Broken Arrow Lawn Care: What Your Yard Needs Before Fall

Late August in Broken Arrow can be rough on a lawn.

Weeks of Oklahoma heat, intense sunshine, summer weeds, insects and inconsistent rainfall can leave even a well-maintained yard looking tired by the time September approaches.

But this is also an important time of year for homeowners.

What you do during the transition from summer into fall can affect how your lawn looks this autumn, how well it survives winter and how strongly it returns next spring.

Whether you maintain your own yard or hire a Broken Arrow lawn-care professional, here are some of the things worth paying attention to as summer winds down.

1. Don't Assume Brown Grass Is Dead

One of the first things Broken Arrow homeowners should understand is that a lawn turning brown during hot, dry weather isn't necessarily dying.

Warm-season grasses commonly used in Oklahoma can enter dormancy during periods of heat and drought.

That means pouring more and more water onto a stressed lawn isn't always the best answer.

Oklahoma State University Extension recommends watering based on the needs of the turf rather than simply following a rigid daily schedule.

Signs that turf may need water include leaves beginning to roll or fold and taking on a blue-gray appearance.

2. Water Deeply Instead of Constantly

How you water can be just as important as how much you water.

Frequent shallow watering encourages shallow root development. Allowing moisture to penetrate deeper into the soil can encourage a stronger root system.

Late summer is also a good time to inspect your sprinkler system.

Look for broken sprinkler heads, clogged nozzles, leaking lines and sprinklers that spend more time watering the sidewalk or street than the lawn.

Watering during cooler parts of the day can also reduce water lost to evaporation.

If your irrigation system hasn't been inspected recently, this may be a good time to have a local irrigation professional take a look.

3. Don't Mow Your Lawn Too Short

It can be tempting to cut grass extremely short so you can go longer between mowing.

That can work against you.

Cutting turf too low can discourage deeper rooting and make grass less capable of handling environmental stresses such as heat and low soil moisture.

Oklahoma State University Extension recommends beginning to raise the mowing height of bermudagrass as September approaches.

A healthy lawn isn't necessarily the lawn that was cut the shortest.

4. August Is an Important Month for Bermudagrass

Bermudagrass is one of the most common warm-season grasses found in Oklahoma.

According to Oklahoma State University's lawn-management calendar, August can include fertilization, watering, mowing and aerification for established bermudagrass lawns when appropriate.

But fertilizer shouldn't simply be applied because the calendar says August.

Your lawn's condition, irrigation, soil fertility and previous fertilizer applications matter.

A soil test can help homeowners understand what their soil actually needs instead of guessing.

5. Start Thinking About Winter Weeds

The weeds you see next spring may begin becoming a problem long before spring arrives.

Late summer and early fall can be an important period for controlling winter annual weeds in warm-season lawns.

OSU's bermudagrass maintenance calendar identifies late August through mid-September as part of the period when pre-emergent weed-control strategies may be used.

There is an important exception, however.

If you intend to overseed your lawn for winter color, certain pre-emergent herbicides can interfere with the grass seed you're trying to establish.

Read product labels carefully or talk with a qualified lawn professional before applying treatments.

6. Watch for Grub Damage

If sections of your lawn suddenly begin declining in late summer, the problem might not simply be heat.

August is one of the times Oklahoma homeowners may begin noticing damage associated with white grubs.

Other insects, disease, irrigation problems and environmental stress can produce similar symptoms, so correctly identifying the problem matters before applying a treatment.

If you're unsure what's damaging the lawn, consider having it evaluated rather than repeatedly applying products that may not address the underlying problem.

7. Give Your Landscaping Some Attention Too

Your grass isn't the only part of the yard that has endured an Oklahoma summer.

Check trees, shrubs and flower beds for signs of stress.

Mulch can help maintain soil moisture, suppress weeds and reduce erosion. Oklahoma State University Extension generally recommends maintaining approximately two to three inches of mulch around trees, shrubs and planting beds.

Avoid piling mulch directly against tree trunks.

Late August can also be an appropriate time for certain pruning and landscape-maintenance tasks, depending on the plant.

8. Look at Your Drainage Before Fall Rain Arrives

Walk around your property and look at where water goes.

Do you have areas that remain soggy?

Does water collect near the foundation?

Are downspouts dumping water into landscaping beds?

Are parts of the lawn eroding?

Drainage problems can damage landscaping and create larger property-maintenance problems over time.

A lawn or landscaping company that provides drainage and irrigation work may be able to identify solutions before the problem gets worse.

9. Decide Whether You Want a Green Winter Lawn

Many Broken Arrow lawns contain warm-season turf such as bermudagrass, which naturally goes dormant and turns brown during colder weather.

Some homeowners choose to overseed with a cool-season grass for winter color.

Oklahoma State University's bermudagrass calendar identifies late September into October as a period when perennial ryegrass may be used for overseeding.

Overseeding isn't necessary, and it adds maintenance, watering and mowing requirements.

But if you want a green lawn through more of the year, now is the time to begin researching whether it makes sense for your property.

10. Fall Is a Good Time to Make a Lawn Plan

Instead of treating lawn problems one at a time, consider looking at the entire property.

Ask yourself:

• Does the lawn need aeration?
• Are weeds becoming difficult to control?
• Does the irrigation system work efficiently?
• Are there bare or thinning areas?
• Are trees creating too much shade for the existing grass?
• Does the property have drainage problems?
• Are shrubs becoming overgrown?
• Would different landscaping reduce maintenance or water use?

A good lawn-care plan can sometimes save money because it addresses the reason a problem keeps returning rather than repeatedly treating the symptoms.

Finding Lawn Care in Broken Arrow

Broken Arrow homeowners have numerous options for lawn mowing, weed control, fertilization, irrigation, landscaping, tree care and other outdoor services.

When comparing providers, don't shop on price alone.

Ask what services are included, whether the company is insured when appropriate, how frequently service is provided, whether treatments require recurring contracts and how problems or callbacks are handled.

For fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide applications, homeowners should also understand exactly what is being applied and why.

And whenever possible, consider supporting a locally owned Broken Arrow business.

Broken Arrow Homeowners: Prepare Now for Fall

Oklahoma weather will always make lawn care interesting.

We get intense summer heat, dry periods, heavy rain, freezes and rapid temperature changes—sometimes seemingly all in the same season.

That's why successful lawn care in Broken Arrow isn't about making the yard perfect every day of the year.

It's about understanding the season you're in and preparing for the season that's coming.

Late August gives homeowners an excellent opportunity to inspect irrigation, evaluate turf health, address weeds and pests, check landscaping and begin preparing the property for fall.

A little work now can make a considerable difference later.

Are you a lawn-care, landscaping, irrigation, tree-service or other home-service business serving Broken Arrow?

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