Summer Lawn and Garden Tips for Southern California

Summer Lawn and Garden Tips for Southern California

The summer season brings about glorious days of warm weather and outdoor activities that keep us outside for hours upon hours at a time. A part of that time should also be spent maintaining a healthy landscape around our homes. While some South Bay homeowners know exactly what their lawn requires, others will find that they have issues keeping their grass and garden healthy and, in turn, may be looking at a barren dry yard by the time fall rolls around. Lucky for them, we have created a guide to growing and maintaining a healthy SoCal lawn and garden throughout summer.

Seeding and Planting

Grass

Some of the best and most common grass types in Southern California include Fescue, Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysia grass.  Fescue is a narrow, low-maintenance grass that does not need to be mowed or fertilized often.  It absorbs water well, even during droughts.  Bermuda grass on the other hand loves heat and humidity, therefore it grows best in the summer, but requires more maintenance to stay healthy. St. Augustine grows best in heat and is practically indestructible with a beautiful blue-green hue. However, if you live closer to the Manhattan Beach or Hermosa Beach coastline, then zoysia grass is your best option. It is extremely drought and salt resistant making it ideal for ocean air. Additionally, zoysia can handle heavy traffic including pets, and it grows slowly but well in both the sun and the shade.  

Flowers and Vegetables

The early months of summer are ideal to plant flowers and vegetables that thrive in warmer weather. You can start by choosing a spot where the plants will get an average of at least six or more hours of direct sunlight. Prepare the soil in advance by turning it over to loosen, and then let it sit for a couple of weeks. Make sure to add the right fertilizers, compost, and mulch to grow and keep a healthy garden. Summer favors growing caladium, gladiola, and dahlia flowers, along with corn, cucumbers, melons, squash, leafy greens, and beans. These do better in consistently warm soil and air temperatures.

Maintenance

Soil

You want to keep your lawn and garden regularly fed.  Microbes start absorbing nutrients in the soil within 6-8 weeks.  These need to be replenished to prevent weeds, and to keep the soil cool and moist.  We recommend Miracle-Grow Performance Organics for the garden and Scotts Turf Builder Summer for the lawn.

Mowing and Pruning

If you cut your grass short, you’re short-changing your lawn. Cutting your grass long allows for a longer growth cycle.  Keep the length above 3 inches and avoid mowing in the afternoon, when the sun is at its hottest point.  You’d be surprised what a difference this simple step can make!  Mow your lawn every two to three weeks to keep it looking tidy. Pruning flowers is much simpler. Just continually remove any dead, diseased, or damaged stems to deter insects and disease. Each flower varies but deadhead it once you are sure that it’s bloom is over.

Watering

You want to water your lawn and garden deeply about two to three times a week.  An inch of water a week will help keep your lawn green and your garden lush during the summer.  Watering frequently and for shorter durations will create a shallow root system which can cause your lawn and garden to stress out during droughts.  Be sure to water as early as possible to help reduce wasteful evaporation. We recommend before 9 am. Watering at night is less effective because your greenery requires sunshine for photosynthesis and maximum water absorption.

Breathability

Lawns and gardens not only need water, they also need oxygen.  You can keep them aerated by perforating the soil with a garden fork, allowing water and air to penetrate.  This also minimizes water runoff.