5 Essential Tips for a Greener Lawn This Summer

Utah summers are tough on lawns. Between scorching temperatures, unpredictable water restrictions, and relentless weeds, keeping your grass lush and green can feel like a full-time job. But with the right approach, you can have the best-looking lawn on the block — without wasting water or spending every weekend troubleshooting. Here are five essential tips from the pros at Warner Lawncare.

1. Water Deeply, Not Frequently

The most common mistake we see is shallow, daily watering. It encourages weak, shallow roots that can't handle Utah's heat. Instead:

• Water 2-3 times per week, delivering about 1-1.5 inches of water total per week.
• Water early in the morning — between 4am and 8am — to minimize evaporation.
• Avoid evening watering, which promotes fungus and lawn disease.
• Use a rain gauge or tuna can to measure output from your sprinklers.

Pro tip: If your lawn springs back when you step on it, it's well-watered. If footprints stay visible, it's time to water.

2. Mow High and Keep Blades Sharp

How you mow directly affects how healthy your lawn stays through the summer. The rules are simple but often ignored:

• Set your mower deck to 3-4 inches — taller grass shades the soil, retains moisture, and chokes out weeds.
• Never cut more than one-third of the grass blade at a time.
• Sharpen mower blades at least twice per season. Dull blades tear grass instead of cutting it, leaving ragged brown tips.
• Leave grass clippings on the lawn — they act as a natural mulch and return nitrogen to the soil.

3. Fertilize Strategically — Not Just Whenever

Throwing down fertilizer whenever you remember isn't a strategy — it's a gamble. For Utah lawns, timing and product choice matter:

• Apply a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer in late spring (May) to feed your lawn through the summer.
• Avoid heavy fertilizing in July and August — it can burn stressed grass.
• Consider a mid-summer iron application instead of full fertilizer to green things up without pushing growth.
• Always water immediately after fertilizing to prevent burn.

4. Stay Ahead of Weeds

Summer weeds like crabgrass, spurge, and dandelions don't wait — and neither should you. A proactive approach saves hours of hand-pulling later:

• Apply a pre-emergent herbicide in early spring to stop crabgrass before it germinates.
• Spot-treat existing weeds with a post-emergent rather than blanketing the entire lawn.
• Healthy, thick turf is your best weed defense — bare spots invite weeds in.
• Hand-pull weeds after rain or watering when the soil is soft for best results.

5. Don't Skip Aeration

Aeration is the unsung hero of lawn care — and fall is the ideal time for it in Utah. But understanding why it matters helps you plan ahead:

• Aeration reduces soil compaction so water, air, and nutrients reach the roots.
• It breaks up thatch buildup that can suffocate your lawn.
• Pair aeration with overseeding to fill in thin or bare patches.
• If your lawn gets heavy foot traffic or has clay soil, aerate every year.