Weather Conditions and Grass Growth

The intense heat of summer is officially upon us here in Mississippi, and we don’t expect it to let up soon. So, what does this mean for your lawn?

How Heat Impacts Grass Growth

In our area, most lawns contain warm season grass like Zoysia, Bermuda, and Centipede; under warm, moist conditions like we’ve had, you should expect your grass to grow at a rate of about 0.5 inches per day, 3.5 inches per week. Now that we have reached sustained temperatures over 90 degrees, that may slow down to 0.3 inches per day, 2 inches per week, provided the soil at your property is not well drained. If you have well drained soil, please do not expect that growth to slow down thanks to the water table remaining high. However, it should be noted that with overnight temperatures dipping down to the mid-70s, we really don’t expect growth to be significantly hindered by daytime temperatures.

Rain, Soil, and Grass Health

Pop-up thunderstorms continue to plague the area, and it is important to postpone mowing until the grass and soil dries out thoroughly to avoid compaction or turf stress which can cause damage. To reduce stress for your lawn during the height of summer heat, only remove about one-third of the grass’ blade when mowing, and raise the mower deck height to about 3 inches. Ideally you should also mow less often to promote deeper roots. The good news is that you don’t have to worry about leaving healthy grass clippings in the yard as this recycles nitrogen and helps retain soil moisture.

Why Professional Lawn Care Helps

This season has been a tough one keeping up with the rate of growth, but our crews have been working long days doing everything they can to stay on top of our book of business. We have many customers who receive mowing services every other week, but it is always our recommendation to consider weekly mowing service, particularly when growing conditions are this favorable.