Too much sun, too little water, not enough fertilizer? All of these factors can lead to a stressed lawn. But don’t worry! We have some tips to help you fix a stressed lawn.

What Is A Stressed Lawn?

Many types of grass can struggle in hot, dry conditions. The heat and lack of water can cause the grass to become brittle, making it difficult for the plant to survive. In addition, foot traffic can significantly stress the grass as it becomes brittle. Over time, foot traffic can cause the soil to compact, and the plants struggle even more. All of this can lead to a stressed lawn.

How To Identify A Stressed Lawn

One of the first signs that your lawn is stressed will be the discoloring of the blades of grass. The grass may appear blue-gray or have a dull green before turning completely brown. You may also notice that the tips of the grass have turned brown. This means there isn't enough water, and the lawn is slowly dying.

Another sign to look for is “bounce-back.” When you step on your lawn, look to see if the grass springs back up or if your foot leaves an imprint. The lack of "bounce-back" indicates that the water pressure within the grass blades is not strong enough to keep them taut and resilient. 

How To Fix A Stressed Lawn

1. Avoid Walking On Your Grass in high-traffic areas like shortcuts from the driveway to the entry of a home.

Avoid walking on the lawn as much as possible when it is heat stressed. The extra stress of walking on the grass could break off dying blades of grass.

2. When You Water, Do It in the Morning

When it’s time to water, doing so during the cool summer mornings means that more of the water will reach the roots before evaporating. Then, as the sun comes out and the air warms up, the newly watered grass will slowly dry out over the course of the day.

3. Overseed in the Fall

Dormant seeding is when you over-seed your lawn when the weather cools down in the late fall and winter. 

4. Aerate Your Lawn 

In hot and dry conditions, soil can become hard as rocks, making it difficult for water to penetrate the ground. Therefore, it’s important to aerate the lawn in the spring and the fall to help flow water, oxygen, and nutrients into the root system.

5. Inspect Your Lawn Mower 

Keep your lawn mower blade sharp and high to ensure a smooth, easy ride. Dull blades make it difficult to push the lawn mower and can cause you to work harder than necessary. 

Additionally, check the height at which you are cutting your grass. The taller the grass, the deeper its roots will grow. This allows the grass to access water and nutrients that are buried deeper in the soil. A general rule of thumb is to cut your grass to 3-3 ½ inches (no shorter in the hot summer months).

Cory’s Lawn Service To The Rescue

If you live in the Reno/Sparks area and are experiencing a heat-stressed lawn due to our extreme summer temperatures, call Cory’s Lawn Service. We are focused on delivering top-notch customer service, maintaining beautiful lawns, and giving our customers more time to spend on what is most important.