Top 4 August Lawn Care Tips for a Healthy Summer Yard

August can be one of the toughest months for lawns. With high heat and humidity, your grass is still growing but can easily become stressed. Proper care during this time will help your lawn stay strong through the summer and prepare it for the cooler months ahead. Here are a few practical tips for homeowners to keep in mind this month.

Mowing: Set the Right Height

Mowing correctly is one of the simplest ways to protect your lawn during hot weather:

• Bermuda grass can handle a lower mowing height.

• St. Augustine and Centipede grass should be kept a bit taller.
  

Avoid cutting too short (known as scalping), as it stresses the grass and leaves it vulnerable to pests and disease. Whenever possible, leave grass clippings on the lawn to return nutrients to the soil—just be sure they aren’t clumping heavily.

Watering: Deep and Infrequent

Lawns need around 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week during summer. Instead of watering lightly every day, water deeply but less often. This encourages deeper root growth and helps your lawn withstand heat better.

• Best time to water: Early in the morning.

• Adjust for rainfall: Skip watering if your lawn has already received enough rain.

Consistent, deep watering is the key to a healthy, resilient lawn.

Pest Watch: Stay Alert

Warm, humid conditions in August can bring an increase in lawn pests. Two common ones to watch for are:

• Chinch bugs – often attack St. Augustine grass, leaving behind yellow or dying patches.

• Sod webworms – can damage all grass types. You might notice moths flying over the lawn at dusk.
  

Check your yard regularly for signs of these pests so you can take action early if needed.

Disease Management: Preventing Fungal Issues

Humidity combined with warm nights creates the perfect environment for fungal diseases in lawns. Keep an eye out for discolored patches or unusual growth patterns. Good mowing and watering practices are your best defense, but fungicides are available if the problem becomes widespread.

Final Thoughts

August lawn care is about protecting your yard from heat stress while keeping it strong and healthy. If you need help finding the right products for your lawn, Manning’s Feed and Seed is here to help. Be sure to also check out our free Lawn Care Program download here, which offers a step-by-step guide to keeping your yard in top shape year-round.