Worries about Pennsylvania facing a severe drought seem to have
faded with recent rainstorms, but the question of how to care
for your lawn during this summer’s heat is still important. When
it comes to maintaining your lawn, according to an expert in
Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, doing less really
may be doing more. “Most years, you don’t need to water if your
lawn is in decent shape going into the summer season,” said
Peter Landschoot, professor of turfgrass management. “The spring
recipe for lawn care is to fertilize, mow up to twice a week and
treat for weeds. But homeowners should back off on all those
practices during the summer.” During the hottest, driest months
of the year, it is common for cool-season grasses to go into a
semidormant state and turn brown and dry. This especially may
occur during a drought. Fortunately, he explains, lawns
generally recover when cool temperatures and moisture return in
autumn. He also encourages homeowners to question whether the
benefits of watering