A green and lush lawn is one of the best parts of the house. Homeowners look forward to the season when the grass grows fast enough to decorate their lawns.
If you are new to maintaining lawns, you may wonder why does grass grow so fast in summer. The growth of grass is one of the critical aspects of maintaining a beautiful lawn.
Unfamiliar to most homeowners, grass growth has a lot to do with the season and weather. That means the temperature greatly impacts the growth, or lack thereof, of your grass. For this reason, grass grows more in the summer than in winter.
Knowing well about the growth and care of your lawn grass can save you a lot of headaches. Whereas, if you fail to tend to your grass according to its requirements, your lush, green lawn may turn dull and brown.
That is why experts advise homeowners to learn about their grass’s growing habits and needs. In this article, we will help you learn more about it.
Why Does Grass Grow So Fast In Summer?
There are many factors related to the growth of grass. Whether it be in your lawn, garden, or backyard, you may find that grass is growing faster in the summer.
Grass grows more during the summer, especially in comparison to the colder seasons. To answer your question: why does grass grow so fast in summer?
Here are some of the reasons discussed as follows.
1) Higher Metabolic Rate Of Plant Cells
According to modern research on the behavior of plant cells in response to heat changes, we can find a close relationship between temperature and its impact on plant growth.
Especially in the case of your lawn grass, an optimal temperature for growth comes in the range of 65°F to 70°F. The research papers show that plants have the best metabolic rate in this range.
During the warm weather of summer, grass can function better. That means their germination, growth, sustenance rate, and so on the increase rapidly during the warm weather of summer.
As the temperature reaches its optimal range for growth, grass can respond rapidly to that change in heat.
Ultimately, this allows grass to grow so fast during the summer.
2) Adequate Water Availability
The healthy growth of grass depends majorly on a lot of elements. One of the most important of those elements is having the right amounts of water supply.
So, when there is adequate water availability for grasses, they will increase due to their impact. During summertime, adequate water in the roots or the ground helps grass grow so fast.
However, a key factor to remember about grass growth during summer is that it can vary depending on geographical locations.
For example, the summer heat in western countries compared to that of eastern, Middle East, or African countries is undoubtedly different.
Grass growth will be inhibited in the scorching heat. But in early summer, they will grow fast.
3) Sufficient Sunlight
Photosynthesis is one of the most fundamental biological processes necessary for grasses and all green plants.
It is the process by which grasses can synthesize their nutrients with the help of direct sunlight. And that is where the impact of summer comes in.
The availability of sunlight during the summer season helps the grass grow rapidly.
Additionally, the daytime during summer is usually longer than the winter or colder seasons. As a result, grasses can utilize sunlight for a more extended period.
This allows them to synthesize enough nutrients to perform their physiological activities better.
So, due to the availability of sufficient sunlight in the summer season, grass grows faster.
4) Warm Season Grass Variant
An important characteristic of grasses is that they can have temperature-dependent variants.
That means some grasses are more suitable for warm weather, while others function better in colder weather.
Therefore, if your grass belongs to the warm-season grass variant, it will grow more during the summer.
Warm-season grasses include Zoysia grass, Centipede grass, Bahia grass, Bermudagrass, etc. They peak in growth when the weather is warmer, and temperatures are higher.
So, warm-season grasses are perfect for plantations in the southern and western regions. Hence, if your lawn grass falls into the warm-season grass category, it will grow faster during summer.
How Does Temperature Affect Your Lawn?
Although the importance of temperature is unparalleled in our lawns, many of us don’t know much about it.
So, if you ask why grass grows so fast in summer, the simple answer is that it is the effect of temperature. Temperature is one of the most impactful factors when maintaining a beautiful, green lawn.
From scientific studies, we can see that temperature is the most vital factor in determining the geographic distribution of plants.
This works in the context of thermal niche occupation’s latitudinal and altitudinal gradients. Or in simpler words, the temperature of a geographical location will largely determine how plants and organisms will function there.
The temperature is also a significant physical factor for the growth and health of your lawn grass.
It directly influences the molecular (DNA, proteins) or supramolecular (membranes, chromosomes) structures of plants and organisms in your lawn.
The simple thermodynamic effect can impact remarkably on your lawn grass.
Cell organelles present, in terms of both plant and animal bodies present on your lawn, can quickly detect temperature changes.
So, when they detect the most ambient temperature for their growth and sustenance, it triggers specific pathways of biochemical and molecular responses in their bodies. This allows the ecosystem of your lawn to prosper significantly.
Finally, in response to the positive changes, grass can grow quickly and remain healthy. That is why it is safe to say that temperatures have a large impact on your lawn and its overall ecosystem.
So, in ambient temperatures, the lawn will thrive. In poor temperatures and weather, the lawn will fail to stay healthy and green.
Caring For Your Grass In The High-Heated Summer
Grasses grow up fast during the summer. It allows enough light, air, and water to reach the grass body and the soil. However, grass can stop growing during the scorching summer.
We may see the opposite results when higher temperatures surpass the adequate temperature range for grass growth. So, it is important to take care of your lawn during mid-summer.
Make sure you water the soil sufficiently during the peak of summer when the temperature reaches its highest. The water supply at the grassroots can significantly decrease during those times.
Due to the absence of the necessary water supply, the soil can become very dry. This shortage of water in the soil can lead to drought.
So, to care for your grass in the high-heated summer, ensure you are watering your backyard, lawn, and gardens. Similarly, experts advise against cutting your grass too short during extreme heat.
Because cutting the grass too short decreases its ability to produce sufficient nutrients and energy. This can cause the grass to stop growing or turn brown.
Make sure you do not cut more than 1/3 of the grass height at one time during peak summer. Water the grass beds adequately to help them function better in the hot summer.
At the same time, avoid using chemicals and fertilizers on the grass during the high heat. These steps will help your grass stay healthy during the intense heat of summer.
What Factors Contribute to Faster Grass Growth in Some Areas?
Several vital reasons for fast grass growth include the climate, soil quality, and adequate sunlight. In some areas, the right combination of these factors can lead to rapid growth. Other contributors may include regular watering and proper maintenance. Understanding these factors can help promote healthy and lush grass growth.
Final Thoughts on Why Grass Grows So Fast in the Summer
To answer- why does grass grow so fast in summer? The combination of adequate sunlight, water availability, physiological functioning during summer, and so on contribute towards it.
So, now that you know more about grass growth during summer, make sure to take better care of your lawn.