Caring for your lawn in a drought
What’s a drought?
When we think of “drought” we often think of things like “dry,” “hot,” and “no water.” This is accurate. But you can have small periods of dry heat and no water and not be in a drought. So what’s going on?
Scientists usually define a drought as an extended period of time (usually a season or more) with no precipitation, resulting in a water shortage. How to determine whether you’re actually in a drought or not can be tricky. That’s why communities will abide by their established drought policies to inform decision making.
Droughts can have devastating effects on communities, people’s health and property—especially home landscapes. If you find yourself in a drought, or suspect you may end up in one, here are some handy tips for protecting your landscape.
Lawn management tips
Water irregularly
A great way to tackle drought is to water your landscape early in the morning before the sun rises. It’s natural for grass to turn brown and go dormant for a time. After a month, you can start up watering again as a precaution. Early morning (5:00a to 8:00a) is the best time to do it.
Put lawn projects on hold
Drought conditions are incredibly stressful for grass and landscapes. To allow your landscape to retain nutrients and moisture, avoid projects such as aerating and dethatching.
Mow your grass higher
Deeper root growth is what you want for your grass during a drought. But less grass growth on top means less root growth. So when you mow, try to cut at the highest recommended height for your grass. You should also avoid removing more than ⅓ of the total height in a single mowing.
Avoid fertilizing
Over fertilizing your lawn could burn your lawn, especially high-salt fertilizers during hot, dry periods. This is because your grass needs water to properly absorb the fertilizer. Only start fertilizing when conditions return to normal.
Keep weeds down by hand
Weeds compete with your lawn for the same nutrients needed to grow. Address them by hand, not by herbicides, which can evaporate quickly under drought conditions. Also without moisture, plants probably won’t absorb the herbicide anyway. Tackle weeds the old fashioned way during droughts.
Keep off your lawn
Avoid too much activity on your landscape during a drought. Your grass is working overtime to retain what moisture and nutrients it has access to. Further activity is only going to stress it out and cause damage.
Golden Home Management
Home maintenance can be a hassle. Especially when you have to remember every little detail about every aspect of your property. But when you subscribe to our Monthly Maintenance Plan, you’ll gain access to an entire network of licensed professionals, all coordinated to help you, your family, and your home. From landscaping to HVAC to electrical, Golden Home Management brings all these services together under one, wallet-friendly plan.
It just takes one call to set up. Get in touch with us today to schedule your FREE home assessment to start your very own Monthly Maintenance Plan journey.