Preparing your lawn for Oklahoma’s brutal summers starts in late spring with proper fertilization, raising your mowing height, adjusting irrigation, applying pre-emergent for summer weeds, and addressing any existing problems. A lawn that enters summer healthy and properly prepared will survive the heat far better than one that’s neglected. Complete Lawn Care has been helping Tulsa homeowners prepare for summer for 25 years, and we’ve learned that what you do in May and June determines how your lawn looks in August.
1. Build Strong Roots with Spring Fertilization
Apply fertilizer to warm-season grasses (Bermuda, Zoysia) in late April to early May once they’re fully green and actively growing. This feeding fuels root development and builds energy reserves that help grass endure summer stress. A second application in early June provides sustained nutrition heading into peak heat.
For Fescue: Apply a light fertilizer application in early spring, then stop. Do not fertilize fescue in summer, as this promotes disease.
2. Raise Your Mowing Height
Taller grass develops deeper roots and shades the soil, reducing water evaporation and keeping roots cooler. As summer approaches:
Bermuda: Raise from 1.5 inches to 2-2.5 inches.
Zoysia: Maintain at 1.5-2 inches.
Fescue: Raise to 3.5-4 inches. Taller height is critical for fescue summer survival.
3. Adjust Your Irrigation System
Check for problems: Inspect sprinkler heads for damage, clogs, or misalignment. Fix any issues before summer heat arrives.
Verify coverage: Run each zone and watch for dry spots or areas getting double coverage.
Set a proper schedule: Transition to deep, infrequent watering (1 inch per week in 2-3 sessions) rather than daily light watering.
Water early: Set timers for 4-6 AM to minimize evaporation.
4. Apply Pre-Emergent for Summer Weeds
A second pre-emergent application in late spring (around mid-May in Oklahoma) prevents summer annual weeds like crabgrass, goosegrass, and spurge from germinating. This application is especially important because summer weeds thrive in Oklahoma’s heat while your grass may be struggling.
5. Address Existing Problems
Thin areas: Overseed Bermuda in late May/early June. For fescue, wait until fall.
Compaction: Aerate warm-season lawns in late spring to improve root growth before summer stress.
Existing weeds: Treat broadleaf weeds before temperatures exceed 85°F regularly. Many herbicides stress grass in extreme heat.
Pest prevention: Apply preventive grub control in June before grubs hatch and damage lawns.
6. Sharpen Mower Blades
Dull blades tear grass rather than cutting cleanly. Torn grass loses more water and is more susceptible to disease. Sharpen blades in late spring so your mower cuts cleanly all summer. Sharp blades also help grass recover faster from mowing stress.
Summer Preparation Timeline
Late April: First fertilizer application for warm-season grasses.
Early May: Raise mowing heights. Check the irrigation system.
Mid-May: Apply pre-emergent for summer weeds. Aerate if needed.
Late May/Early June: Second fertilizer application. Apply grub prevention.
Complete Lawn Care: Summer-Ready Lawns for 25 Years
Complete Lawn Care’s 7-step program includes all the treatments your lawn needs to enter summer strong and survive Oklahoma’s heat. We time applications perfectly for local conditions and adjust based on each year’s weather patterns. Our 25 years of Tulsa experience means we know exactly what your lawn needs and when it needs it. Let us prepare your lawn for summer so you can enjoy it instead of worrying about it.
Contact Complete Lawn. Care:
Phone: (918) 605-4646 | Email: [email protected] | Online: completelawncaretulsa.com/get-a-quote