How to Keep Your Lawn Green All Summer Long

If you’ve ever looked out the window and felt like your lawn was throwing in the towel before summer even really kicked off, you’re not alone. Here in Boise, we get that mix of dry heat, alkaline soil, and water restrictions that can make lawn care feel more like lawn warfare.

But keeping your grass green doesn’t have to be a constant battle. In fact, with the right approach, it can be pretty relaxing. Therapeutic, even. At the Boise Landscaping Network, we’ve seen a lot of turf, and we’ve got some tips that’ll help you enjoy a greener, thicker lawn without needing a golf course budget (or a golf course crew).

1. Start with the Soil (It's More Important Than You Think)

Here’s the deal: your lawn can only be as healthy as the soil it’s growing in. And in the Treasure Valley, our soil tends to be heavy in clay and low in organic matter. That means water has a hard time soaking in, and nutrients don't stick around long.

We recommend testing your soil every couple of years—not just for pH, but also for nutrient levels. You can get affordable test kits at most garden centers or send a sample off to a lab if you’re feeling fancy. Most Boise-area lawns need some help with nitrogen, and many are too alkaline (high pH), which makes it tough for grass to absorb iron—a key player in that deep green color.

If you notice yellowing grass that’s not responding to water or standard fertilizer, it might be an iron deficiency caused by high pH. In that case, a chelated iron supplement made for high-pH soils can make a night-and-day difference. Lawns can go from sad and straw-colored to rich and emerald green in a week with the right treatment.

Zamzows is an expert local resource to find the perfect mix.

2. Water Like You Mean It (But Not Too Often)

Watering is probably the #1 thing people ask about. Most people either overdo it or underwater their lawn, and both can cause problems.

Here’s the golden rule for Boise: deep and infrequent watering is best. Aim for about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, including rainfall. Rather than watering every day, try two to three times a week in the early morning (between 4–8 a.m.). That allows your lawn to soak up moisture before the sun starts cooking everything.

Watering deeply encourages roots to grow down instead of staying near the surface. Deeper roots = more drought tolerance and less need for babying when July rolls around.

Want to get technical? Use an empty tuna can to measure how much water your sprinklers put out in 20 minutes. That’ll help you time your system to hit the 1.5-inch sweet spot.

3. Feed It Right (More Than Just a Spring Fertilizer)

If you only fertilize once a year in the spring, your lawn is probably running out of gas by mid-summer. Boise grass (especially Kentucky bluegrass, the most common type here) likes to be fed every 6–8 weeks during the growing season, roughly March through October.

Use a slow-release fertilizer to keep things steady, and look for one that includes micronutrients like iron and sulfur. That’ll help combat our alkaline soils and give your lawn that rich green tone that doesn’t fade in the heat.

There’s also a bit of a trick to fall feeding: hit your lawn with a good dose in late September or early October. That preps the grass to store energy and come back stronger in spring.

4. Mow Tall and Mow Often

We know it’s tempting to scalp your lawn low so you don’t have to mow as often, but that’s a one-way ticket to a crispy brown lawn in July. When you mow too short, it exposes the soil, dries out the root zone, and stresses your grass.

Instead, keep your mower blade set high, around 3 inches is the sweet spot for most grass types in Boise. Taller grass shades the soil, helps retain moisture, and grows deeper roots. Plus, it looks better. You get that soft, dense, “barefoot-worthy” lawn instead of a spiky scrub patch.

And don’t forget to keep those mower blades sharp! Dull blades tear the grass instead of cutting it clean, leaving brown tips that make your lawn look stressed even if it’s healthy.

5. Don't Ignore Thatch 

If your lawn feels bouncy, spongy, or water just sits on top without soaking in, you're probably dealing with thatch buildup. It’s common here, especially in areas with lots of foot traffic.

If you’ve got more than half an inch of thatch (you can test it by digging out a small plug of turf), consider a dethatching pass. Or just let a landscaping pro handle both jobs in one visit.

6. Spot-Treat the Troublemakers

Crabgrass, dandelions, and clover can all crash the party if you’re not paying attention. A healthy lawn naturally crowds out most weeds, but it’s not foolproof, especially at the edges, where soil compaction and heat are worst.

Use a pre-emergent herbicide in early spring to keep crabgrass from germinating, and spot-spray broadleaf weeds as they pop up. Just be sure to avoid overdoing it. Too much weed killer can stress your lawn more than the weeds themselves.

7. Know When to Call in the Pros

Let’s face it. Not everyone has time to micromanage their lawn, and that’s okay. Whether it’s a proper fertilization plan or diagnosing a mysterious yellow patch, sometimes it pays to bring in a pro. If you’re feeling stuck, or if your lawn just isn’t responding, we’re happy to connect you with local landscapers who really know their stuff.

Boise is a tough but beautiful place to grow a lawn, and the right strategies can go a long way. With a little planning (and a bit of sweat) you can keep your lawn green and lush all the way through Labor Day and beyond.

Let’s Keep Boise Green One Lawn at a Time

At Boise Landscaping Network, we’re all about helping folks enjoy their outdoor spaces. Whether you’re a DIY weekend warrior or looking for help from a local expert, we’ve got your back.