Kentucky homeowners know the late summer struggle—those weeks when the thermometer climbs but fall whispers around the corner. This transition period is make-or-break for your lawn, with many common practices actually doing more harm than good.
As temperatures swing and rainfall becomes unpredictable, avoiding these ten mistakes will help your Kentucky bluegrass survive the seasonal shift and thrive into autumn.
1. Scalping Your Grass During Drought
Cutting grass too short when it’s struggling through August heat creates a recipe for disaster. The remaining blades can’t shade the soil properly, leading to moisture loss and weed invasion.
I’ve learned the hard way to keep mower blades at 3-4 inches during late summer. This higher cut protects grassroots from baking in the Kentucky sun and helps crowd out unwanted crabgrass.
Remember to sharpen those mower blades too. Dull blades tear rather than cut, creating stress points on grass that invite disease when humidity spikes in late summer.
2. Watering At The Wrong Time
Sprinkling your lawn during midday heat wastes water and money. Most of that moisture evaporates before reaching the roots, leaving your grass thirsty despite your efforts.
Early morning sessions between 5-9 AM work best in my Kentucky garden. The water has time to soak into the soil before the day heats up, and leaves dry quickly, preventing fungal problems.
Deep, infrequent watering beats daily sprinkles. My rule of thumb: one inch of water weekly encourages roots to grow deeper, making your lawn more drought-resistant as we head toward fall.
3. Neglecting Soil Testing
Kentucky soils vary dramatically from the eastern mountains to western flatlands. Without testing, you’re just guessing what your lawn needs, potentially wasting money on unnecessary treatments.
The UK Extension Office has saved my lawn multiple times with their affordable soil testing services. Last year, I discovered my pH was way off, explaining why my grass struggled despite regular care.
Fall amendments work best when based on actual data. For about $10, you’ll get specific recommendations tailored to your yard’s unique chemistry—knowledge that pays dividends through healthier turf year-round.
4. Over-Fertilizing Before Fall
Dumping fertilizer on your lawn in August seems helpful but often backfires spectacularly. Excess nitrogen forces rapid growth during the worst heat, stressing grass when it’s already fighting to survive.
My neighbor’s lawn turned crispy brown after a heavy August feeding. The fertilizer actually burned his grass during a hot spell, creating patches that persisted until spring overseeding.
Hold off until September when temperatures moderate. Kentucky lawns respond beautifully to fall feeding, storing energy in their roots without the stress of pushing new growth during summer’s final hot days.
5. Ignoring Grub Prevention
Those innocent-looking beetles buzzing around your porch lights in July are laying eggs that become lawn-destroying grubs by August. The damage appears suddenly—soft, spongey areas where turf lifts like a loose carpet.
After losing half my backyard two summers ago, I’ve become religious about preventative treatments. Applied in June or early July, these products stop grubs before they hatch and feast on grassroots.
Look for raccoons or skunks digging in your yard at night—they’re hunting for these protein-packed grubs and will tear up your lawn in the process. This natural sign often appears before you notice actual turf damage.
6. Skipping Core Aeration
Kentucky clay soils become brick-hard by late summer, preventing water and nutrients from reaching grassroots. The compacted ground literally suffocates your lawn from below.
Renting an aerator for a weekend changed my lawn care game completely. Those little soil plugs might look messy temporarily, but the channels they create allow everything your grass needs to penetrate deeply.
Aeration works especially well before fall overseeding. The holes provide perfect landing spots for grass seed and improve germination rates dramatically. For my money, it’s the single most underrated lawn care practice in our region.
7. Overlooking Weed Prevention
Late summer marks the beginning of winter weed germination. While you’re focused on surviving heat, those henbit and chickweed seeds are preparing their fall invasion strategy.
A pre-emergent barrier applied in late August has saved me countless hours of spring weeding. The timing feels counterintuitive—applying when summer weeds are already present—but it’s about breaking the cycle for next season.
Spot-treating existing weeds while preventing new ones creates a one-two punch. I keep a small sprayer filled with selective herbicide for occasional walks through my yard, catching dandelions and clover before they can spread seeds.
8. Poor Mowing Practices
Rushing through mowing during August heat creates lasting damage. Turning too sharply tears grass crowns, while cutting wet morning grass spreads fungal diseases throughout your yard.
Alternating mowing patterns prevents soil compaction and trains grass to grow upright. Years back, I always mowed the same direction and developed permanent wheel ruts that collected water after rain.
Leaving clippings on the lawn recycles nutrients and provides natural shade for soil. My mulching mower transformed my lawn’s health, eliminating the need to bag unless grass has grown excessively tall between cuts.
9. Forgetting Thatch Management
The layer of dead grass between soil and living blades can become problematic by summer’s end. Excessive thatch blocks water penetration and creates perfect conditions for insect infestations and disease.
After noticing brown patches despite regular watering, I discovered nearly an inch of thatch choking my lawn. Using a dethatching rake on a small test area showed dramatic improvement within weeks.
For larger lawns, mechanical dethatchers save your back while doing a thorough job. The process looks destructive initially—pulling up dead material and creating a messy appearance—but your grass rebounds quickly with renewed access to air and water.
10. Improper Irrigation System Setup
Those automatic sprinklers seem convenient but waste tremendous water when poorly calibrated. Sprinkler heads often end up watering sidewalks or creating puddles while leaving other areas bone dry.
Placing empty tuna cans around my yard revealed shocking irrigation inconsistencies. Some zones received triple the water of others, explaining why certain patches thrived while others struggled despite running the same system.
Seasonal adjustments matter too. The watering schedule that worked in June needs modification by August as day length changes. I’ve saved significantly on water bills by regularly tweaking run times based on actual rainfall and temperature patterns.