How to Adjust Your Irrigation for August

Inground irrigation in August, albeit similar to other months in many ways, has its own requirements to ensure your lawn retains the health and strength it developed over the summer. August is a transition phase. Despite often being one of the hottest months of the year, its usually arid temperatures begin to ease your lawn into the dryness of the fall. Your Nutri-Lawn Ottawa inground sprinkler systems must attend to the shifting conditions and new lawn care issues. Read on for tips from Nutri-Lawn Ottawa to find out how to adjust your inground irrigation for August.

Moisture prevents chinch bugs
Chinch bugs love August, because of the dry weather conditions. These pests can do considerable damage to your lawn if left unattended. If you want to prevent chinch bugs, keep a moist lawn throughout August and September. Keep up a regular schedule with your Nutri-Lawn Ottawa inground sprinkler systems even as the temperatures begin to wind down.

Nematodes love inground irrigation
You'll find another visitor in your lawn throughout August alongside chinch bugs: Grubs. Grubs begin to make their appearance in July and continue to eat away at your lawn throughout the month of August. Beneficial nematodes are the best method for grub elimination, as they are 100% organic and natural.

Nematodes are beneficial parasites that hunt out grubs specifically, and as such, are highly recommened by Nutri-Lawn Ottawa as the best option for grub control. They need a moist environment to tunnel through the soil and survive. Before and for the 10 days following a nematode application, you'll need to keep your Nutri-Lawn Ottawa inground sprinkler systems running regularly to create the perfect surroundings for your friendly little grub-hunters.

Prepare your lawn for inground irrigation
If you don't properly prepare your lawn for your Nutri-Lawn Ottawa inground sprinkler systems, then you could be wasting a lot of water. There are a couple of techniques you can use to make sure your lawn isn't undergoing unnecessary run-off, or wastage.

Thatch is an unfriendly lawn guest that follows summer months. Thatch is the layer of organic matter at the top of your soil that failed to decompose fully throughout the spring and summer. This suffocates your lawn by preventing your inground irrigation, fertilizer, and oxygen from reaching the grass roots. It is an impenetrable fortress that must be broken with either dethatching or core aeration. If you choose dethatching, make sure to give your grass 4 weeks of growing season to repair the damage before the cold weather hits. For thatch layers that are smaller than 3 inches, Nutri-Lawn Ottawa recommends core aeration.

Core aeration, while breaking down thatch, also eliminates compaction. Compaction occurs due to repeated traffic on your lawn over the summer. Compacted soil, too, is a fortress through which water from your Nutri-Lawn Ottawa inground sprinkler systems struggles to travel. Core aeration punches holes into your lawn to provide little tunnels for nutrients and water.

Prepare your lawn for winter with Nutri-Lawn Ottawa inground sprinkler systems. Contact Nutri-Lawn Ottawa for your complimentary quote today.