A healthy, green lawn can make any Ohio yard feel inviting, but small mistakes can quickly undo your hard work.
I’ve seen plenty of lawns struggle from overwatering, mowing errors, and other easy-to-fix slip-ups. Avoiding these common mistakes can save you time, stress, and a lot of extra effort.
Let’s make sure your lawn stays lush and beautiful all summer long!
1. Mowing Too Short
Scalping your lawn might seem efficient, but it’s actually harmful! Grass cut too short in Ohio’s summer heat becomes stressed and vulnerable to weeds and disease.
The ideal height for most Ohio lawns is 3-4 inches during summer. Taller grass develops deeper roots, retains moisture better, and naturally shades out pesky weeds.
2. Watering at Wrong Times
Sprinklers running at high noon waste precious water through evaporation before it can benefit your Ohio lawn. Many homeowners make this timing error without realizing its impact.
Early morning (5-9am) is ideal for watering in the Buckeye State. Your grass receives moisture before the day heats up, and leaves dry quickly, preventing fungal problems.
3. Fertilizing Incorrectly
Random fertilizing schedules damage Ohio lawns more than help them. Dumping nutrients during summer’s peak heat can burn grass and create perfect conditions for thatch buildup.
Late spring and early fall applications work best for most Ohio yards. Choose slow-release formulations with the right NPK ratio for summer maintenance, and always follow package instructions carefully.
4. Ignoring Soil Testing
Flying blind with lawn treatments wastes money and potentially harms your grass. Many Ohio yards have specific pH imbalances that no amount of generic products will fix.
The Ohio State Extension Office offers affordable soil testing services. Knowing exactly what your lawn needs eliminates guesswork and gives you a customized plan for that enviable green carpet.
5. Neglecting Aeration
Compacted soil prevents water, air, and nutrients from reaching grass roots. Ohio’s clay-heavy soils are especially prone to compaction after summer foot traffic and heavy rains.
Core aeration creates channels for essentials to reach deeper into the root zone. Most Buckeye State lawns benefit from annual aeration, ideally in early fall when recovery conditions are optimal.
6. Over-watering Established Lawns
Drowning grass roots leads to shallow growth and disease problems. Many Ohio homeowners mistakenly water daily, creating weak lawns that can’t handle summer stress.
Most established lawns in the Buckeye State need just 1-1.5 inches of water weekly. Deep, infrequent watering encourages roots to grow downward, creating drought-tolerant turf that stays green longer.
7. Using Dull Mower Blades
Ragged grass edges turn brown quickly and invite disease. Those torn blades you’re seeing across Ohio lawns come from neglected mower maintenance, not summer heat damage.
Sharpen blades at least twice during Ohio’s growing season. A clean cut heals faster and loses less moisture, keeping your lawn healthier through summer’s challenges and reducing water needs.
8. Applying Weed Killers in Heat
Herbicides applied during hot days often damage surrounding grass while being less effective against weeds. The volatilization in Ohio’s summer heat can even affect nearby garden plants.
Target weeds when temperatures are below 85°F, typically early morning. Many Buckeye gardeners find spot-treating individual weeds more effective than broadcast spraying during summer months.
9. Skipping Overseeding
Thinning areas quickly become weed patches without intervention. Many Ohio lawns develop bare spots from summer stress, creating perfect opportunities for crabgrass and dandelions.
Late summer to early fall is ideal for overseeding in the Buckeye State. Choose grass varieties suited to your specific conditions – shade-tolerant mixes for tree-covered areas, drought-resistant types for sunny spots.
10. Collecting Grass Clippings
Bagging and discarding those clippings removes free nutrients your lawn needs. Ohio’s growing conditions make grass a natural recycler when clippings are properly managed.
Let short clippings remain as natural fertilizer for your Buckeye lawn. They provide up to 25% of needed nitrogen and decompose quickly when cut with a sharp blade at proper height.