How to Water Your Lawn during a Drought

Here at Crescent Avenue Gardens this summer, the number one topic of discussion is the drought. Here are a few good tips for your yard from the Extension people at  The University of Nebraska..

First, minimize or stop fertilization. Heavily fertilized lawns use more water and are more susceptible to drought stress. Apply less fertilizer or save the fertilizer for fall. Fall is the most critical time to fertilize a lawn.

Second, Raise the mowing height of your lawn mower at least one setting higher than the one you are using now. Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue can be mowed at 3.5 inches during the summer. Mowing higher forces grass to develop and use deeper roots.

Try mulching, even if you do not have a mulching mower. Let clippings remain on the grass. Lawns tend to lose more water and nutrients through evaporation when clippings are removed.

If you did not aerate your lawn in spring, consider doing so in the fall. Aeration creates small holes in the ground that allow water to soak deeper into the ground and help promote root growth.

Third, maintain lawn care equipment. Sharpen mower blades at least twice this summer. Dull blades tear grass, forcing grass to use more water to recover from stress.

When watering the lawn, it is best to mimic nature and irrigate deeply and infrequently to simulate natural rainfall. This will also encourage deep rooting by forcing the roots to search for water. Lightly watered turf creates shallow rooted plants which need water all the time and are ill prepared for a drought. Wateringbetween 4 a.m.  9 a.m. is ideal. Watering during the day wastes water, because much of it evaporates in the heat.

If water limits are imposed in your community, follow them. Watering on alternate days can save 40 to 50 percent of water. Turf does not need to be watered every day.

Kentucky Bluegrass and fescue will not retain their color without watering, but they can survive about a month without water. It is recommended to water lawns lightly after three dry weeks, as long as your community allows watering.