When the Georgia summer heat rolls in, your lawn and landscape feel it just as much as you do. The high temperatures, occasional drought conditions, and heavy afternoon storms can make it tricky to keep your yard healthy and looking its best. At P.O.P.S. Landscaping, we’ve seen just about every mistake a homeowner can make when it comes to summer lawn care and summer landscaping care—and the good news is, most are easy to fix with a little know-how.
Why Summer Landscaping and Lawn Care Matters
Your yard isn’t just for curb appeal—it’s part of your home’s environment and an investment that requires year-round attention. Summer is one of the most demanding seasons for your lawn and landscaping due to the intense heat, heavy rainfall, and increased outdoor activity. Without a proper care routine, your lawn can quickly develop brown spots, weeds can overtake your flower beds, and landscape features can wear down or become overgrown.
Good summer lawn care involves more than just mowing the grass. It’s about maintaining healthy soil, properly watering, protecting plants from pests and disease, and preserving the overall beauty and health of your landscape. Summer landscaping care extends this attention to trees, shrubs, flower beds, walkways, retaining walls, and other outdoor structures, ensuring your entire yard remains safe, functional, and attractive during the hottest months of the year.
To help you avoid common pitfalls and protect your yard investment, here are the top five mistakes homeowners make during the summer months—and how you can sidestep them to keep your Georgia yard thriving.
1. Overwatering or Watering at the Wrong Time
One of the most common mistakes in summer lawn care is overwatering or watering at the wrong time of day. While your grass and plants need hydration to survive Georgia’s hot, humid days, too much water can lead to problems like fungus, root rot, and wasted resources.
Why It Matters: Overwatering encourages shallow roots and fungal diseases, while watering at night increases the risk of mildew and lawn disease.
How Georgia Homeowners Can Do Better:
- Water your lawn deeply and infrequently, aiming for about 1 inch of water per week.
- Water early in the morning, between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m., to reduce evaporation and give your lawn time to dry before nightfall.
- Install or maintain an efficient irrigation system to deliver precise, measured watering.
How P.O.P.S. Landscaping Can Help: Our expert team can install and fine-tune irrigation systems specifically designed for your property’s size, slope, and plant needs. We can program watering schedules for maximum efficiency and adjust them seasonally to accommodate changing weather patterns. Routine inspections from our crew ensure no leaks, clogs, or coverage issues compromise your lawn’s health.
2. Cutting the Grass Too Short
It might seem like mowing your lawn extra short means you can go longer between cuts, but this is one of the worst things you can do in summer landscaping care. Cutting your grass too low stresses the lawn, weakens the root system, and makes it more vulnerable to drought and heat.
Why It Matters: Short grass exposes soil to direct sunlight, dries it out faster, and creates space for weeds to move in.
How Georgia Homeowners Can Do Better:
- Set your mower height to about 3 inches during summer months.
- Never remove more than one-third of the grass height in a single mowing session.
- Keep mower blades sharp for clean, even cuts that minimize plant stress.
How P.O.P.S. Landscaping Can Help: Our summer lawn care services include scheduled mowing visits with professional-grade, well-maintained equipment. We adjust mowing heights based on seasonal conditions and turf type, ensuring healthy, lush grass with every cut. Our team also edges and trims along hardscapes and flower beds to maintain a clean, polished look.
3. Neglecting Fertilizer and Soil Health
Some homeowners skip fertilizing during the hot months, believing it will burn the lawn or isn’t necessary. But summer is a crucial time to support your lawn and landscape with the right nutrients to resist heat stress, recover from foot traffic, and fend off pests.
Why It Matters: Without proper nutrients, your lawn can’t photosynthesize effectively, leaving it thin, weak, and more susceptible to disease and drought.
How Georgia Homeowners Can Do Better:
- Use a slow-release, nitrogen-rich fertilizer specifically formulated for summer use.
- Test your soil to determine pH and nutrient levels.
- Apply organic compost to improve soil structure, retain moisture, and enrich the soil naturally.
How P.O.P.S. Landscaping Can Help: We offer customized fertilization plans that deliver the right nutrients at the right time. Our soil testing services identify deficiencies so we can address them with precision. Organic options like compost and soil conditioners are also available to improve overall soil health without harsh chemicals, keeping your yard safe for pets and children.
4. Ignoring Weed and Pest Control
Summer is prime season for invasive weeds and pests, both of which can quickly overrun your yard if left unchecked. Weeds steal water and nutrients from your grass and plants, while pests like chinch bugs, armyworms, and grubs can cause serious damage beneath the surface.
Why It Matters: Unchecked weeds and pests can undo months of landscaping investment, damaging both aesthetics and plant health.
How Georgia Homeowners Can Do Better:
- Watch for signs of weed and pest activity, like thinning grass, brown patches, or chewed leaves.
- Apply pre-emergent herbicides in early summer and spot-treat visible weeds as needed.
- Schedule regular pest inspections and treatments.
How P.O.P.S. Landscaping Can Help: Our proactive weed and pest management services keep your lawn free of unwanted intruders. We use environmentally responsible treatments tailored to Georgia’s climate and common infestations. With routine monitoring, we can identify issues early and address them before they escalate, preserving the health and appearance of your entire landscape.
5. Overlooking Landscaping Features and Plant Care
Many homeowners focus solely on the lawn itself, forgetting that trees, shrubs, flower beds, and hardscape features need attention during the hot summer months too. Without proper care, these elements can suffer from heat stress, overgrowth, or neglect.
Why It Matters: Healthy landscaping features contribute to overall curb appeal, shade coverage, property value, and outdoor comfort.
How Georgia Homeowners Can Do Better:
- Prune dead, diseased, or overgrown branches from trees and shrubs.
- Refresh mulch and pine straw to retain soil moisture and discourage weed growth.
- Check plant beds for disease, pests, and signs of drought stress.
- Power wash patios, retaining walls, and walkways to keep them clean and safe.
- Regularly inspect and maintain irrigation systems.
How P.O.P.S. Landscaping Can Help: Our landscape maintenance services go beyond mowing. We offer comprehensive care for your trees, shrubs, plant beds, patios, retaining walls, and walkways. From seasonal pruning and mulch installation to decorative hardscape cleaning and irrigation repairs, we ensure every aspect of your landscape stays healthy and attractive through the heat of summer.
Why Partner with P.O.P.S. Landscaping for Summer Landscaping and Lawn Care?
Summer in Georgia presents unique challenges for lawns and landscapes, and trying to handle everything yourself can be overwhelming. That’s where P.O.P.S. Landscaping comes in. With over 30 years of experience in Marietta, Cobb County, Cherokee County, and North Atlanta, we know exactly how to care for Southern yards during the summer months.
Our team provides tailored summer landscaping and summer lawn care services to meet your property’s specific needs, including:
- Lawn mowing, edging, and trimming
- Fertilization and weed control
- Pest management
- Tree and shrub care
- Irrigation system management
- Mulching and seasonal cleanups
- Landscape design and installation services for beautiful, lasting outdoor spaces
By partnering with P.O.P.S. Landscaping, you get peace of mind knowing your yard is in expert hands, leaving you more time to relax and enjoy your outdoor living space.
