Summer lawn care comes down to three habits: mow high and never remove more than a third of the blade at once, water deeply in the early morning, and ease off fertilizer when heat and drought push the grass into dormancy. Saela Pest Control is a residential and commercial pest control company that also treats yard pests such as mosquitoes and moles. This guide also notes where summer lawn habits affect pests such as mosquitoes and grubs. The lawn advice below follows Utah State University Extension’s basic turfgrass care guide, which is written for the cool-season lawns common in the Intermountain West.
Feed on a Schedule, Not in a Heat Wave
Fertilize on a planned schedule rather than in response to summer stress. For typical home lawns, Utah State’s guide spreads nitrogen through the season, with applications in April, June and October. In heat and drought, grass may take on a golden color as it goes dormant, which Utah State describes as normal; the lawn recovers as temperatures cool, so wait for it to green up before feeding again.
Set Your Mower High
Cutting grass too short is a common summer mistake that stresses the lawn. Utah State notes that common lawn grasses in Utah can be mowed at 2 to 4 inches, and that you should never cut off more than one-third of the blade length at a time. In summer, keep the mower near the top of that range and keep the blade sharp so it cuts cleanly.
Water Wisely
Water in the early morning, when it is cool and calm, and avoid irrigating between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., when more water is lost to evaporation, as Utah State advises. Apply about half an inch to an inch of water each time, and if water runs off before it soaks in, water in short cycles with about an hour between them. Avoid overwatering that leaves puddles: the EPA’s guide to mosquito control notes that mosquitoes need water for two stages of their life cycle, so standing water in a lawn or low spot can become a breeding site.
Saela’s yard services include mosquito control and mole control. In a February 2024 Google review, Richard Haile praised Saela’s “Great service and professional recommendations.”
If insects or burrowing pests are damaging your lawn, book a call with Saela to have them identified. Saela’s American Fork, Utah location is rated 4.9 out of 5 from 118 Google reviews as of October 2026.
To learn more about how Saela works, see why homeowners choose Saela. Its Orem, Utah headquarters holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
What pests can damage a lawn in summer?
Grubs, moles and voles can all damage a lawn, and mosquitoes can breed in standing water left by overwatering or poor drainage. Our guide to signs of grubs in your lawn explains what to look for. Saela’s mole-control method identifies active tunnels and places mapped traps inside them, with follow-up checks.
Does watering the lawn attract mosquitoes?
Watering itself doesn’t attract mosquitoes, but overwatering that leaves puddles, soggy low spots or water in containers gives them a place to breed. Water in the early morning, fix low spots that hold water and empty anything that collects it. If bites continue, Saela’s pricing page explains how plans are quoted, and you can book a call to schedule an inspection.
Who wrote this article?
Devin Hutchings (Marketing Director at Saela Pest Control) wrote this article.
Devin leads Saela’s marketing and growth strategy. He brings more than 15 years of marketing experience across Uber, C.R. England, Lugg, and Neighbor. His background spans customer acquisition, retention, and developing marketing channels for service businesses and consumer marketplaces.
