What Can I Put On My Lawn in The Summer?

Last Updated on June 3, 2025 by Duncan

The intense summer sun can be challenging not just for you but also for your lawn. Maintaining a healthy lawn during summer takes attention to detail and use of innovative strategies. As a responsible homeowner, you must be wondering what you can put on your lawn to keep it healthy, right? Well, there are plenty of things you can do. These things include:

Apply fertilizer on your lawn

You can spread fertilizer on your lawn on a regular basis. The type of grass you have will determine the fertilizer you use and how you apply it. Buffalo grass is finicky and requires its particular fertilizer. For other lawns, you can use a slow-release or all-purpose fertilizer.

The slow-release nutrients in the fertilizers will help to encourage lush green grass and robust root growth, but because it breaks down slowly, the lawn will not suffer an increase in growth or mowing frequency. Furthermore, the organic matter will enhance long-term soil health.

To stay on the safe side, avoid fertilizing when the weather is hot, such as when the daytime temperature exceeds 30°C. Wait for things to calm down. If it’s warm outside, make sure your lawns are damp before applying fertilizer.

Top dress the lawn

Top-dressing is a combination of soil, sand, and organic matter. When sprayed on the lawn’s surface, it improves soil quality, levels out uneven spots, and promotes healthy grass growth. It also rejuvenates the soil, adds nutrients, and encourages deep root growth, resulting in a stronger, more resilient grass.

Apply a top dress no thicker than 5-10mm. Use a soil spreader to distribute the sand or sandy loam properly. Make sure the tips of the lawn below are exposed so it does not become suffocated.

Reseed the lawn

Older lawns may have grass varieties that just cannot withstand the heat. The grass could grow in clumps or have thick, unsightly blades. A hot summer can also result in bare spots and thin sections on the lawn.

New grass varieties have been designed to withstand extreme heat while still looking attractive. These varieties are perfect for open yards with lots of sun, and they stay green even in blistering heat and drought.

While you can reseed your lawn in summer, you should note that this is not the right time to do it. The best time to reseed lawns is in the fall or early spring in northern regions and spring to early summer in the south, when circumstances are ideal for grass growth.

Water the lawn

Weather conditions, the amount of sun getting in, soil quality and type, and other environmental elements all influence how frequently you water per week and day throughout the summer months.

During hot, dry, and windy weather, lawns require more frequent watering. On really hot days, the lawn may need to be watered in the morning and afternoon. Lawns in broad sun will require more frequent watering than shadier lawns.

Sandy and/or poor soils require more frequent watering; therefore, use soil wetters and organic-based lawn fertilizers to improve soil structure and moisture retention.

Wilted leaves and color loss are early indicators of under-watering, whereas crispy dry leaves, yellowing and browning of the lawn, and uneven lawns appear later.

On harsh days, water your lawn 1-2 times per day (see the weather forecast and water your lawn before adverse conditions), and in typical summer weather, water your lawn once a day, three times per week.

Hand watering is a low-cost and effective way to irrigate a lawn, but it may be time-consuming and water-intensive, particularly during the warmer months.

It is appropriate to water tiny lawns, but for medium to big lawns, consider putting sprinklers. You can attach sprinklers to the hose and programmed with a timer to increase efficiency.

Pop-up sprinklers allow you to go one step further. You can automate them, and you can even change the settings on your phone.

Mow when necessary

To avoid burned grass tips, mow your lawn in the morning or late afternoon. Warmer weather usually necessitates more lawn mowing because the soil is in peak condition, causing your grass to grow faster.

No matter what type of grass you have, it’s ideal to keep it longer in the summer to keep the roots cool. (You’ll also save water because taller grass reduces evaporation.)

For cool-season grasses such as perennial rye and fescue, aim for a height of about 5cm. If you have warm-season grasses like buffalo and couch, strive for 2-4cm height.

When you are mowing, make sure your mower’s blades are sharp, as dull blades can shred the grass blades, resulting in a messy lawn. And you don’t want this, do you? Also, only cut your grass once the leaves have dried.

The optimal time to mow is in the morning or evening; otherwise, daytime heat may stress or damage the leaves.

Apply herbicides

It is critical that your grass is not stressed while applying herbicides; therefore, if you have been experiencing drought or extended dry spells, you should thoroughly water the lawn for a few weeks before applying lawn weed control solutions.

Once the grass is free of moisture stress, you can use hose-on herbicides to manage common broadleaf weeds such as thistles and dandelions. Different herbicides are ideal for different grass varieties, so it’s wise that you use the one that is best designed for your lawn.

Apply pesticides

During the summer, lawn pests, including Curl Grubs, African Black Beetle and Argentinian Scarab larvae, and Lawn Armyworms thrive.

Curl Grubs feature unmistakable ‘C’ shaped pale cream or white bodies, six noticeable legs, and a swelling darker tip on the abdomen. They can cause considerable harm to turf plants by chewing through their roots. Lawn Armyworms are named because of their army-like behavior, in which enormous numbers quickly devastate vast expanses of lawns and other vegetation.

Brown spots or dead grass indicate an insect infestation. You should use a pesticide designed for your grass type, which will help you keep these grass grubs under control.

Parting shot

Summer heat can be brutal on turf, especially if you leave it to chance. If you mow too low, water too much or too little, or disregard early signs of pest infestation, your grass will suffer.

It may even perish in tiny or huge areas. Thankfully, by mastering these summer care strategies, you will help keep your grass looking great all summer.