The dog days of summer are here, but it’s not time to let down your guard just yet! August is when your lawn needs the most TLC to get through the hot days and also avoid overwatering on the wet ones. From conservative scheduling to adjustments to your mowing habits, here are a few quick tips to keep your grounds green and happy for the rest of the summer!

Watering: We always recommend setting your system to water in the morning, before things heat up. Also, you may want to con sider watering on alternate days to avoid overwatering as, typically, August isn’t nearly as dry or hot as July. Set your timers to compensate for watering every other day by increasing the watering time by a few minutes per zone. Also, be sure your rain sensor is working properly to avoid watering on the days Mother Nature does it for you!

Mulching:Check your mulch levels in your flower beds, and be sure to add some where you’ve less than three inches of it. Excess rain can wash away mulch, which not only keeps the soil cool, but retains water, making it a perfect complement to your new watering schedule. Mulch also helps to prevent weeds and fend off nasty pests that feed on your expensive ornamentals! Concentrate on the base of your plants and be sure to build up enough of a layer to protect their roots from the sweltering summer heat!

Mow High, Water Bill Low: Adjust the blades on your mower up a few inches to assure that your grass retains as much water as possible in these hot summer months. While cutting your lawn down to “golf course” levels looks nice at first, this can quickly lead to brown spots from the heat if you aren’t watering frequently!  Slightly higher grass shades the roots of your lawn, and this, in addition to a conservative watering schedule, will result in a lower water bill and a lush green lawn you can be proud of!