5 Tips on Preventing Lawn Burn for Homeowners in Orlando, FL

Keeping your lawn health in harsh heat can be a challenge, depending on where you live. Here are 5 tips on preventing lawn burn for people in Orlando, FL.

As spring comes to a close, we’re approaching the season during which Orlando, Florida highs average around 92 degrees. While we love the heat down here in Florida, our lawns don’t always feel the same way.

Lawn burn is exacerbated by high heat, periods of drought, and over-fertilization. In fact, sometimes it’s not just the weather conditions that are harmful to our lawns but the way we overcompensate for them!

Preventing lawn burn is a great way to avoid having to replant new grass seed once the summer months are over. Plus, if you can maintain a lush, green lawn through the summer months, you’ll be the envy of the neighborhood!

Read on for our best tips on how to prevent lawn burn this summer.

1. Aerate Your Lawn Early

Lawn aeration breaks up the over compacted dirt that is choking out your roots. This creates space for water and nutrients to travel to the roots rather than getting caught near the surface! Healthy, strong roots have a much higher chance of withstanding the tough summer months.

However, it’s important that you take care of aeration before the high temperatures set in. During periods of high heat and drought, your turf is much more sensitive to damage and can’t recover as quickly. Aerating in the middle of summer can put too much stress on your grass, speeding up the process of lawn burn.

2. Fertilize Your Lawn the Right Way

Homeowners tend to think that fertilizer is the best solution when their grass starts to turn that unpleasant brown color. The truth is that you want to fertilize your lawn when it begins to show signs of new growth. In Florida, most lawns are populated with warm-season grass, which starts to leave its dormancy period in the early spring months.

Both over-fertilization and improperly timed fertilization can cause lawn burn. You should fertilize your lawn twice a year. You should also avoid fertilizing it when the grass is dormant because this may contribute to weed growth.

You should also be mindful of Orlando’s watering restrictions and forecast before you fertilize. Postpone fertilization if you’re unable to water your grass thoroughly, either with a sprinkler system or through natural rainfall. Without enough water, fertilizer sits on the blades of grass and causes a chemical burn.

3. Make Sure You’re Mowing Properly

Did you know that it’s possible to cut your grass too short? Grass generates energy through photosynthesis, which means that the more grass there is to soak up the sun’s rays, the more energy it can create.

During summer’s longer, hotter days, you want to make sure that you’re leaving enough of the blade behind to create extra energy. This ensures that your grass is a powerhouse that can keep its roots alive and healthy. It also allows your grass to build resilience against extreme weather patterns.

You should also make sure that your mower’s blades are sharp. A dull blade will tear your grass, rather than creating a clean cut. When grass tissue is torn, it cannot heal as quickly and becomes more vulnerable to high heat, direct sunlight, and over-watering.

To make sure that your grass isn’t cut too short and that the mower blades are well-maintained, hire professionals to take care of your summer lawn mowing needs.

4. Avoid Over-Watering

Like fertilizer, we tend to turn to the hose when our grass starts to brown. However, over-watering won’t save weak roots. Instead, too much water deprives the roots of the oxygen they need to eat. Plus, constant dampness creates a breeding ground for all sorts of diseases.

A good rule of thumb is to water deeply but infrequently. If you’re not getting much rainfall, water once or twice a week. If your yard is still damp, wait another day or two before breaking out the sprinklers.

Grass thrives on about one inch of water per week, and this includes rainwater. When you avoid over-watering, both your lawn and your water bill will thank you!

5. Let Your Clippings Feed Your Grass

If the idea of avoiding fertilizer for the summer bothers you, turn to a natural and cost-effective solution. Use your grass clippings!

In the landscaping business, we sometimes refer to this process as grass-cycling. The idea is that rather than bagging your clippings and tossing them out, you run them through a mulcher  (or use a mulching mower) to get finer blades. Then, sprinkle them back over your freshly mowed lawn!

Grass clippings will behave as a slow-release fertilizer. As the grass decomposes, it releases nutrients into the ground that enrich your lawn and help to create that vibrant, lush look you’re going for.

Note that if your lawn is located near a body of water or storm drain, you should be careful of where you leave grass clippings. Avoid leaving them in or near these areas. Otherwise, they may get washed away in the next rainfall and pollute nearby water sources as they decompose.

Preventing Lawn Burn Is Cost-Effective

In all aspects of homeownership, prevention is often more cost-effective than repair. Preventing lawn burn is no different! Maintain your lawn this summer so that you don’t have to start fresh with new grass seed next fall.

If you’re looking for lawn care services this summer, you’ve come to the right place. Plowz and Mowz has made it easier than ever to order lawn care on demand! Create an account and start getting the lawncare assistance you need right away.