Mowing Recommendations
In south central Pennsylvania, most lawns are made up of cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass. For regular mowing, keeping your mower set between 3 and 3-1/2 inches helps these grasses thrive. With high heat and drought conditions, set your mower at 3-1/2 to 4+ inches to help your grass survive.

Taller grass develops deeper roots, making your lawn more drought tolerant during hot summer weather. It also shades the soil, helping retain moisture while reducing weed seed germination. A higher mowing height can naturally discourage weeds like crabgrass and dandelions, while creating a thicker, greener lawn.

For the healthiest turf, never remove more than one-third of the grass blade in a single mowing, keep mower blades sharp, and leave grass clippings on the lawn whenever possible. The clippings quickly decompose and return valuable nutrients to the soil.

A simple adjustment to your mower can make a big difference in the appearance and long-term health of your lawn.

Watering Recommendations
During periods of summer heat and drought, cool-season grasses in south central Pennsylvania naturally slow their growth and may turn brown as they go dormant. Dormant grass is not dead and will usually recover when cooler temperatures and rainfall return.

When watering, apply about 1 to 1-1/2 inches of water per week, including rainfall. Water deeply and infrequently to encourage deeper root growth rather than shallow roots. The best time to water is early in the morning, before 10:00 am, when temperatures are cooler and less water is lost to evaporation. Also, watering after 5:00 pm is another acceptable time for watering your lawn.

Avoid watering every day or during the heat of the afternoon, as this wastes water and can increase the risk of disease. Continue mowing at a high height (3-1/2 to 4+ inches) to help shade the soil, conserve moisture, and reduce stress on your lawn.

With proper watering and mowing practices, your lawn will have a much better chance of staying healthy through the summer and recovering quickly when favorable growing conditions return.

Showcase LawnWorks enjoys helping customers in towns surrounding Lancaster, Denver, New Holland, Leola, Smoketown, Adamstown, Churchtown, Gap, Kinzers, Paradise, Reading and beyond.

Learn more about our services by visiting our website now. You can contact us online using our online form or give us a call at 717-354-3226.

For more informative articles regarding lawn care, tree and shrub care, landscaping, and pest control follow our blogs. And don’t forget to check us out and like us on Facebook.