Brown spots on your lawn
You are most likely noticing brown spots on your lawn and wondering how could this be? Can you believe that after one short dry spell and hot weather lawns and shrubs are showing signs of drought? I know. It’s crazy. The soil has dried out so fast and we are as in shock as you are. Those brown spots are likely where the soil is thin- ledge or sandy areas where your septic tank is.
Watering can be a tedious task but done strategically it doesn’t have to be a chore or a drain on your system. Check out our Facebook page for posts but here’s a tip. When you get out your hoses and sprinklers insert a new washer. These little rubber gaskets tend to dry out over the winter and if not replaced will leak and get you wet or drip down along your foundation giving you less water and causing stress during a chore that should be enjoyable. As your gardener, I replace these washers in hoses and sprinklers whenever I encounter a drip.
If you’re going to water do it thoroughly. Water one section at a time early in the morning with a sprinkler. Set a timer and start it anywhere from 4am to 9am or in the afternoon from 2pm to 6pm and run it for an hour. Doing this once will help. If the area is particularly dry and you are so inclined you can water the lawn like this 2 – 3 times per week.
Mow the grass high. When you cut it measure the grass. It should be at least 3″ high with the best height at 3.5″ – 4″. This higher height allows the grass to shade itself. Mow often enough to keep from cutting too much off at once.
Don’t stress the brown spots though. Most of our cool season grasses do this on purpose. They reserve their nutrients for the roots and will return to green when adequate rain has returned. Having a qualified lawn technician inspect your lawn will insure the problem is not a disease or insect that can ruin lawns. If you’re seeing brown spots, reach for the sprinkler to water but also reach for the phone to make sure your company is keeping an eye on things for you. If you’ve chosen our Worry Free Service we have checked your lawn and will let you know if there are any concerns we need to worry about.
Naturescape, LLC
860-742-0326