Summer is the perfect time to spend hours outside enjoying all that Colorado has to offer. But all that time outdoors means you’ll be seeing a lot more of your lawn. When it starts to look discolored or drab, it can make your entire home exterior look less appealing. Luckily, your trusted Denver sprinkler service has you covered. We’ve put together a few simple tips to help you keep your lawn lush and green no matter how warm the summer weather gets.

Program Your Sprinkler System
Your sprinkler system should have a programmable timer that lets you water your lawn without having to push a button or move the hose. But if that timer is set improperly or broken, your sprinkler system won’t work as it should. Take a look at the timer and make sure it’s set to water your lawn when you think it needs to. If not or if you see any problems, schedule a repair appointment as soon as possible. 

Water the Right Way
Believe it or not, there’s a right and wrong way to water your lawn. Try to give it a long oak session every other day rather than watering for a few minutes each day. This encourages your lawn’s roots to grow deeper so they can draw up moisture out of the soil on their own between watering sessions. The more water they pull up, the less dependent they’ll be on your sprinkler system. Your grass will stay green even during dry periods. 

Make Sure Sprinklers Hit the Turf
Watering your sidewalk or driveway won’t do your grass any good. Take a look at the placement of your sprinkler heads. Sometimes, they can get knocked out of alignment by mowing or landscaping tasks. If the spray is hitting your grass and landscaping, you’re in good shape. But if it’s watering a good portion of your pavement, get the system inspected and fixed before summer is in full swing.

Don’t Over-Cut Your Grass
Mowing your lawn is a weekly chore, but did you know you can cut it too short? The shorter the grass is, the faster the blades can dry out. This results in an underperforming lawn filled with brown patches and discoloration. Instead, raise the cutting height on your lawn mower as soon as the weather warms up. Longer blades of grass are more resistant to dehydration. Just remember to check with your HOA and make sure you’re not leaving your lawn too long. No one wants to see the neighborhood stickler on their lawn with a ruler.

Get Rid of Weeds Quickly
Weeds are more than an unsightly nuisance—they’re also a threat to your lawn’s water supply. Weeds have much longer root systems than any established lawn ever will. And that means those roots are the first to reach the moist soil and groundwater supply underground. They can take that moisture for themselves, leaving your lawn with an inadequate water supply long before you notice any discoloration. As soon as you see any weeds growing, get rid of them. 

Let It Breathe
Aeration is key in great grass growth. It gives the soil and your lawn the oxygen it needs to grow and thrive. Further, it helps reduce how much the soil compacts under the weight of the grass and human activity. This helps the roots spread and grow more established. All you need to do is grab your pitch fork or other long-pronged gardening tool and jab it into your turf. The holes should be at least an inch deep and spread out over the entire lawn. 

Keep Foot Traffic to a Minimum
It’s normal to want to use your lawn during the summer. After all, that’s why you’re focusing on growing that lush and beautiful grass! But you’ll still want to keep human activity to a minimum. Remove heavy lawn furniture when you’re not using it and encourage the family to walk on walkways and paths rather than cutting through the grass. If they’re playing in it, don’t panic. A little bit of use won’t kill your grass. It’s only when the activity becomes near-constant that the grass starts to struggle. 

Fertilize, But Do It Right
All soil has nutrients, but those nutrients eventually get absorbed by the plants and your lawn. Over time, you’ll need to replenish the nutrients to keep your yard and landscaping looking great. A good fertilizer is all you need, but take care to follow the instructions on the package and stick to them. Over-fertilizing an fry your lawn by changing the pH balance of the soil. When this happens, the grass won’t be able to get the nutrients it needs and may slowly start to die. And it’s incredibly hard to bring an over-fertilized lawn back in a single summer. If you’re nervous about overdoing it, consider hiring an experienced landscaping team to handle your fertilization needs. They know how much to use, when to use it, and how to apply it most effectively. 

Never Use Hot Water
What happens if your sprinkler system breaks and you’re waiting on repairs? Well, you’ll still have to water your lawn and that means using the hose to keep the soil damp and cool. But you still want to be cautious. Avoid running the hose until you know the water is cool. Let it drain off on the pavement or into a designated drainage area until the water is at least room-temp. Hot water is a fast way to destroy the lawn, scorch the roots, and kill your progress. 

Summer is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy your home’s landscaping. You just need to show it a little TLC to make sure it grows well throughout the warmest months. Schedule an appointment for a sprinkler system tune-up with our team and let our experts get your irrigation system up and running at its best. Taking care of minor issues now means you’ll be able to enjoy the summer weather without worrying about your lawn.