Why Is My Lawn Dying in the Summer in San Antonio?

My Lawn Is Dying in the Summer Heat

Every summer I get a wave of calls from San Antonio homeowners watching their lawn go from green to brown and not knowing why. Here is what I check first.

Is It Actually Dead or Just Dormant?

Grass that is heat-stressed or drought-stressed will go dormant and turn brown, but it is not dead. You can tell the difference by pulling on a handful of grass. If the blades pull out easily from the roots, the grass is dead. If there is resistance and the roots are still attached, the grass is dormant and will come back.

Not Enough Water

San Antonio summers are brutal. St. Augustine grass needs about an inch of water per week to stay green during the summer months. In July and August, we can go weeks without meaningful rain. If you have an irrigation system, check that all the zones are working and that the coverage is even.

Watering at the Wrong Time

If you are watering in the afternoon, most of it is evaporating before it reaches the roots. Water early in the morning, before 9 AM if you can.

Mowing Too Short

Scalping the lawn in the summer is one of the fastest ways to kill it. When you cut too short, you expose the soil to direct sun. Keep St. Augustine at three to four inches during the summer.

If you have worked through the basics and the lawn is still going downhill, give us a call. We serve San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Valley, Schertz, Converse, Boerne, and the surrounding area. 817-484-8835 or recoverlandscape.com.