How to Care for Lawn in Summer: An Informative Guide

Summer in North Texas brings relentless heat, drought, and soil challenges that can leave lawns looking parched and patchy. If you’re wondering how to care for your lawn in summer, you’re not alone—this season demands a tailored approach to keep grass healthy.

At Ryno Lawn Care, we specialize in strategies that tackle North Texas’ unique climate head-on. In this guide, you’ll learn how to care for your lawn in summer with actionable tips to beat the heat and maintain a vibrant yard.

Understanding North Texas Summers

With temperatures often exceeding 100°F and clay-heavy soil that repels water, summer here is a test of endurance for lawns.

Grass types like Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysia dominate the region, each requiring specific care to survive.

Adapting your routine to these conditions is the foundation of how to care for your lawn in summer.

How to Care for Your Lawn in Summer: Core Strategies

Watering: Quality Over Quantity
Proper hydration is the cornerstone of summer lawn care.

• Early Morning Watering: Aim for 5–9 AM to minimize evaporation.
• Deep Irrigation: Provide 1–1.5 inches of water weekly, split into 2–3 sessions. This trains roots to grow deeper, accessing moisture during droughts.
• Clay Soil Fixes: Use a screwdriver to test moisture penetration. If it won’t sink 6 inches, aerate compacted areas or add compost to improve absorption.
• Smart Irrigation: Install a rain sensor or smart sprinkler system to avoid overwatering.

Pro Tip: Follow local watering schedules—many North Texas cities enforce restrictions during peak summer months.

Mowing: Height Matters

Adjust your mowing habits to protect grass from stress:

• Ideal Heights:
  • Bermuda: 1–2 inches
  • St. Augustine: 3–4 inches
  • Zoysia: 2–3 inches
    Taller grass shades soil, reduces evaporation, and blocks weeds.
• Never Remove More Than 1/3: Scalping weakens grass, inviting pests and disease.
• Sharp Blades Only: Ragged cuts from dull mowers turn blades brown and increase vulnerability.

Sperry (2009) While bermuda and other grasses need 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily, St. Augustine can thrive on as few as 4 hours. St. Augustine is the dominant grass of all the types we have at our disposal.

Fertilization: Timing is Everything

Feed your lawn to bolster its heat resistance:

• Slow-Release Formulas: Use a 3-1-2 or 4-1-2 NPK ratio fertilizer in early summer. Avoid high nitrogen blends, which can burn grass.
• Skip Late Summer: Fertilizing after August fuels winter weeds.
• Iron Supplements: North Texas soils often lack iron—apply chelated iron for greener blades.

Weed Warfare: Prevention and Control

Weeds compete for scarce resources in summer. Stay ahead with:

• Pre-Emergent Herbicides: Apply in spring to stop crabgrass and sandbur.
• Targeted Post-Emergent Sprays: Use products labeled for your grass type to treat clover, dandelions, or nutsedge. Learn how to eliminate nutsedge.
• Hand-Pulling: Remove weeds before they seed, especially in high-visibility areas.

Say goodbye to stubborn weeds—visit our weed control service page to schedule your treatment today!

Pest Patrol: Spotting Trouble Early

Common summer invaders include:

• Chinch Bugs: Look for yellowing St. Augustine grass. Treat with bifenthrin.
• Grubs: Spongy turf? Apply beneficial nematodes or grub-specific insecticides.
• Armyworms: Check for chewed blades and act fast with spinosad-based sprays.

Read more about treatment for chinch bugs, grubs, and armyworms. 

Aeration and Soil Care

Clay soil compacts under heat, stifling roots.

• Aerate in Late Spring: Use a core aerator to improve water and nutrient flow.
• Topdress with Compost: Add a ¼-inch layer to boost organic matter and soil structure.

Odle, Reddigari, & Vila (2024) If you have a warm-season grass, such as St. Augustine, Bermuda grass, or buffalo grass, aerate in the late spring or early summer. 

Learn why your lawn needs it- visit our lawn aeration service page now!

Shade and Traffic Solutions

• Prune Trees: Allow filtered sunlight to reach shaded grass.
• Reduce Foot Traffic: Create designated pathways with pavers or mulch to protect stressed areas.

Prep for Fall: End Summer Strong

In late August:

Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicide: Stop fall and winter weeds before they start by applying a pre-emergent herbicide now. Timing is key—late summer applications help prevent invasive weeds like Poa annua from taking hold during the cooler months.

Plan Fall Aeration: Schedule core aeration early to relieve summer soil compaction and give your grass the best chance to build strong roots before dormancy sets in.

Conclusion

How to care for your lawn in summer boils down to proactive watering, smart mowing, and staying vigilant against threats. By embracing these strategies, you’ll give your grass the tools to thrive—even in North Texas’ toughest conditions.

And when the summer grind feels overwhelming, Ryno Lawn Care is here to help. From pest control to soil revitalization, our team delivers expert care tailored to your lawn’s needs.

References:

Sperry, N. (2009, June). Summer lawn care. Neil Sperry. https://neilsperry.com/2009/06/summer-lawn-care/

Odle, T., Reddigari, M., & Vila, B. (2024, June 28). Solved! here’s exactly when you should aerate the lawn. Bob Vila. https://www.bobvila.com/articles/when-to-aerate-the-lawn/