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Community Corner

Hot Weather Lawn And Garden Tips

A North Hills landscaping expert explains why watering your lawn now could be a big mistake.

Many lawns in western Pennsylvania are turning brown following a string of 90+ degree days and very little rain. And many homeowners may be tempted to break out the sprinkler, but they could end up doing more harm than good, according to A&N Lawn Service President Phil Rizzitano.

"If you start watering your lawn in weather like this, you can't stop. It's all or nothing," he said. "Watering for a short period of time, infrequently will actually shock the grass, making the situation even worse."

Rizzitano said if you don't have a sprinkler system, or aren't committed to watering your entire lawn for at least a half an hour a day, every day, it's better to just leave the grass alone.

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"It's mother nature doing her thing, the grass looks like it won't come back, but it will, once we get some steady rain and cooler temperatures," he said. 

The same can not be said for annuals and vegetable gardens.

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"They need constant waterings, or they won't survive," said Rizzitano. "But more mature shrubs and perennials will hang in there without a lot of water, as long as you don't stress them by pruning them in the heat."

Rizzitano also suggests raising your mower blades and not cutting the grass below 3-4 inches to help offset the effects of the heat. 

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