Central Valley summers are no joke. With 38+ days above 100°F in Fresno alone, keeping a lawn alive — let alone thriving — takes more than just turning on the sprinklers. Here are five tips we use on every lawn we maintain across Kerman, Fresno, and Clovis.
1. Mow Higher Than You Think
During peak summer heat (June through September), raise your mower blade to at least 3 inches for fescue and 2 inches for Bermuda grass. Taller grass shades the soil, reduces evaporation, and keeps roots cooler. Scalping your lawn in summer is the fastest way to kill it.
Pro tip: Never cut more than one-third of the grass blade at a time. If your lawn got away from you, mow it down in stages over a week rather than all at once.
2. Water Deep, Water Early
Shallow, frequent watering trains roots to stay near the surface where they're vulnerable to heat. Instead, water deeply 2–3 times per week (within your city's watering restrictions) to encourage roots to grow down where the soil stays cool and moist.
Best time to water: Between 4 AM and 8 AM. Watering in the evening leaves grass wet overnight, which invites fungal diseases. Midday watering loses too much to evaporation.
For Kerman homeowners on a 3-day watering schedule with 15-minute-per-station limits, make sure your sprinkler heads are delivering water efficiently — no misting, no runoff. A single broken head can waste hundreds of gallons per month.
3. Feed Your Lawn the Right Way
Central Valley soil runs alkaline (pH around 8.0), which locks out iron and causes that frustrating yellowing called iron chlorosis. This is the #1 lawn problem we see in Kerman and Fresno.
What to do:
- Apply iron sulfate or chelated iron in early summer
- Use a slow-release fertilizer formulated for alkaline soil
- Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers in July and August — they push growth when the grass is already stressed
4. Watch for Pests Before They Take Over
Grubs, chinch bugs, and armyworms are the big three in Fresno and Clovis. Here's how to spot them:
- Grubs: Brown patches that peel up like carpet. Grubs eat roots underground.
- Chinch bugs: Irregular brown patches that start at edges and spread inward. Look for tiny black-and-white bugs at the border of damaged areas.
- Armyworms: Grass blades chewed down to stubs, often overnight. Check for small caterpillars in the thatch layer.
Catching pests early is the difference between a quick treatment and a full lawn renovation. During our regular maintenance visits, we monitor for all three.
5. Don't Forget Your Sprinklers
Your irrigation system works hardest in summer — and that's when problems show up. Walk your yard while sprinklers are running and look for:
- Heads that aren't popping up or are spraying sideways
- Dry spots that indicate coverage gaps
- Pooling water that suggests a line leak
- Misting (too much pressure) that wastes water to evaporation
A well-tuned sprinkler system is the single biggest factor in summer lawn survival. If you haven't had yours checked recently, now is the time.
Need Help?
Keeping a Central Valley lawn healthy through summer is a commitment. If you'd rather spend your weekends enjoying your yard instead of working on it, that's what we're here for. We serve Kerman, Fresno, Clovis, and surrounding areas with weekly and bi-weekly maintenance plans designed for our climate.
Book a service or call us at (559) 809-1230 for a free estimate.