Late summer in Alabama brings unique challenges for lawn care enthusiasts. With scorching temperatures and unpredictable rain patterns, your yard needs special attention to stay healthy until fall arrives.
Many well-intentioned gardeners make critical errors during this tricky season that can damage grass for months to come.
1. Mowing Too Short When It’s Hot
Scalping your lawn during Alabama’s brutal August heat invites trouble. Grass cut too short loses its natural shade protection, allowing the scorching sun to dry out soil quickly.
The ideal height for warm-season grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia is 2-3 inches during late summer. This length provides enough leaf surface for photosynthesis while shading roots from extreme heat.
Raise your mower deck one notch higher than spring settings to give your lawn fighting chance against drought stress.
2. Watering At The Wrong Time
Sprinklers running at noon in Alabama’s August heat might as well be pouring water directly into the storm drain. Most moisture evaporates before reaching root zones where it’s needed.
Early morning watering (between 4-7 AM) allows water to soak deeply into soil before the day heats up. This timing prevents both wasteful evaporation and fungal diseases that can develop with evening watering.
A deep watering twice weekly beats daily light sprinkles that create shallow root systems vulnerable to drought.
3. Applying Fertilizer During Drought
Throwing down fertilizer during Alabama’s late summer dry spells can backfire spectacularly. The nutrients can’t dissolve properly without adequate moisture, potentially burning grass instead of feeding it.
When fertilizer sits unused on parched soil, it creates concentrated pockets of chemicals that damage grass roots. Plus, the first heavy rain will likely wash these chemicals into waterways rather than into your lawn.
Hold off until temperatures moderate or consistent rainfall returns, usually in early fall.
4. Ignoring Grub Warning Signs
Those innocent-looking moths fluttering around your porch lights in July and August? They’re likely laying eggs that become lawn-destroying grubs. By late summer, these c-shaped pests feast on grassroots beneath your feet.
Watch for random brown patches that pull up easily like a loose carpet – the classic sign of grub damage. Birds and moles suddenly taking interest in your yard also suggests a grub buffet below.
August is your last chance to apply effective treatments before minor damage becomes a major renovation project.
5. Overseeding With Cool-Season Grasses Too Early
Eager gardeners often rush to overseed Bermuda or Zoysia lawns with ryegrass as soon as August arrives. This enthusiasm typically leads to wasted seed and money.
Alabama soil temperatures remain well above 80°F through September, creating hostile conditions for cool-season grass germination. The tender seedlings that do manage to sprout often wither in the lingering heat.
Patience pays off – wait until October when nighttime temperatures consistently drop below 65°F for successful establishment of winter grass.
6. Neglecting Irrigation System Maintenance
Sprinkler heads vanishing under overgrown grass create irrigation blind spots throughout your lawn. These overlooked areas receive little or no water while other sections become soggy swamps.
Check for clogged nozzles, misaligned heads, and leaking connections monthly during summer. The water wasted from a single broken sprinkler head can add hundreds of gallons to your bill while leaving your grass thirsty.
Run a quick system test during daylight hours occasionally to spot issues – just keep it brief to minimize evaporation.
7. Fighting Fire Ants Incorrectly
Kicking fire ant mounds in frustration only scatters the colony to create multiple new mounds across your yard. These resilient pests thrive in Alabama’s late summer conditions.
Individual mound treatments work temporarily but miss the queens who simply relocate nearby. Broadcast bait treatments covering your entire lawn area work more effectively by targeting the colony structure.
Apply baits in early evening when ants are actively foraging but before dew forms – moisture ruins most bait products before ants can carry them underground.
8. Overlooking Weed Prevention
August might seem too late for weed control, but it’s actually prime planning time for preventing fall weeds like annual bluegrass and henbit. These troublemakers germinate as temperatures drop but establish during late summer.
Apply pre-emergent herbicides before Labor Day to create an invisible barrier that prevents weed seeds from developing. Water it in properly – about ¼ inch is perfect for activation without washing away the product.
Mark your calendar now to avoid missing this critical window that determines whether you’ll spend fall pulling weeds or enjoying your yard.
9. Letting Thatch Build Up
That spongy layer between green grass and soil isn’t a cushion – it’s a thatch problem brewing. During Alabama’s humid late summers, this layer of dead grass material thickens rapidly, blocking water and nutrients from reaching roots.
Check thatch depth by removing a small wedge of lawn with a trowel. Anything over ½ inch thick restricts healthy growth and creates perfect hiding spots for insects and disease.
Core aeration in late summer helps beneficial microbes break down thatch before fall’s cooler temperatures slow their activity.