Five Ways to Keep Your Lawn Alive During a Drought

Even if your yard looks dry and crispy, all is not lost.

As summer reaches its peak, many parts of the country are blazing hot and bone dry. Extended periods of drought can put a lot of stress on your lawn. But if your grass already looks dry and crispy, it’s probably not dead. Even in extreme conditions, grass may go dormant but still have live roots and crowns.

There are a number of steps you can take now to ensure your lawn not only survives a drought, but thrives after.

Change your mower settings

You can still cut your lawn during a drought, but you need to keep it longer by mowing higher by an inch or two compared to normal conditions. Taller grass helps reduce moisture loss from the soil and keeps weeds at bay. The recommended height depends on the specific type of grass you have. In general, make sure your blades are sharp so they cut evenly. If possible, avoid mowing during dormancy.

If you do mow, mulch the clippings instead of bagging them. This helps maintain soil moisture and nutrients.

Water deeply, but less often

Your grass can tolerate dry conditions for awhile, but it can’t survive the entire summer without water. If possible, water a few times per week for about 30 minutes during the early morning.

Be sure to follow local water restrictions, and consider building a rain barrel to use during dry periods.

Weed regularly, by hand

Weeds compete with your grass for resources and some tolerate drought conditions well. Stay on top of weeds even during the dry season. Pull them out by hand to avoid seeds from spreading. Avoid herbicide use if possible, as they don’t absorb well in hot temperatures and can over-stress your turf.

Pause all other lawn care

Fertilizing, aerating, and dethatching can put too much stres on dry and dormant grass. Put these tasks off until a later date. Fertilizer requires a lot of water and can actually weaken or burn your lawn. This is best used in the spring or fall depending on your grass type.

Aerating and dethatching are important processes for reducing issues like lawn compaction and poor drainage. Aeration is most effective in spring or fall, while the dethatching is best done in late winter.

Keep off the grass

You may not spend as much time in your yard when it’s hot and dry. This is a good thing for your lawn. Foot traffic from adults, kids, and pets can stress your turb and compact your soil. Best to hold off on hosting parties and playing games to reduce the impact until drought conditions pass.