10 Summer Lawn Care & Maintenance Tips

Some of the best parts of summer include playing in our own spaces. Make the most of your summer lawn by following a few simple tips for great lawn care and maintenance.

High sun in midsummer takes a toll on your turf make sure your watering schedule includes deep watering opportunities in the early morning hours. Watering recommendations for lawns include approximately 4-6 inches of soak before shutting off the access. Manage your watering wisely to avoid evaporation or fungal growth if watering after large rainfalls.

Weeds never just go away so, continue to spot spray weeds with a weed killer. Manage edges of lawn turf near difficult spaces with a weed whacker.

Use feed on your lawn at different intervals during the summer to encourage a thick turf of healthy grass.

Sharpen your mower blades for a quick and efficient pass of the blades on the grass. Lower your blade in the spring and cooler months, raise the blade in the hot months to avoid burning your turf.

Let clippings lie, don’t collect them in a waste bag. Mulch is some of the best opportunity for natural breakdown to occur that will help feed the turf.

Natural remedies for fungus circles can include but are not limited to neem oil, compost tea, and baking soda contact applications.

Preventing and controlling crab grass is best done in the spring months when herbicide can attack the pre-emerging plants and prevent them from spreading.

If you have Clover in your lawn and it is spreading, it could be that your lawn has not been fertilized enough. Clover thrives in undernourished turf. Weed and Feed mixture turf applications are available for a thick clover problem. Although, it can be contained by weed pulling and weed killer spot applications with sparse growth needs.

If you are struggling with uneven growth in the shade the best opportunity to grow grass would be to choose a shade tolerant seed of grass or shade tolerant ground cover in and around pine trees.

If the grass is thinning you may want to consider aeration of the turf. Using an aerator will help build thicker and stronger grass roots by puncturing holes and allowing the nutrients to penetrate. Aeration should only be done in the growing season to allow the turf to heal after the application.

Continue to enjoy your summer and have the best lawn for flawless curb appeal and family fun with these care and maintenance tips. Enjoy!

Why Aerate Your Lawn?

What Are The Benefits of Aeration?

Core aeration can help make your lawn healthier and reduce its maintenance requirements through these means:

Improved air exchange between the soil and atmosphere.
Enhanced soil water uptake.
Improved fertilizer uptake and use.
Reduced water runoff and puddling.
Stronger turfgrass roots.
Reduced soil compaction.
Enhanced heat and drought stress tolerance.
Improved resiliency and cushioning.
Enhanced thatch breakdown.

Equipment Affects the Outcome

The type of aeration equipment can determine how effective the treatment will be. In general, turf responds best when core holes are close and deep. Equipment with hollow tines removes soil cores. Equipment with open tines divots the soil surface. Aeration equipment also varies in tine size up to 3/4 inch diameter and in depth of penetration up to 4 inches, depending on the manufacturer’s specifications. In most home lawns, fertile topsoil may have been removed or buried during excavation of the basement or footings, forcing grass to grow in subsoil that is more compact, higher in clay content and less likely to sustain a healthy lawn.

Why Is Aeration Necessary?

In most home lawns, fertile topsoil may have been removed or buried during excavation of the basement or footings, forcing grass to grow in subsoil that is more compact, higher in clay content and less likely to sustain a healthy lawn.

Walking, playing and mowing will compact soil and stress lawns. Raindrops and irrigation further compact the soil, reducing large air spaces where roots readily grow. Compaction is greater on heavy clay soils than on sandy soils, and it is greatest in the upper 1 to 1 1/2 inches of soil.

Aeration can help relieve soil compaction, allowing your grass to grow deeper roots and make better use of water and fertilizer.

ROOT GROWTH – Core aeration allows air, water and fertilizer to better reach the root zone. This stimulates root growth to create healthier, stronger turfgrass plants.

Relieve Thatch Accumulation

Most home lawns are subject to thatch accumulation. Left unmanaged, it impedes water, fertilizer and pesticide effectiveness. Core aeration combines soil with the thatch debris, so soil organisms are better able to break down the thatch and reduce its accumulation.

How Often Should Lawns Be Aerated?

Most lawns benefit from annual aeration. Heavily used lawns, or those growing on heavy clay or subsoils may need more than one aeration each year. Again, turf responds best when tine spacing is closer and penetration is deeper.

When is The Best Time to Aerate?

If you have cool season turfgrass such as Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass, both spring and fall are ideal times to aerate. In spring, aerate between March and May. Perform fall aeration between August and November. Aeration before or at the time of late season fertilization enhances root growth and improves spring greenup and growth.

Warm season turfgrasses such as zoysiagrass and bermudagrass should be aerated in mid-spring to summer. Avoid aerating when warm season grasses are dormant – it may encourage weed competition. In addition, avoid aerating warm season grasses during spring greenup, and not until after their first spring mowing.

Herbicides, Fertilizers & Aeration

It’s best to aerate before you apply pre-emergence herbicides, rather than after. Aerating after a herbicide application can reduce the chemical barrier formed by the herbicide, allowing weeds to germinate. Applying fertilizer after aeration helps the lawn compete against weeds. Water the lawn after aeration, particularly in areas where drought and high temperatures are common.

What can you expect?

Immediately after aeration, your lawn will be dotted with small plugs pulled from the soil. Within a week or two, they break apart and disappear into the lawn.

About 7 to 10 days after aeration, the aerification holes will be filled with white, actively growing roots – a sign that the turfgrass is receiving additional oxygen, moisture and nutrients from the soil.

On compacted soils and on lawns with slopes, you should see an immediate difference in water puddling and runoff after irrigation or rainfall. After aeration, your lawn should be able to go longer between waterings, without showing signs of wilt. With repeat aerations over time, your lawn will show enhanced heat and drought stress tolerance.

Remember, most lawns benefit from annual aeration. And while you shouldn’t expect miracles, especially with poor soil, lawns that receive this care will be healthier, more vigorous, easier to maintain and have fewer pest problems.

Minneapolis Events 2019

School is out and summer has arrived in Minneapolis. This means there is going to be a lot going on throughout Minneapolis for you to enjoy. Here are some of our top picks for events going on throughout the city this summer.

The Vikings Begin Exhibition

May 17th-October 27th, 2019
American Swedish Institute

The Vikings Begin, one of the American Swedish Institute’s most significant exhibitions to date, is the Midwest premiere of an extraordinary collection of early Viking boat burial artifacts! The magnificent installation features Viking helmets, swords, jewelry, glass vessels, bowls and other objects with historical significance, that tell stories about the people buried with them and the society they belonged to.

Stone Arch Bridge Fest

June 14th-16th, 2019
Minneapolis Riverfront

Kick off the start of summer with us at the Stone Arch Bridge Festival, one of the first outdoor festivals of the season! Located at one of the most iconic places in Minneapolis, the Festival is filled with people excited for the season.

Check out our recommendations of must see places around the celebration!

Uptown Food Truck Festival

June 23rd, 2019
Lake & Hennepin

Over 65 food trucks showcasing the best local and global dishes ranging from crispy pork belly and green papaya salad to gourmet mini doughnuts and wood fired pizzas. Spend the entire day eating or see what else this popular festival has to offer including two separate stages featuring multiple live bands and DJ’s and multiple games and give-aways.

July 4th Marathon and Fireworks

July 4th, 2019

Sign up for the Red, White & Boom! marathon before you settle in for fireworks. Check out the detailed race information and registration, then take a look at our top places to watch Fourth of July fireworks and check back closer to the holiday for a list of our favorite events.

Basilica Block Party

July 12th-13th, 2019
The Basilica of St. Mary

The Cities 97 Basilica Block Party features 20 bands playing on 3 stages over a two day period in July. All proceeds from the event go to restoration of the historic landmark and to St. Vincent de Paul’s outreach program which provides services to those in need. This annual concert series is beloved by both visitors and residents who love live music and a good cause.

Loring Park Art Festival

July 27th-28th, 2019
Loring Park

Bringing all types of artwork from 140 different artists, the Loring Park Art Festival celebrates it’s 20th year. Art lovers will have a chance to see and take home one-of-a-kind pieces, including oil paintings watercolors, handmade paper, sculpture, textiles, photography, glass, ceramics, jewelry, mixed-media, prints and more. Festival goes can also enjoy food, live music and unique entertainment for the whole family in the beautiful outdoor setting of Loring Park.

Summer X Games

August 1st-4th, 2019
Locations vary

X Games returns to Minneapolis with the world’s top action sports competition in Skateboard, BMX and Moto, and world-class musical performances. Once again, the Skateboard and BMX Vert events will be free and open to the public. Get your tickets now!

Minnesota Renaissance Festival

August 17th-September 29th, 2019 (only weekends)

King Henry and his royal court invite one and all to his 16th Century European village featuring 16 stages of live entertainment. Over 250 artisans fill the Festival marketplace to display and sell their handcrafted wares for a truly unique shopping experience. Patrons can interact with hundreds of memorable characters roaming the village streets as well as view live armored jousting throughout the day.

Minnesota State Fair

August 22nd-September 2nd, 2019
Minnesota State Fairgrounds

Since 1859 the “Great Minnesota Get-Together” has been one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state attracting more than 1.9 million guests annually. There’s something for every here. Foodies (anything and everything on a stick), art lovers, music fans, animal lovers, and more get together to experience the finest showcase of Minnesota’s agriculture, art, and industry.

Lawn Care & Gardening Related Activities at The Minnesota State Fair

The Great Minnesota Get Together is here! Can you believe it? This means summer is almost over and its getting close for school to be back in session.

With all the chaos going on, we would like to bring some attention to lawn care and gardening related seminars going on at the Minnesota Fair to help you get a handle on your lawn and garden as things start to get busy.

Lawn Care Activities

Nilgun Tuna from the University of Minnesota will e presenting Sustainable Lawn Care on August 28th and August 29th.

If you love a nice green lawn but dislike the maintenance demands, come meet University of Minnesota turfgrass science experts to learn about water conservation practices for irrigating your lawn. Discover the benefits of auditing your irrigation system, planting drought-tolerant turfgrasses, utilizing smart controllers, rain sensors, soil moisture sensors and much more! Presented with support from the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services. At the University of Minnesota CFANS booth in the Agriculture Horticulture Building.

On August 31^st,Kim Sullivan from the University of Minnesota will be making a presentation on fall lawn care in Minnesota.

Gardening Activities

Do you want a garden but are too lazy to keep up with the demands? If so, Theresa Rooney from the University of Minnesota will be presenting Lazy Sustainable Gardening on August 24^th and 31^st.

How about a rock garden? One of our favorites you have to check out is the Rock Garden booth. Their featured items include gazebo and playground equipment, pavers, rocks, fairy gardens, fountains, garden tote bag with books, gardening sheds, illuminated garden stakes, landscaping supplies, lawn ornaments, outdoor fireplaces, outdoor wall art, pinwheels, Regal spinners, stepping stones, wind chimes, flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees.

Peer into distinctive garden kaleidoscopes and see gorgeous flowers transform into mesmerizing images of color and movement. These three unique metal sculptures and spinning flower bowls are created by artist Robert C. Anderson of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

Fruit trees, shrubs, and vines are a great way to diversify your landscape and an introduction to local food production. We will share low maintenance species that are great starter options, requiring little pruning and being less susceptible to disease. Presented by a Minnesota Tree Care Advocate, Minnesota Tree Care Advocate Program. Located on the Sustainability Stage in Eco Experience.

Learn from master gardeners, talented florists, lawn enthusiasts and other outdoor experts as they offer informative, entertaining demonstrations and question-and-answer sessions all day long on The DIRT Demo Stage located in the Agriculture Horticulture Building. Demonstrations start at 10 a.m. each day.

Tired of mowing the grass? Replace your lawn with a Food Forest! Learn about all the latest growing trends: Native plants, pollinators, healthy soil, seed saving, wise water use, and harvesting food at home! Presented by Russ Henry, Minnehaha Falls Landscaping and Giving Tree Gardens. Located on the Sustainability Stage in Eco Experience.

How To Care For Cool Season Lawns In Minnesota During The Summer Heat

Once temperatures get into the 80s and above, lawns will begin to struggle a little, with cool-season grasses having the hardest time. Growth will slow, color may fade, and lawns will show signs of wear and tear as they are less able to recover from stress and traffic. Some cool-season lawns will even go dormant in the summer, looking brown and brittle until early fall.

Water Wisely

Lawns need at least one inch of water per week, and more when the heat is severe. Use a rain gauge or straight-sided can to keep track of the amount of water received from rainfall and irrigation.
Water deeply and less frequently to encourage drought-tolerant roots.
Water early in the day to reduce evaporation and fungal growth.
Either water your lawn regularly and deeply, or don’t water at all. Don’t let your lawn go brown and dormant, then try to “water it back to life.” If your lawn goes dormant in summer, it should stay that way until fall – don’t worry, it should recover once the weather changes.

Mowing Tips

Raise your mower blade in the summer. Taller grass is more drought-tolerant, grows deeper roots, and helps shade the earth to prevent weed seeds from germinating. Cool-season grasses should be mowed at 3”- 4” during the summer, or as high as your blade will go, while warm-season grasses should be mowed at 2”- 3”.
Mulching grass clippings helps keep moisture levels steady.
Mow regularly, to prevent cutting more than 1/3 of the grass blade at a time. This keeps your grass healthier and prevents the clippings from smothering the grass.
Keep mower blades sharp. Make sure your mower is cutting your grass, not tearing it, to minimize stress during hot temperatures.

Don’t Over Fertilize

If your lawn is looking straggly in midsummer, resist the urge to fertilize. In fact, it’s best to stop fertilizing about 30 days before your area’s summer temperatures arrive. Applying extra fertilizer in the heat of summer can burn your lawn and create a flush of tender growth that will struggle in the hot summer weather. Never fertilize dormant lawns – wait until they green up in the fall.

High-Traffic Areas

By summer, many lawns begin to show signs of wear, especially in a few popular pathways. Consider installing stepping stones to minimize damage to your grass, and try to minimize traffic on dormant, brittle lawns. If you’re getting plenty of rainfall and your lawn is actively growing, you can apply a bit of fertilizer to these areas to help the blades recover faster.

Control Weeds

Summer is the season to get those growing weeds removed before they bloom and disperse seed for next year. Targeted postemergent herbicides are designed to kill broadleaf weeds without harming turf grass, but they must be applied when temperatures will be below 85° F for a few days. Keep in mind that during the heat of summer, ANY product can be damaging to already-stressed lawn grasses, so use sparingly or hand-pull weeds instead.

Insects and Diseases

Dormant or drought-stressed summer lawns can be more susceptible to insect infestations, such as chinch bugs, cutworms, armyworms, sod webworms, fire ants, fleas, and mosquitoes. Minor infestations often take care of themselves, but severe problems may require attention.
Summer is also the time for fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew and brown patch. Apply fungicide if needed, and avoid watering in the evening to keep nighttime moisture at a minimum.
Grubs will begin hatching in your lawn over the summer. If grubs typically cause problems in your lawn, you can begin applying grub control around midsummer.

A Couple Of Summer Lawn Care Tips That Will Make Your Lawn Be Envied By The Neighborhood

Summer has arrived in Minneapolis which means hotter temperatures and so far, in 2018, a lot more rain than usual. To keep your lawn healthy and green we decided to give you a few tips you can use this summer.

Lawn Mowing

In the summer months it is important to set your lawn mowers height appropriately. With our cool season grass in Minnesota, it is recommended to set your mower height to about 3 and a half inches.

For those of you with a push mower, that means setting your lawn mower height to the highest you can.

Cutting your lawn at about 3 and a half inches will help reduce weed growth and allow your lawn to grow thick and lush. You may even end up becoming the envy of the neighborhood!

Watering

If you have an underground watering system, setting your watering times from 4 to 8 am is the best for your lawn. Watering in the early morning hours allows the water to soak deep into the soil so the roots can absorb the moisture during the heat of the day.

If you do not have an underground water system, 4 to 8 am is still the best, but you can still get good results if you have completed watering your lawn by 10 am.

If you follow the 2 simple steps above, chances are likely you will have one of the healthiest lawns in the neighborhood.

5 Most Common Lawn Care Mistakes

Having the greenest lawn in the neighborhood takes a lot of work and a lot of knowledge to accomplish. To help your lawn get started on the right track, we have provided you with the 5 of the most common lawn care mistakes homeowners make when trying to get their lawn on track.

Cutting Lawn Too Short

Mowing grass too short is very harmful to the plant and can actually put it into shock. Cutting off too much of the grass blade will limit its ability to absorb sunshine, which allows it to perform photosynthesis through its leaves and make food. It also weakens the root system.

Set the mower height to about 2 1/2 inches and never cut off more than 1/3 of the grass blade at any one time. The grass will develop a deeper root system to support the longer blades and need less water.

Watering Wrong Time Of Day

Don’t water between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. It is best to water between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. There’s usually less wind, less sun, and your lawn has all day to dry.

In the middle of the day, water evaporates too quickly. And in the evenings, water can cling to the blades of grass overnight, which can cause lawn diseases.

Fertilizing Out Of Season

It is best to apply fertilizer when the grass is rapidly growing, not during the hot summer when the grass wants to go dormant anyway. Fertilizing at this time will require more water to support the increased growth.

Fall fertilization is important for root growth and will give the lawn a boost next Spring. Late spring, late summer, and after the last mow of the year are ideal times to fertilize.

Not Testing Soil

Most homeowners just plant grass willy nilly. Grass thrives in soil with a pH of 6 to 6.5.

Send a soil sample to your local extension service for testing and they’ll tell you what your soil needs to make your grass healthy.

Mowing With Dull Mower Blades

Dull mower blades actually tear grass blades leaving them looking brown on the tips and making them more prone to disease and insect damage.

It is recommended to sharpen your lawnmower blades at the beginning of each season and possibly once more about mid-way through the season.

Minneapolis Lawn Mowing Season Is Here

The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming the grass is starting to grow and our lawn mowing crews are out and about throughout the Minneapolis area mowing lawns. This is also the time of year when a lot of our customers have some great questions about lawn mowing. Below are some of the top questions we receive from existing and new customers.

What Month Do You Start Mowing?

Typically we like to get started mowing lawns late in May or early in June. However, weather patterns can move these dates up or push them back.

What Is The Best Time Of Day To Mow?

The best time to mow your lawn is throughout the morning and evening hours. When the sun is at its peak, your lawn is busy photosynthesizing and trying to keep moisture in and mowing during this time can actually stress your lawn.

Is It Good To Cut The Grass Before It Rains?

Mowing your lawn right before it rains is actually the best time to mow. However, if you miss the rain and still need to mow afterwards, check to see if the blades of grass in your lawn are standing straight or bent over. If they are bent over, wait an hour or so until they are standing straight because cutting bent blades of grass can lead to a less clean cut.

Can You Cut Your Grass Too Often?

Yes you can. If you cut your grass too often can be just as damaging as letting it grow too tall. The rule of thumb here is to never cut more than one-third of the blade of grass.

Do You Have Mowing Questions?

With over 25 years experience mowing all types of lawn throughout Minneapolis, we know a lot. If you have questions about your lawn and you want expert advice, contact us and we will do our best to answer your questions.

5 Tips for Summer Lawn Care in Minnesota

1. Mow at the right height.

In summer, adjust your mower height to leave grass taller. Taller grass shades soil, which reduces water evaporation, leads to deeper roots and prevents weed seeds from germinating. Ideal mowing height varies with grass type. Time mowings so you’re never removing more than one-third of the leaf surface at a time.

2.Water properly.

The most efficient time to water lawns is probably early in the morning hours from 4 to 8 a.m. Less water is lost to evaporation due to lower temperatures and less sunlight.

Midday watering, though good for the plants since it cools the plant temperatures and reduces heat stress, is not as efficient because some of the water evaporates before getting into the soil.

Watering in the evening should be avoided. If the grass plants go into the night-time hours wet, they will remain wet for extended periods of time. This may favor the growth and development of turfgrass diseases.

3. Treat for grubs.

Insecticides for grubs can be applied from May through mid-June, when recently overwintered grubs (larvae) start feeding. However, these grubs are large and may be difficult to kill. Starting in mid- June most grubs are in the pupal stage and insecticides are not effective. In early July adults emerge to feed on plants, mate, and then at night fly to grass to lay eggs. The best time to apply insecticides for grubs is from mid-July until early September. Granular applied insecticides distributed on soil with a spreader are usually the best insecticides

4. Clean up after your pooch.

The family dog can cause dead spots on a lawn. If you see dying grass due to your dog’s urination, flush the area with water to dilute the urine in soil. The best solution is to create a mulched or pebbled area and train your dog to use that area for bathroom breaks. Also, keep waste picked up and dispose of it properly.

5. Sharpen your mower blade.

A dull mower blade tears grass, creating ragged, brown edges that provide an opening for disease organisms. Sharpen your mower blade regularly. The rule of thumb is that a sharp blade lasts for 10 hours of mowing. Consider purchasing a second blade so you’ll always have a sharp blade at the ready.

What To Expect From Your Lawn Mowing Service Company

With so many choices, how do you know what lawn mowing service company is right for you?

When considering a lawn mowing service company, you need to consider how well you want your yard to be maintained. If you are simply looking for somebody to stop by once a week, cut the lawn and be on their way, the kid down the block may be the right choice for you.

However, if you are looking for a professionally well-kept lawn that is mowed, weed whipped and the debris is cleaned up, you are going to need to hire a company with all the tools. Well established, small and startup companies are going to be the best choices in this scenario.

Finally, if you are looking to have the greenest lawn on the block, you are going to want to hire a lawn mowing service company that does more than just mowing. Check with well-established and small growing companies who provide weed control, bush trimming and many other services alongside their lawn mowing services.

Once You Hire A Lawn Mowing Service Company, What Should You Expect?

Besides the simple expectation of having your lawn mowed on a regular schedule, your personal lawn mower should have a good understanding of what your lawn is telling him. After all, your personal lawn mower is on your lawn, and plenty of others, every week so they should be able to tell what is happening with your lawn.

Your personal lawn mower should be able to make recommendations for fertilizer, weed control, watering schedules and more. The more detailed your lawn mower is, the healthier your lawn will be and the happier you will be. Once you land a detail lawn mower who makes the right recommendations, you will want to hang on to them so be sure to get their business card just in case.

Start Researching Lawn Mowing Service Companies

I think it goes without saying, but before you hire just any company be sure to talk to 3 or 4 companies and ask them questions about what services they offer to ensure they will be able to offer you every service you think your lawn may need and then some.

Once you have narrowed it down to those companies who have the services you need, get a free estimate from each one for all the services they offer.

Finally, head on over to the internet and check for reviews left on Google and Facebook. The lawn care business is very competitive and you need to make sure you are hiring a reputable company.