  Try to only mow when the weather is cool - I know good excuse, but its true.  Try not to go on the lawn if its too hot or drought stressed.  Now that we are going into the heat of the summer mow high.  This is where you're going to have to get down on the ground.  Use a ruler and measure the height your mower is cutting at.  Is it 3 to 3..5" after you've mowed?  If not, raise the blades so it is.  The more the grass can shade itself the better it will be. It can be hard to get used to seeing it look shaggy but trust me it will be better for it.

We've been making applications to keep your lawn fed and protected from insects and diseases.  Some diseases however, will crop up if conditions are right.  Mowing too short can increase the severity of disease and insect activity.  Mow as needed about once per week and make sure the height you are cutting to is more than 3" at least.  

We are making our grub control rounds and are trying hard to schedule them before rain.  If rain missed you you may have to do the watering yourself.  When you do water do it thoroughly.  Focus on one area at a time and water the heck out of it.  One to two hours in the early morning or mid afternoon is best.  Then let it go for a week.  As long as lawns receive 1" of water per week they'll be fine.  Sure wish mother nature would adhere to that, don't you?  Watering is essential for the grub control application although we are using a product that is more forgiving.  Watering correctly also helps grass survive a major drought.  There are some grasses that protect themselves by browning out but others will not. Keep an eye on the weather.  The high winds we had and dry spring was causing lawns to dry out already.  High humidity can be problematic for lawns too.  

We will be experimenting with a new product and want to know if you are interested in trying it. It's called Moisture Manager and when applied will extract moisture from the air to be used for the lawn.  The cost is high but we are offering to do the worst half of your lawn for the same cost as a regular application.  The product is supposed to work for 2 -3 months so we will be scheduling these applications soon.  Remember it must be done BEFORE the lawn starts to experience drought stress.

 We're so excited to see the recovery of lawns from last years drought and your enthusiasm as things turnaround.  It really makes our day to see the successes and your happiness.  Thank you for hanging in there and doing your part in that recovery.  As we look forward to the lazy days of summer we're not likely to be getting much rest.  We'll be making sure we do everything in our power to preserve what we have.  We have noticed some drought stress already so it could be a long summer but its not hopeless.  We've had some rain this year that is more than we had last year.  So let's hope and pray the weather is on our side this year.

Remember to mow as needed cutting at least 3" high.  Water as needed with only heavy doses at a time.  Water in the morning or early afternoon.  Refrain from mowing on the hottest days.  Let us know if you see any problems with the lawn you might be concerned with.  Insects flying around or brown or yellow leaf blades are indications of diseases or lawn problems.  Each lawn may require their own solution so we try to adjust things as needed.

Stay cool and try to relax and enjoy the summer!