Seattle’s changing weather is taking a toll on lawns across the city. From record-breaking heat waves to unusually rainy seasons, the impact on Seattle lawn care is real. These extreme shifts in temperature and moisture are making it challenging to maintain a healthy, green lawn.
A Record Early Spring and Hot Summer
In recent years, Seattle has experienced unusual weather patterns. Spring arrived a month early in 2015, with warm air and blooming flowers showing up in February. June that year was the hottest month ever recorded, and April 2016 hit a record-breaking 89 degrees. This unexpected heat caused many new grass seedlings to die and even led to lawns getting chemically burned from fertilizers that weren’t designed for such high temperatures.
Typically, April temperatures in Seattle hover around 59 degrees. But with recent warming, applying standard fertilizers during these spikes in heat can harm your lawn instead of helping it. This is one clear way that Seattle’s unpredictable weather is impacting local lawn care.
The Rainiest October and Unseasonable Warmth
Seattle is no stranger to rain, but in recent years, it’s been extreme. October was the rainiest on record, and in early November, temperatures hit 70 degrees—right in the middle of a record nine-day stretch over 60 degrees. These shifts on both ends of the year are creating tough conditions for lawn care in Seattle, requiring special strategies to keep lawns healthy.
Adapting to Weather with Specialized Lawn Care Products
To help Seattle lawns survive these weather challenges, I’ve adapted my lawn care approach. This year, I used a specialized soil amendment to improve soil health and resilience. This amendment isn’t a fertilizer—it’s a mix of minerals and beneficial microbes that support a healthier lawn by reducing soil compaction and ensuring a steady release of water and nutrients.
I’ve also introduced a drought-tolerant grass seed blend that stays green longer through summer and requires less water. By switching to products suited for Seattle’s changing weather, I can give my clients’ lawns the best chance to thrive.
Seattle Lawn Care Issues and Solutions
This weather has hit some areas, like Brier, Bothell, and Mill Creek, particularly hard. Many previously healthy lawns have been damaged by diseases like snow mold and slime, and moss has been more aggressive than ever, taking over in areas where lawns once thrived. Lawns treated with organic fertilizers have fared better because these fertilizers support soil health, making lawns more resilient to stress.
For Seattle lawns, I highly recommend using organic lawn fertilizers at least twice a year. Organic fertilizers build healthy soil, which helps plants withstand stress. Unlike standard fertilizers, organic options can reduce watering needs, limit thatch buildup, and improve overall soil quality.
This is an excerpt from my recent newsletter:
Summer dormancy (brown grass) is a natural response to dry and hot weather. To ensure your lawn survives in the best condition, it is important to start with as healthy a lawn as possible before this begins. Reduce the number of mowings, and leave your lawn slightly longer from the start, to minimize water lost due to evaporation. Also, keep foot traffic to a minimum if possible. Most lawns in this area are in a dormant state for at least 8 weeks. If dormancy goes beyond this length of time, it is suggested that just enough water be applied to keep it alive. Watering will not make your lawn green. During a dormant phase grass should NOT be fertilized as often if at all, or it may cause damage.
Organic Lawn Tune-Up for Lasting Resilience
If you’re looking to adapt your lawn care routine to Seattle’s changing weather, consider my Organic Lawn Tune-Up. This service includes aeration, overseeding, and applying an organic starter fertilizer to help your lawn weather the challenges of Seattle’s unpredictable climate. Organic fertilizer, whether you apply it yourself or have it applied professionally, is a great investment in building resilient lawns for Seattle’s future.
With Seattle’s weather patterns becoming more extreme, adapting your lawn care routine is essential. By using products designed for these conditions and incorporating organic fertilizers, you can keep your lawn healthy and green through Seattle’s unpredictable weather impacts.
