Summertime Lawn and Landscaping Care: Keeping Your Lawn Lush and Vibrant

Richmond summers are hot, humid, and often unpredictable. Between intense sun, high humidity, scattered thunderstorms, and the occasional drought, maintaining a lush lawn and thriving landscape can be a real challenge for homeowners in Central Virginia.

Whether you’re in the heart of the city, or the more rural areas of Powhatan, Goochland, and Lake Anna, this guide will walk you through how to keep your outdoor spaces healthy and beautiful all summer long…Richmond-style.

1. Understanding Richmond’s Summer Lawn Needs

In Richmond, lawns typically feature a mix of cool-season grasses like tall fescue and warm-season grasses like Bermuda or zoysia.

• Tall fescue is the most common and preferred grass type in RVA because it does well in our transitional climate and stays green longer into the year.
• Bermuda and zoysia are growing in popularity for their drought resistance and heat tolerance.

But summer heat in Richmond—often pushing into the 90s with high humidity—can put stress on any lawn. Tailoring your care approach to your grass type is key.

2. Watering Wisely in Central Virginia’s Climate

Summers in Richmond often bring intermittent rainfall, followed by weeks of dry, scorching heat. That can throw your watering schedule off balance.

When to Water:

• Early morning (5–9am) is the sweet spot in RVA to avoid evaporation and reduce disease risk.
• Avoid watering at night—Richmond’s humidity makes lawns susceptible to fungus and mold.

How Much to Water:

• Most lawns need 1–1.5 inches of water per week, including rainfall.
• During drought periods (which often hit in late July or August), consider using soaker hoses or in-ground irrigation systems to maintain deep watering.

Tip: Use a rain gauge or empty tuna can to measure your sprinkler’s output.

3. Mowing Tips for Richmond Lawns

Mow High, Especially for Tall Fescue:

• For fescue, set your mower between 3.5 to 4 inches to help retain soil moisture and reduce heat stress.
• If you have Bermuda or zoysia, these can be mowed shorter (1.5 to 2 inches), but increase mowing frequency in peak growing periods.

General Rules:

• Never remove more than 1/3 of the blade in one mowing.
• Sharpen your mower blades at least twice per season—Central Virginia's clay-heavy soil can dull them quickly.

4. Fertilizing in a Richmond Summer

Timing is crucial when it comes to fertilizing in RVA’s hot, humid summers.

Cool-Season Grasses (Tall Fescue):

• Avoid summer fertilization. Tall fescue doesn’t thrive in extreme heat and should not be pushed during dormancy.
• Focus on fall feeding—that’s when fescue repairs summer damage and builds strength.

Warm-Season Grasses:

• Bermuda and zoysia benefit from mid-summer fertilization in early June or July using a slow-release nitrogen blend.

Organic options like compost topdressing or fish emulsion are also great for long-term soil health without overloading on nutrients.

5. Richmond’s Top Summer Lawn Pests & Problems

Richmond’s muggy summers are prime time for fungus, weeds, and pests.

Watch For:

• Brown patch disease in fescue—especially after summer storms.
• Grubs in mid to late summer, which damage roots and attract skunks or moles.
• Crabgrass and nutsedge, both common warm-weather weeds in Central Virginia.

Local Solutions:

• Use fungicide preventatives in late May or early June if you have a history of brown patch.
• Apply a post-emergent herbicide for active weed outbreaks but avoid treatment in 90+ degree heat.
• Water deeply but infrequently to discourage shallow roots and fungal conditions.

6. Landscaping Care in RVA’s Heat

Richmond’s native plants and perennials can really shine in summer if cared for properly.

Mulch Smart:

• Refresh mulch in early summer (2–3 inches max) to protect roots from sun and conserve moisture.
• Use hardwood mulch, which is locally available and better suited for Virginia’s soil.

Watering Trees, Shrubs, and Perennials:

• Richmond’s red clay soil holds water longer, so overwatering can be a real issue.
• Deep-soak trees and shrubs every 7–10 days.
• Annuals and container plants, especially those in direct sun (like on exposed patios), often need daily watering.

Pruning:

• Deadhead flowers like coneflowers and black-eyed Susans to keep them blooming through the season.
• Lightly shape shrubs like boxwood and hydrangea, but hold off on hard pruning until fall or winter.

7. Protecting New Plants in a Richmond Summer

In new homes around Powhatan, Goochland, Warsaw, and Lake Anna, many homeowners are dealing with newly installed landscapes.

• New lawns: Water daily for 2–3 weeks, especially if planted in late spring.
• Young trees: Create a mulch basin and water with a slow-drip hose every 5–7 days.
• New shrubs/perennials: Use shade cloths or temporary screens if they’re struggling with full-sun shock.

Pro tip: Richmond’s Zone 7a climate allows for many heat-tolerant natives—plant in early spring or fall to avoid summer stress.

8. Drought and Heat Tips for Central Virginia

Summers in RVA can swing from stormy to bone dry. When rain stops for weeks (as it sometimes does), follow these strategies:

• Let cool-season grass go dormant (it will recover in fall).
• Don’t fertilize or aerate during heat waves.
• Avoid mowing during a drought—wait until after a rainfall or watering.
• Use rain barrels to collect storm runoff for watering beds and planters.

9. Climate-Smart Landscape Design for RVA

To reduce maintenance headaches, Richmond-area homeowners can lean into smart, resilient design choices.

Use Drought-Tolerant, Native Plants:

• Virginia sweetspire
• Coneflowers (echinacea)
• Black-eyed Susan
• Switchgrass and little bluestem
• Butterfly weed (asclepias tuberosa)

Group Plants by Watering Needs:

• Hydrozoning helps you manage irrigation efficiently and avoid overwatering.

Add Shade Features:

• Use crepe myrtles, river birches, or native red maples for strategic shading.
• Incorporate pergolas, arbors, or shade sails for garden beds or patios.

10. Richmond Summer Lawn & Landscape Maintenance Calendar

Here’s a month-by-month breakdown tailored to Central Virginia:

June:

• Begin regular watering
• Raise mower height
• Watch for early signs of fungus
• Fertilize Bermuda/zoysia

July:

• Monitor for drought stress
• Control weeds like crabgrass
• Keep mulch fluffed and replenished
• Deadhead and lightly prune perennials

August:

• Treat for grubs if needed
• Plan for fall aeration and overseeding (especially for fescue)
• Adjust watering based on rainfall patterns
• Consider soil testing in preparation for fall care

Final Thoughts: Keep Richmond Beautiful—One Yard at a Time

Summer in Richmond can be brutal on your lawn and landscaping, but with the right techniques and timing, you can beat the heat and enjoy a lush, green outdoor space all season long. Prioritize deep watering, smart mowing, and plant choices that match our climate, and you’ll not only survive the summer—you’ll thrive in it.

Your yard doesn’t have to be perfect, but with a little Richmond-savvy care it can be beautiful, functional, and ready for every evening cookout, every kids’ soccer game and everything in between.