September is a great time to restore a lawn. The temperatures have cooled, but the soil is still warm and rain should be coming soon. Here are some things to consider.
First, if you are dealing with a thin lawn, why is it thin? Have trees and shrubs grown tall and now shade it too much? Has the soil become compacted by too many feet or the lack of aeration, so that air and water can’t get deep into the soil? Have you fertilized and watered properly? Have weeds taken over?
As we get past this hot summer weather, the first thing to do is check that your sprinkler system is operating effectively. Check for broken or plugged heads. Sod can grow over the sprinkler heads and disrupt their spray pattern. Check that rotary sprinklers are turning correctly. I had to replace two heads this summer because they wouldn’t turn and lost some plants.
Are you watering enough to keep the grass in good shape? New research that I was just made aware of indicates that, in really hot weather, it is important to water lawns frequently but lightly to keep the roots within 2 inches of the soil moist. These waterings should be in addition to weekly deep waterings to keep deeper roots healthy. If you are using movable sprinklers on a hose, check that you are running them long enough and in a pattern that covers all of the lawn.
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