Summer lawn care schedule

UMN recommends maintaining typical Midwest lawns at 3 inches or higher and increasing height during mid-summer to improve stress tolerance. Avoid removing more than one-third of the blade at a time.

Watch for wilt and dry soil, not just hot weather. Deep, less frequent irrigation is usually better than shallow daily watering. Brown patch risk can rise when leaves stay wet overnight during hot, humid weather.

UMN warns against fertilizing cool-season lawns during hot mid-summer conditions because it can damage turf. Warm-season grasses have different summer needs, so follow the grass-specific calendar and soil test.

Summer product needs may include fungicides, insecticides, wetting agents, potassium fertilizers, or iron. Use the Price Board only after the problem category is clear.