When the heat and humidity roll into Massachusetts, your cool-season lawn doesn’t throw a pool party—it goes into survival mode.
In towns like Milton, Canton, and Braintree, lawns are typically made up of cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescue. These grasses thrive in spring and fall but struggle during the dog days of summer, when temperatures rise above 85°F and rain becomes less predictable.
So, what can you do to help your lawn survive the stress of summer—and even stay green and lush despite the odds?
Here’s your expert-backed guide from the pros at Turf Lovers.
Why Cool-Season Grasses Struggle in Summer
Cool-season turf types naturally grow best when temperatures are between 60–75°F. When conditions exceed this range, especially with added humidity, your grass:
- Slows or stops growing
- Becomes vulnerable to disease and insect damage
- Begins to yellow or brown due to heat stress or drought dormancy
- Struggles with shallow root systems that can’t absorb enough water
This is why summer is often the most frustrating season for lawn lovers—it’s when your grass is most visible and most at risk.
Essential Summer Lawn Care Tips
To keep your cool-season lawn healthy during the heat, apply the following strategies:
1. Mow High, Not Low
Raise your mower blade to 3–4 inches to help shade the soil, preserve moisture, and encourage deeper root growth. Never remove more than 1/3 of the blade height in one mowing session.
Pro Tip: Tall grass also helps suppress summer weeds like crabgrass and spurge.
2. Water Deeply—but Infrequently
Aim to water 1 to 1.5 inches per week, delivered in 2–3 deep sessions rather than daily sprinkles. Shallow watering trains roots to stay near the surface, making grass more vulnerable in hot weather.
- Water early in the morning (4 a.m. to 8 a.m.) to minimize evaporation and fungal growth.
- Use a rain gauge or empty tuna can to measure output.
Bonus: If your town has watering restrictions (common in Milton, Canton, and Braintree), Turf Lovers can help you time your irrigation to stay compliant.
3. Avoid Heavy Fertilization
Applying high-nitrogen fertilizers in summer can stress your turf, encouraging top growth your lawn can’t support in the heat. Save heavy fertilizing for fall, when your lawn is ready to recover.
Instead, consider light organic feeding to support root health without pushing unnecessary growth.
4. Watch for Grubs and Lawn Pests
Mid-to-late summer is peak time for grub larvae, which feed on grass roots and cause patches of dead turf. You might also spot chinch bugs, sod webworms, and fungus-related diseases like brown patch or dollar spot.
Tip: If you see irregular brown spots that peel up easily, call Turf Lovers for a turf inspection and customized treatment.
5. Limit Foot Traffic
Heat-stressed grass doesn’t recover quickly from wear and tear. Avoid walking or playing on thin or discolored areas of your lawn. If you’re hosting gatherings, try to rotate seating and play zones.
6. Leave Your Clippings
Instead of bagging grass clippings, leave them on the lawn (unless they clump heavily). Clippings break down and return nitrogen and moisture back to the soil, helping your lawn stay fed.
7. Don’t Panic About Dormancy
If your lawn begins to yellow or brown evenly, it may simply be going dormant—a natural self-defense mechanism. Dormant lawns are not dead. With proper watering and care, they’ll green back up when temperatures cool.
Just don’t let a dormant lawn stay completely dry for weeks on end—water it at least once every 3 weeks to keep the roots alive.
What Turf Lovers Can Do for Your Lawn This Summer
At Turf Lovers, we understand the unique challenges of maintaining healthy turf in New England’s summer climate. We offer expert turf care services that:
- Boost root health with tailored fertilization and soil amendments
- Protect your lawn from grubs, chinch bugs, and fungus
- Prepare your grass for successful fall recovery and seeding
- Keep your lawn green even when Mother Nature isn’t playing nice
Whether your lawn is looking tired or on the verge of burnout, we’re here to give it the extra boost it needs to thrive—even in high temps and humidity.
Serving Your Local Massachusetts Neighborhood
We proudly serve the South Shore, including:
- Milton, MA
- Canton, MA
- Braintree, MA
Our technicians are local, trained, and invested in keeping your lawn the best-looking one on the block.
📞 Call Today to Rescue Your Lawn from Summer Stress
Don’t wait until fall to repair a lawn that’s suffered all summer. Let us help you protect your investment now, so your yard looks better for longer.
👉 Call Turf Lovers today at 617-898-0313
📅 Or request a free estimate and let’s give your lawn the TLC it needs to power through summer.