These conditions take a bit of planning and preparation. Ideally, the first step in summer lawn care is to fertilize the previous fall after the grass stops growing. This nitrogen will be picked up by the roots and be stored for future use. Fall nitrogen applications have been proven to make grass more drought-tolerant. The fertilizer should also have a high potassium content.
Potassium makes the grass hardier and more tolerant of cold weather injury.
Fall fertilization is the most important application. In late spring, the grass is still actively growing, but has slowed slightly from the madness of early spring. Fertilizing now will provide the nutrients the grass needs to sustain itself through the summer months. Lawns should not be fertilized in the summer because there is a higher risk of fertilizer burn. With limited moisture in the soil, fertilizer salts are likely to injure grass roots.