Summer heat can be brutal on lawns — especially if you don’t know the right strategies to keep your grass thriving when the temperatures soar. Whether you’re a seasoned homeowner or a first-time lawn caretaker, these five expert-backed tips will help you maintain a vibrant, green lawn from June through September without wasting water or spending a fortune.
At Loyal Landscaping LLC, we’ve cared for hundreds of residential and commercial lawns across a wide range of climates and grass types. Here’s what we’ve learned — and what we apply every single day on the job.
1. Mow at the Right Height for Your Grass Type
One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is cutting their grass too short. “Scalping” your lawn removes too much of the blade, which stresses the root system and makes your grass vulnerable to heat, drought, and weeds. A good rule of thumb is to never remove more than one-third of the blade length in a single mow.
- Bermuda grass: Keep at 1–1.5 inches during peak summer months
- St. Augustine grass: Maintain between 3–4 inches for optimal shade and root protection
- Zoysia grass: Mow to 1–2 inches; this variety handles heat particularly well
- Fescue (cool-season): Keep at 3–4 inches to help it survive high temperatures
Taller grass provides natural shade to the soil, reducing evaporation and keeping the root zone cooler — both critical factors during the hottest weeks of summer.
This is exactly what I needed! My lawn has been struggling all summer and I had no idea I was watering it wrong. Going to switch to 3x per week deep watering right away. Thank you James!
So glad it helped, Sarah! Deep watering is truly the single biggest game-changer for summer lawns. Give it 2–3 weeks and you'll notice a real difference in how your grass holds up in the heat.
Great article. I had a question about fertilizing — my lawn is St. Augustine grass in Texas. Should I still avoid fertilizing in July? We had a cooler-than-normal summer this year.
I hired Loyal Landscaping after reading this blog and they were absolutely wonderful. My lawn looks better than it ever has. The aeration service made a huge difference — I could see improvements within two weeks!