Get your lawn ready for the hotter months with these simple, expert-backed tips to keep your grass healthy despite scorching temps, drought, and Santa Ana winds.
San Diego summers bring plenty of sunshine, salty breezes, and the occasional dry Santa Ana gust. It’s great for beach days, but your lawn? Not so much. Without some prep, grass can turn brittle, brown, or attract weeds and pests.
The good news: summer lawn care doesn’t have to be complicated. These five straightforward steps will help your lawn stay greener, conserve water, and keep maintenance manageable.
Why it matters: A layer of thatch (dead grass and roots) thicker than about ½ inch blocks water, air, and nutrients from reaching soil — making lawns less drought-tolerant.
How to do it:
Cut a small plug with a trowel and measure the thatch layer. If it’s over ½ inch, plan to dethatch.
For warm-season grasses (Bermuda, St. Augustine, Zoysia), dethatch in late spring or early summer when growth is active. For cool-season lawns like tall fescue, wait until late summer or early fall.
Small lawns: use a dethatching rake (~$25–$50).
Larger lawns: rent a dethatcher from a local equipment center.
Water lightly afterward to help the lawn recover.
Why it matters: Foot traffic and clay soils common in San Diego compact over time, reducing water absorption and root growth.
How to do it:
Test: push a 6″ screwdriver into moist soil. If it won’t go down easily, the soil is compacted.
Core aeration (plug aeration) is the most reliable method. Rent a machine or hire a pro; water the lawn a day or two before for best results. Leave the plugs to break down naturally.
Liquid aeration products can help with mild compaction and as a maintenance tool but are not proven replacements for mechanical aeration when compaction is severe.
Pro tip: Avoid aerating when your grass is already stressed from extreme heat.
Why it matters: Over-fertilizing in summer heat can burn grass. The right timing depends on your lawn type.
How to do it:
Warm-season lawns (Bermuda, St. Augustine, Zoysia): Apply a slow-release fertilizer in late spring or early summer, but only after a soil test confirms what’s needed. Aim for about 0.5–1 lb of actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. per application.
Cool-season lawns (Tall fescue): Skip summer feeding. Fertilize mainly in fall when growth resumes.
Always water lightly after applying to prevent fertilizer burn.
Consider organic options like compost or grasscycling clippings to reduce synthetic fertilizer use.
Why it matters: Shallow, frequent watering leads to weak roots. Deep, infrequent watering encourages roots to grow deeper — critical in drought-prone Southern California.
Local rule: The City of San Diego limits lawn irrigation to no more than three days per week, only before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. (year-round restrictions apply).
How to do it:
Lawns need about 1 inch of water per week (rain + irrigation).
Use the catch-can test: place a few tuna cans on the lawn, run your sprinklers for 15 minutes, and measure the depth. Multiply to figure out how long it takes your system to deliver 1 inch.
Water in the early morning to reduce evaporation and wind interference.
Upgrade to a smart irrigation controller (rebates available via SoCal Water$mart) to adjust watering automatically based on weather.
Why it matters: Taller grass shades soil, reduces evaporation, and outcompetes weeds. Leaving clippings (grasscycling) recycles nutrients and helps conserve moisture.
Recommended mowing heights:
Bermuda: 1–2 inches
St. Augustine: 2.5–4 inches (3.5–4 inches for standard cultivars)
Tall fescue: 3–4 inches
Grasscycling benefits: Clippings can supply up to 15–25% of your lawn’s annual nitrogen needs and improve moisture retention.
Pro tips:
Follow the one-third rule: never remove more than one-third of the blade at once.
Sharpen mower blades at least once or twice a season (or every ~20–25 hours of mowing).
Mow in the evening or early morning, not during peak heat.
Watch for grubs: In San Diego, grub damage can appear in summer. Beneficial nematodes can help; avoid relying solely on “milky spore,” which is only effective against Japanese beetle grubs (rare in California).
Spot-treat weeds: Hand-pull or use targeted herbicides for small areas. Household vinegar may burn seedlings but won’t reliably kill established weeds. Stick with physical removal for the safest DIY approach.
San Diego lawn care in summer comes down to five simple moves: dethatch when needed, aerate compacted areas, fertilize only when it helps (not hurts), water deeply but legally, and mow high while grasscycling clippings.
Stick with these practical steps, and you’ll give your lawn the best chance to stay green, save water, and avoid extra weekend chores.
For more local guidance, check the City of San Diego’s WaterSmart resources and SoCal Water$mart rebate programs.
WAS Landscaping is a locally owned and operated business in San Diego, specializing in high-quality, reliable landscaping services for residential and commercial properties.
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