Keep your lawn healthy under Alabama’s summer sun: 5 tips from Auburn University

[aubiefifty 18,113]

al.com

Keep your lawn healthy under Alabama’s summer sun: 5 tips from Auburn University

Published: Jun. 19, 2024, 6:30 a.m.

3–4 minutes

Keeping your grass green and lush can be a challenge during Alabama summers of abundant sunshine and sometimes spotty rainfall.

Alabama Cooperative Extension Specialist Dave Han from Auburn University’s College of Agriculture has some tips about how to maintain a healthy lawn. Han is an associate professor in Auburn’s turfgrass management major.

In a news release from the university, Han gives advice on watering, mowing and fertilizing the warm-season grasses that are common in Alabama, including zoysiagrass, Bermudagrass, and centipedegrass.

According to the university, Han has expertise in turf management that applies to golf courses, athletic fields, parks, sod farms, and professional lawn care. Han is the educational advisor to the Alabama Turfgrass Association.

How often should I water my lawn?

Han said it depends on the species of grass, how well your soil drains, and the output of your irrigation system. If you don’t know how many inches per hour your system puts out, watering twice a week for 15 to 20 minutes is a good rule of thumb. You can determine your irrigation system’s output by setting out rain gauges or other receptacles.

What is the best time of day to water?

You lose less to evaporation by watering early in the morning, the coolest time of the day before the sun comes up. Be careful about setting a timer to water before you get up because if it rains overnight watering might be unnecessary, a waste of money, and possibly add to flooding or runoff problems.

What if it doesn’t rain for several weeks?

According to Han, Southern grasses can survive long droughts by going dormant. Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, centipedegrass, and St. Augustinegrass can survive up to 90 days without rain or irrigation while dormant, provided they were healthy when the dry period started.

Watering once a week during dry spells should keep the grass green, even though it will not grow very fast.

Han advises against using herbicides during droughts or when the grass is stressed by other environmental factors.

How frequently should I mow?

Most warm-season lawns do well at 1½ to 2 inches tall, Han said. St. Augustinegrass can be cut a little higher, at 3 to 4 inches, and tall fescue should also be cut around 3 inches tall.

You should mow at least once a week. Twice a week is better for faster-growing grasses like bermudagrass.

Does my lawn need fertilizer during the summer?

Warm-season grasses grow fastest when it’s hot, so that’s when your lawn needs fertilizer the most, according to Han’s guidelines. The species of grass determines how much fertilizer is appropriate, especially how much nitrogen.

For Bermudagrass, fertilize once a month between now and September with one pound of actual nitrogen per thousand square feet. St Augustinegrass can be fertilized four times a season, or every six weeks. For zoysia, Han recommends fertilizing once or twice a year. For centipede, once is sufficient.

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[aubiefifty 18,113]

How nice is it to come on the fam and get some yard tips brought to you by the best dang good looking gezzer on the board. wellother than salty.

[SaltyTiger 8,526]

On 6/21/2024 at 6:19 AM, aubiefifty said:

How nice is it to come on the fam and get some yard tips brought to you by the best dang good looking gezzer on the board. wellother than salty.

How much water for my cannabis sativa? Dave never mentioned it.