Water regularly
The main thing that will keep your grass green is a regular regimen of watering. Generally speaking, it's best to water your lawn in the early morning when most of the water will reach the grass. Less wind and cooler temperatures result in less water lost from evaporation or blowing water into the street or driveway.

It is also important to water the right amount. Too little water will cause the grass to dry out, and too much will result in disease and crabgrass. A good rule of thumb is to soak the lawn 8-10 inches deep. This allows the lawn to develop a stronger root system. This is best achieved by watering once a week instead of watering the lawn a little bit every day. Aim to water the lawn thoroughly about once a week. You can tell if your lawn is not getting enough water if it starts to dry out or if it becomes less resilient (for example, if you walk across it and the footprints remain.)

Mow the lawn
Another important part of summer lawn care is mowing. To properly mow your lawn and minimize damage, you will want to set your lawnmower to a higher setting. Mowing higher helps the roots to grow stronger, which the grass will need to protect itself during the harsh summer months. Longer grass also makes it difficult for water to evaporate, so more water actually reaches the roots of the grass. This can be done about once a week.

If your lawn mower doesn't automatically gather up the grass clippings from mowing, make sure you rake them up and bag them for discard. Letting the clippings remain on the grass can kill it. Also, you will want to rake your lawn thoroughly about once a month in order to clean up the grass that naturally dies - more than a half inch of this grass can result in your grass dying.

Fertilize if necessary
In some cases, you may not need fertilizer; in fact, the nitrogen found in fertilizer, combined with the heat of the summer, can sometimes actually burn your lawn. The best type of fertilizer for summer months is a slow-release fertilizer that has a lower nitrogen content. The best thing to do is go to a lawn care specialist in your local hardware store and find out what they recommend, if anything, for your type of grass, as different kinds of grass require different treatments.

The hot months of the summer don't necessarily mean your lawn has to dry out and die. You can keep your lawn looking green and healthy all summer with a proper routine of watering, mowing and raking, and fertilizing.