Summer Turf Care: Golf Course Maintenance Tips That Actually Work
Proven summer turf care strategies for golf course superintendents who refuse to settle for scorched fairways.
Optimize Your Golf Course Irrigation Strategy
- Water during early morning or evening to reduce evaporation
- Monitor soil moisture and adjust irrigation schedules accordingly
- Use targeted application to ensure even coverage across greens and fairways
Summer soil compaction is real, and it can suffocate your turf from the ground up. Aeration helps your turf breathe—literally—by creating channels for air, nutrients, and water. Smithco’s precision aerators cut your time on the job while giving your turf the recovery space it needs.
Prevent Heat Stress Before It Starts
Hot weather doesn’t just dry out your turf—it stresses it out. Stressed turf is more vulnerable to weeds, disease, and those unsightly brown patches.
- Add shade where possible—especially near greens
- Promote airflow with routine aeration and proper mowing
- Maintain soil moisture without overwatering
Choose Heat-Tolerant Turfgrass Varieties
- Bermuda
- Zoysia
- Fescue (for transitional climates)
Adjust Mowing Practices for Summer Turf Health
- Raise mower height to leave more blade for shade and insulation
- Stick to the “one-third rule”—never cut more than a third of the blade at once
- Mow less frequently during extreme heat spells
Get Smarter About Summer Fertilization
- Use slow-release fertilizers designed for summer use
- Apply nutrients based on actual soil testing
- Consolidate the treatment with Smithco’s fairway rollers or greensrollers
