Heatwave Lawn Care Tip: Don't Scalp Your Lawn!

When hot weather hits, it’s tempting to give your lawn a short trim so you don't have to mow as often—but mowing too short during a hot stretch can actually destroy your grass.

Why Shorter isn't Better in the Heat

• Deeper Roots, Healthier Lawn: Grass foliage and roots work in tandem. The taller the grass blade above ground, the deeper the root system below ground. Deep roots allow grass to tap into subsoil moisture during dry, hot periods.

• Natural Shade & Moisture Lock: Taller grass blades shade the soil surface, reducing water evaporation from the soil and protecting sensitive root crowns from extreme heat.

• Weed Suppression: Shading the soil prevents dormant weed seeds (like crabgrass) from getting the sunlight they need to germinate.

• Stress Reduction: Mowing cuts off stored energy reserves. Mowing too low (scalping) during heat stress forces the grass to spend critical energy recovering instead of surviving the heat.

Best Practices for Hot Weather Mowing

1. Raise Your Mower Deck: Set your mower height to 3 to 4 inches during the summer months.

2. Follow the  Rule: Never cut off more than one-third () of the grass blade length in a single mowing.

3. Keep Blades Sharp: Dull blades tear the grass instead of cutting cleanly, causing the tips to turn brown and losing extra moisture.

4. Mow in the Evening: Cut during cooler parts of the day to reduce stress on freshly trimmed grass.

Keep it tall, keep it shade-covered, and let your roots dig deep this summer!