Using a lawn care service during drought seasons - Ask Extension
Hello. I'm wondering if it is a good idea to continue using a lawn care service this year when it is so hot and dry. The service has a fertilization...
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Using a lawn care service during drought seasons #937200
Asked June 29, 2026, 1:34 PM EDT
Hello. I'm wondering if it is a good idea to continue using a lawn care service this year when it is so hot and dry. The service has a fertilization schedule for every 4-6 weeks. My lawn, as with others, is not doing well and is very thin in the front west facing yard. I'm worried that my lawn will get too much fertilizer and that it will be detrimental to the lawn. I've read that it is not a good idea to fertilize during the hot summer months.
They are assuring me that they are using special formulations. I've read your articles about fertilization and that's why I'm questioning what the service is doing.
I'm thinking of having them reseed after aerating this fall. Will that help the lawn over the fall and winter?
Thank you so much for your answers to my questions.
Denver County Colorado
Expert Response
Rae,
The lawn service may not be very flexible because they have to pay and manage staffing, but you're right that CSU Extension doesn't recommend fertilizing cool-season grasses like Kentucky Bluegrass during the heat of summer or when water isn't available for the lawn to uptake and utilize the nutrients. If possible, it would be better to wait until fall to fertilize.
Per this article 3 things to know before planting grass seed in Colorado | CSU Extension | Colorado State University from Dr. Allison O'Connor with CSU Extension, "... [Y]ou can seed cool-season grasses (fescues, ryegrass, bluegrass) anytime between March and September. However, the ideal time to seed cool season grasses is late summer, when soils are warm." Seeding too late into the fall risks not getting the seed established before cold weather hits.
That said, late summer conditions this summer are especially unpredictable. We have the drought but there is also a super El Nino weather pattern which may wind up bringing us better moisture by late summer. Nobody knows for sure, so, as always, keep an eye on the weather!
The lawn service may not be very flexible because they have to pay and manage staffing, but you're right that CSU Extension doesn't recommend fertilizing cool-season grasses like Kentucky Bluegrass during the heat of summer or when water isn't available for the lawn to uptake and utilize the nutrients. If possible, it would be better to wait until fall to fertilize.
Per this article 3 things to know before planting grass seed in Colorado | CSU Extension | Colorado State University from Dr. Allison O'Connor with CSU Extension, "... [Y]ou can seed cool-season grasses (fescues, ryegrass, bluegrass) anytime between March and September. However, the ideal time to seed cool season grasses is late summer, when soils are warm." Seeding too late into the fall risks not getting the seed established before cold weather hits.
That said, late summer conditions this summer are especially unpredictable. We have the drought but there is also a super El Nino weather pattern which may wind up bringing us better moisture by late summer. Nobody knows for sure, so, as always, keep an eye on the weather!
