Maintaining Your Lawn in a Minnesota Drought

Maintaining a lush lawn can be a chore during these long heatwaves- even more so if there are watering restrictions. Your once beautiful green lawn may now be crunchy and brown. Here are a few tips and tricks for keeping your lawn healthy during this Minnesota drought.

Mowing during a drought: We suggest avoiding mowing during a drought. Your lawn is likely under stress and will have a hard time recovering from mowing. If you must mow be sure to set your deck higher, to around 3 inches. Taller grass will be able to shade its fragile root systems and keep the soil moist.  Avoid mowing areas that have a “dead” look to them. 

Be sure your mower blades are sharp. When a lawn is cut with sharp blades, healing takes place quicker. Dull blades tear the plant rather than cutting it, which leads to more damage and stress to the grass.

Watering your lawn in a heatwave: A lot of Minnesota is under a watering ban so be sure to check your local regulations before getting your sprinkler out. If you’re allowed to water be sure to get started before 8 AM; optional water times are 5:00 AM and 5:00 PM. The cooler temperatures help slow evaporation and minimize extra stress on your grass. Water enough to wet the roots and don’t water again until the grass has dried.

If you are under a watering ban prepare for the next rain by setting up a rainwater collection system. For every inch of rain, you can collect more than 500 gallons of water per 1,000 square feet of the catchment area. There are commercial systems and DIY options- do some research to find which would be the best option for you.

B&B Hoffman Sod Farms grows natural Kentucky Bluegrass sod which is well-known for its ability to maintain its beauty and adapt to changing temperatures and watering practices. Starting out with a strong, low-maintenance lawn like Kentucky Bluegrass will make a big difference when drought or poor conditions strike. To learn more about summer lawn care and the products that B&B Hoffman Sod Farms offers, visit them online at bbhoffmansodev.wpengine.com or call 763-434- 6572.

Creating a Yard Your Kids Will Love

With a little bit of planning, low-maintenance landscaping, and the right natural turfgrass in Minnesota, it’s easy to turn your yard into an oasis that your whole family can enjoy. If you have young children, consider the following tips to ensure they will love heading outdoors to enjoy your yard.

Creating a Lush Lawn

Your lawn is the starting point for a kid-friendly backyard– it provides a soft, comfortable area for all kinds of activities. Whether your kids enjoy picnics outdoors or want to play a game of touch football, a healthy lawn will make a perfect area. Installing sod in your yard is a great option if you don’t currently have grass, or your existing lawn is unhealthy. Within a few hours, turfgrass sod transforms bare soil to a living carpet of grass with a mature density that looks great instantly.

Kid-Friendly Landscaping Options

Depending on your budget and your yard, there are multiple options for landscaping. Large trees are great for backyards to provide shade. Consider planting flowers that consist of your kids’ favorite colors or giving them their own garden areas to maintain. If you have young children, be sure to research before choosing plants for your landscaping, as some can easily end up in curious toddlers’ mouths.

Fun Options for Play

Kids are sure to love a trampoline, sandbox, or maybe a playground as a fun element in your backyard. Other options could be lawn games such as bocce ball, or corn hole. If your kids (and maybe you) want to stay cool during the summertime, you may want to add a sprinkler or an inflatable pool into your plans.

The options are endless, use your creativity, and create the perfect backyard oasis! If you want a lawn that is family-friendly, and can be enjoyed this summer, beautiful natural turfgrass sod is a great start.

B&B Hoffman Sod is your source for the highest quality sod in Minnesota. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff are committed to answering all of your questions to ensure a stress-free experience with your new Minnesota sod lawn. Whether you wish to sod a small play area for the family or an entire neighborhood or business, B&B Hoffman Sod can help you make it happen. To learn more about  B&B Hoffman Sod Farms and our family business, visit us online at bbhoffmansodev.wpengine.com or call 763-434- 6572.

 

Lawn Maintenance in Hot August Heat

August often brings high temperatures and sparse precipitation, leaving homeowners wondering how to best care for their lawn. Here are some tips to keep your lawn healthy throughout the season.

Reduce lawn maintenance–for now

Help your lawn beat the heat and make sure your mower is on the highest setting. This will help evenly distribute the moisture it receives and slow the spread of disease (and maybe allow you an extra hour or two on the lake!). Since August is typically a hot, dry month, you may notice browning in some areas, which is natural. Established grass is able to survive during a mild drought and can quickly rebound when moisture levels stabilize.

Review your sod options

Sod can be installed in August however, homeowners will need to be very diligent on watering, doing so at least once or twice a day for 8 days. After 8 days, the grass will tell you if it needs water by appearing bluish in color. If you have the opportunity, lay sod on a cool, overcast day to minimize plant stress. Stagger rolls in a brick-like pattern and place seams together without overlapping. Moisten the soil to a depth of 4 inches or until you can lift the sod and see that the water has penetrated through and saturated the ground underneath. After 8-10 days gently tug at the sod, if you feel a little resistance, then you know the roots are starting to anchor in the soil and it is safe to mow. Mowing stimulates root growth; therefore, you want to mow around the 10 day mark.

To learn more about sod, summer lawn care, and the products that B&B Hoffman Sod Farms offers, visit us online at bbhoffmansodev.wpengine.com or call 763-434- 6572.