Effects of Summer Drought Linger over Northeast Indiana

Over the summer, we’ve had several blog posts regarding the effects of the drought on your lawn.  Now that we’re seeing weekly rains, are we out of the woods?  Maybe.  It may not be the damage you can see, but what you can’t see that’s the problem.  What you can’t see is what’s below the ground, the root system.  Drought damages root system, making it hard for grass, plants, and trees to grab a drink even when we do get rain.  So, this fall, when it gets dries, or doesn’t rain for more than several days, start watering.  Don’t wait until you see signs of stress in your plants, because then it’s too late.
Of course, here at Crescent Avenue Gardens, we sell Toro Lawn Mowers, so it’s in our own interest that we want you to have a healthy, fast growing yard.  Still, we believe that’s what you want as well, so don’t stop watering yet.  And watch out next summer for the fist sign of drought.  With damaged root systems, a week or two without rain next summer might do a lot of damage to your lawn.

The drought of 2012 is still officially in effect, although our area around Fort Wayne, In, has moved from severe to moderate.  The drought is increasing the amount of pollen in the air (bad for allergy sufferers), forced farmers to feed their cattle Gummy Worms (maybe fun for the cows), and may be responsible for great foliage color this fall.  It is also be responsible for damaging the root system of your lawn, bushes and trees, so keep watering until the snow flies, and hope we get enough snow this winter to put moisture back into the ground next spring.