How to Protect Your Lawn from Heat Stress and Dry Spots in Summer

Summer heat can be tough on lawns, especially cool-season grasses like Fescue, which thrive in moderate temperatures. With the rise in summer temperatures, it's common to see your lawn struggling—whether it’s slowing growth or fading color. While this is natural, there are steps you can take to help your lawn cope with the stress. Here are some tips to reduce heat stress and dry spots on your lawn.

Tips to Reduce Heat Stress and Dry Spots

1. Avoid Daily Watering: Unless your lawn was recently aerated and seeded, watering your lawn every day can do more harm than good. Instead, water deeply and less frequently. If you notice discolored areas, it may indicate uneven irrigation coverage. Make sure your sprinklers are reaching all parts of the lawn. Follow our detailed watering recommendations here. 
2. Pay Extra Attention to Pavement Edges: Areas next to sidewalks and driveways are often more stressed due to shallow soil and heat reflection. For a quick fix, manually saturate these areas with a hose. Long term, consider excavating and replacing the soil in these trouble spots.
3. Increase Mowing Height: Frequent mowing can stress your lawn, especially during heat waves. To reduce stress, space out your mowing intervals and always keep your grass height between 3.5” to 4”. This allows the grass to retain moisture and protect itself from heat damage.
4. Plan for Aeration and Seeding in the Fall: Aeration and seeding are essential to rejuvenate your lawn after a hot summer. Aerating allows water, nutrients, and oxygen to reach deep into the soil, while overseeding fills in bare spots, ensuring a lush lawn next spring. If your lawn has suffered dry spots or heat stress, this is a must-do! Note: Warm-season lawns (e.g., Bermuda, Zoysia) should not be overseeded in the fall. Instead, focus on core aeration during the summer (June to July) to maintain turf health.

The Silver Lining: Recovery After the Heat

The good news? Once cooler temperatures return, your lawn, especially Fescue, will start to recover. Fescue is resilient and will bounce back with proper care, so hang in there!

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