Tommy's Turf Talks

With lawns starting to dry out this time of year, a lot of homeowners assume the answer is to water as much as possible. Unfortunately, that can actually give you the opposite result and may even make the problem worse.

Overwatering can make your lawn more susceptible to diseases like Dollar Spot and Brown Patch, and it also encourages shallow roots that struggle when the heat really sets in.

Even during the summer, the goal should be to water **deeply and infrequently**.

💧 Aim for about **1–1.5 inches of water per week**, including rainfall.
💧 Try to achieve that with only **2-3 waterings per week** whenever possible.

This encourages your grass roots to grow deeper in search of moisture, creating a stronger, more resilient lawn.

Believe it or not, a little bit of stress is actually good for your grass. It teaches the plant to become tougher and better able to handle future heat and dry conditions.

And honestly, we're not all that different.

If life is easy all the time, we never build resilience. A little struggle and a little stress often make us stronger and better prepared for whatever comes next.

The same goes for your lawn.

🌱 Water smart, encourage deep roots, and your lawn will thank you later.

If you're looking for more lawn care tips to help you have the best lawn and landscape possible, this is Tommy's Turf Talks… and I'm pulling for you!

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 2

Tommy's Turf Talks

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 2

Tommy's Turf Talks

If your lawn is suddenly looking burnt out or heat-stressed in strange straight lines, don't panic.

If the grass looks like someone drove around your yard with Roundup on the mower tires, what you're seeing is probably much less serious than it looks.

A common summer lawn disease called **Ascochyta Leaf Blight** often creates dramatic streaks and patches that can appear almost overnight.

This disease is caused by the Ascochyta fungus and is most common when periods of hot, wet weather are followed by hot, dry conditions.

The good news?

While it can look shocking at first, Ascochyta Leaf Blight is usually more of a cosmetic issue than a long-term problem. In most cases, the lawn will recover on its own within a few weeks and eventually look like nothing ever happened.

If you notice Ascochyta showing up in your lawn, here are a few things you can do to help your turf recover:

✅ Water in the morning, not the evening. This allows the grass to dry throughout the day and helps reduce disease pressure.

✅ Mow at the proper height. During summer, I recommend keeping cool-season lawns around 3 to 3.5 inches tall.

✅ Keep your mower blades sharp. Sharp blades cut grass cleanly, while dull blades tear the leaf tissue and increase stress on the plant.

✅ Consider fall aeration. Aeration helps reduce excess thatch, improves root health, and creates a healthier growing environment for your lawn.

So if you're seeing this scary-looking disease in your yard this summer, be patient, stick to good lawn care practices, and let nature do its thing.

Have you seen Ascochyta Leaf Blight in your lawn this year? Let me know in the comments!

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3 weeks ago | [YT] | 6

Tommy's Turf Talks

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Tommy's Turf Talks

With the hot, humid and wet weather we have had lawn diseases are primed to start. Keep an eye on your turf and remember those cultural practices. Feel free to send me pictures if you need help identifying any issues and be sure to watch my videos on lawn diseases if you need some help.

11 months ago | [YT] | 2