Summer Lawn Care Tips for Akron, OH Homeowners

Creating a yard you can be proud of is something many homeowners dream of completing. A green lawn, with flowers along the path, large trees and a patio area to enjoy the space may be the ideal space you picture. How do you get this backyard with the lush lawn and picture-worthy patio? Caring for your yard isn’t an exact science, but there are a few things you should know to get started. Here are our summer lawn care tips for Akron, OH.

Know your lawn

The first thing you need to do to take care of your lawn is to know what type of grass you have and the conditions of the soil. There are different types of grass, and each type needs specific care–how much water? How often do you mow? How much do you cut off when you mow the lawn? What additional nutrients does it need? The type of grass you have will tell you this.

Then, what’s your soil? Soil can be sand, loam, silt, clay or a mixture of the three. They all have different pros and cons. A soil test can help you learn what type of soil you have and what it needs to give your grass an excellent environment to grow.

Feed regularly

Once you know your grass type and your soil type, you’ll understand what your lawn needs. You should set up a fertilizer schedule to give the lawn the nutrients it needs to thrive. Each grass type has some specific needs, so be sure to cater to those as you shop for fertilizer. The soil test will tell you what is lacking -- so you’ll know if you need to add extra nitrogen or more potassium. Then you can find a fertilizer that fills the needs of both the grass and the soil conditions you’re growing it in.

Mow at the appropriate height

Your grass needs to be mowed regularly. However, your grass type will determine how often and short you need to mow. Many Akron lawns are Kentucky bluegrass, mow to 2 ½ to 3 inches for best results. However, you can find out your lawn’s preferred mowing height with a quick internet search to make sure you’re mowing the best way for your lawn.

When you mow, make sure your lawnmower has a sharp blade, so you don’t harm the grass by chopping at it without smoothly taking off the top. Also, follow the one-third rule: only cut off one-third of the height of the grass. For the Kentucky bluegrass in the example we’ve used here, mow the lawn when your grass is about 4 inches tall.

Water

In the summer, you’ll need to water regularly. Most lawns need 1 to 1 ½ inches of water each week, and if you aren’t getting enough rain to understand this, you’ll need to water the lawn yourself. You can set up a watering schedule with your irrigation controller or manually water if you prefer, but be sure not to overwater or waste water with runoff or overspray.

Get professional help with your summer lawn care by checking out our Akron lawn care page.

If you're in Akron this Summer, learn how Akron Lawn Care can service your lawn!

Photo Source: Zillow