Having a great lawn means that you get to show it off. And in the summer, that means throwing great parties. Whether celebrating a birthday or graduation, hosting a neighborhood cookout, or planning an outdoor game night, your home can provide the perfect backdrop for those sunny days and warm evenings.
The problem is, our lawns take quite a beating throughout the year—from cold, dry winters to hot, rain-soaked summers. This usually means that at the same time we’re getting excited to plan our upcoming parties, some uninvited guests (like bugs, pests, and weeds) are getting excited to crash them.
We definitely don’t want that to happen to you, so if you’re gearing up for a season of outdoor entertainment, you’ll want to first tackle some maintenance and cleanup before sending out those invitations. With a little bit of planning and a few key products, we’ll make sure you feel prepared to throw the best summer parties possible.
In fact, here are six ways to get your lawn prepped for summer parties:
- Identify problem areas
- Prune branches and tidy up your landscaping
- Keep bugs and pests off the guest list
- Make sure to water your lawn and plants
- Prep and clean all sidewalks and paths
- Give your lawn a fresh cut
Know What You’re Working With
Let’s talk about location. If you plan to host any summer get-togethers, the first thing people will notice is the lawn itself. This means that you’ll need to get familiar with any problem areas in your yard. If there are any significant trouble spots, you’ll want to address them right away.
Look for obvious things like weeds, bare spots, dead patches of grass, or any insect or animal damage. Getting to these spots first will ensure you have plenty of time to correct any lingering issues long before the party starts.
If weeds are a concern, we have an insightful blog post on weed control that can help you find the right product for your situation. Otherwise, check out some of these other recommendations if you need some guidance or quick problem solving:
- Lawn Booster Prime 30-0-0: Does your lawn need a boost? Here’s an environmentally friendly supplemental liquid nitrogen fertilizer designed to achieve vigorous root & plant growth. Use weekly or bi-weekly throughout the growing season or as needed by soil or tissue testing.
- Site Armor ArmorGrow Straw Blanket: If you’re looking to plant new grass seed, putting this straw blanket on top will keep the seeds from blowing away or being eaten by birds.
- Total Disease Control: Tell your family you can knock out the unwanted “fungus among us” with this all-purpose fungicide product. You may know (or soon will find out) that “brown patch” is a fungus that looks a lot like dead grass. If you have it, you can rest knowing it can be treated with this product. Plus, it works on other fungi on non-grass plants, too.
Before applying chemicals, make sure to check the product’s safety data sheet and give yourself the recommended number of days before having guests or pets out in the yard. Also, many products have an allotted rainfast indication. You’ll want to reference this—especially if rain is in the forecast—to make sure you get the best performance per application.
Survey Your Landscape
Proper maintenance is just as important as good preparation. The two go hand-in-hand. While it’s good to plan and have a strategy, don’t forget to mind the details. Practical steps like watering and pruning are just as vital when it comes to maintaining your property throughout the season.
Pay close attention to flower beds, bushes, and shrubs. Make sure to take the time to prune any shrubs or bushes that look wild and unruly. Pruning is essential for extending the life of most plants, so consistent pruning will help your shrubs and bushes live longer. You can always research each plant species to establish an optimal pruning schedule. For any drab or dull areas, consider adding potted plants or raised flower beds for variety and colorful layering.
Keep Bugs and Pests off the Guest List
Let’s face it: if you spend any time outdoors, you know that pests and bugs return every year. These little “nosy neighbors” tend to start moving in every spring. As temperatures rise, you’ll want to keep an eye out for them and take proper measures to protect your plants, trees, and shrubs.
Cleaning up leaves, standing water, and other areas that attract pests and bugs can be a good start before hosting any outdoor gatherings. But you’ll most likely need some additional support if you want lasting protection. Luckily, we have some products that will give you peace of mind knowing that there won’t be any uninvited guests crashing your party. Well, except that one cousin of yours, but we don’t have a spray for that.
- Total Pest Control: For excellent broad spectrum control of over 75 insect pests in trees, lawns, shrubs, and flowering plants, choose this one. It can also be used as an interior treatment for indoor pests.
- Total Grub Control: This works systemically to protect your lawn roots from white grub damage. Apply this product in spring and late summer/fall for season-long control and best results.
- Tree & Shrub Protection Plus: This product will keep your flowers and plants beautiful and insect free. It provides season-long control of insects and pests on your roses, flowers and landscape ornamentals.
Keep Your Lawn and Trees Hydrated
Your watering needs will vary greatly depending on factors such as climate, local weather, natural environment, and which additional plants and ground cover you choose for your outdoor space. Regardless of which watering method you go with, consistency is key. This will help make sure that your beautiful green space doesn’t dry out or turn brown before summer is over. For more targeted spots like trees and shrubs, we recommend these two options for getting parched trees exactly what they need—and nothing more—while giving yourself more time to tackle other tasks:
- Tree Watering Bag: This 20-Gallon Bag provides 6–8 hours of watering for trees up to 4” in diameter. It’s constructed from a heavy-duty PVC, UV-treated material to withstand the elements and improve water conservation.
- Tree Watering Ring: This 15-gallon ring provides 3–4 hours of watering for trees up to 6” in diameter. Its low profile is great for easy installation and filling. Also constructed from a heavy-duty PVC, UV-treated material to withstand the elements.
Sidewalks and Driveways and Paths, Oh My!
Whether you want to take your outdoor space to the next level, or simply make sure your outdoor space is level, hardscaping is the way to go. Features like walkways, driveways, and sidewalks will factor into your summer parties just as much as seating and tables. Since these are high-traffic areas, you’ll want to make sure they look great and are as safe as possible. It’s all about giving your guests a great first impression as they arrive at your party.
For the most part, sidewalks and driveways can be cleared easily with a leaf blower or push broom. However, for heavier stains or stubborn weeds, you may need to use a power washer. If weeds and grass are poking through your patio pavement, they can be zapped with X-Out.
For new construction, or for clearing out a space for a future hardscaping project, try these products:
- X-Out™ Grass & Weed Killer: If you need a non-selective herbicide to clear a space of all weeds and grasses, this is the one. Plus, our X-Out Grass & Weed Killer is made from foliar-active materials with little to no soil-residual activity.
Site Armor ArmorLay: Stop mother nature from shifting the ground beneath with our professional-grade woven stabilization fabric. It provides superior erosion control by adding reinforcement strength to the surface. Designed for driveways, patios, construction entrances, and more. - Site Armor ArmorFilter: For French drains, retention ponds, and stabilizing non-paved driveways, this non-woven filter fabric allows water to filter through at a high flow rate to help prevent pooling and ponding. Our professional-grade fabric aids in the water filtration process by allowing water to pass through while keeping soil and sediment out—stopping spring showers and summer storms from washing out hours and hours of hard work.
- Site Armor ArmorFilter: For French drains, retention ponds, and stabilizing non-paved driveways, this non-woven filter fabric allows water to filter through at a high flow rate to help prevent pooling and ponding. Our professional-grade fabric aids in the water filtration process by allowing water to pass through while keeping soil and sediment out—stopping spring showers and summer storms from washing out hours and hours of hard work.
Give Your Lawn a Fresh Cut
This one’s obvious, but uncut grass looks messy, and skipping this step will surely take away from any efforts to tidy up your outdoor space. Plus, staying up on routine mowing will help prevent disease and other problems throughout the year.
For the best results, save your mowing for later, preferably as one of the last things you do before your party begins. This will give your lawn its best appearance and ensure the cleanest look possible as the big day approaches. Just don’t forget to bag up any grass clippings. While leaving the grass clippings is good for the lawn, you want your party space to be clean, without clumps of grass in the yard.
Party On!
Now that you have some helpful advice on preparing your lawn for summer, it’s time to plan some parties! Just remember, the more you stay on top of your regular maintenance, the easier it will be to prepare for future events.
