Drought Survival for Lawns

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Drought Survival for Lawns

Drought is becoming more common in many parts of North America, and lawns need to be naturally vigorous and well maintained to withstand the stress caused by reduced watering.

By Greg Seaman Posted Jan 28, 2009

Although droughts are not easy to predict, the best way to have your lawn prepared for drought is for it to be well established and in a naturally healthy condition. New lawns should be seeded 60 days or longer before a drought, and existing lawns should be maintained using natural lawn care methods.

Reduce thatch

Thatch is the accumulation of above-soil runners, propagated by the grass. This layer should be about 1/2″ ( 1.25cm) on a healthy lawn, and kept in balance by natural decomposition, earthworms and microorganisms. Too much thatch prevents water and nutrients from reaching the grass roots. You can reduce thatch with a steel rake, or by renting a de-thatcher which does a more thorough job.

Reduce or eliminate nitrogen fertilizer and increase potassium fertilizer.

Avoid using herbicides

Avoid the temptation to apply herbicides even though weedy species become more obvious in a dormant lawn. Herbicides are ineffective on drought-stressed weeds and can be damaging on drought-stressed lawns.

Water deeply but not too often

Thorough watering encourages your lawn to develop deep root systems which make the lawn hardier and more drought-resistant. Let the lawn dry out before re-watering; as a rule of thumb, the color should dull and footprints should stay compressed for more than a few seconds. When watering, put a cup in the sprinkler zone; it should get at least one inch (2.5cm) water.
The best time for watering is early morning - less water will be lost to evaporation. Ideally, it’s better to water the first half-inch or so, then wait for an hour or two before watering the second half-inch.

Keep mower blades sharp

A dull blade makes a tear rather than a clean cut, which requires more of the plant’s reserves to heal the wound. This reduces the grass plant’s vitality which is needed to sustain the grass through the stresses of a drought.

Mow often, but not too short

Mow the lawn often enough so that you don’t cut off more than one-third of the grass at any one time. Set the cutting height so the grass is not cut too short. If mowed too closely, surface roots become exposed and root growth is slowed. This reduces the lawn’s tolerance to heat and drought. Most turf grass species are healthiest when kept between 2.5 and 3.5″ tall.

Leave clippings on the lawn

The clippings act as mulch, helping to reduce water loss due to evaporation. As long as the clippings are thinly spread, and not clumped, they will not contribute significantly to thatch buildup.

Add moisture-retaining Lassenite to your lawn

If you live in a drought-prone area, consider adding this moisture retention soil amendment to your lawn. Lassenite is used on golf courses and lawns in arid regions as a way of getting maximum use of water. Its primary advantage is its ability to retain water, and to release it on demand. It also has unmatched wicking ability to distribute moisture evenly throughout the soil. Lassenite is a completely organic, naturally occurring mineral, formed by the mixture of volcanic ash and diatoms. To learn more about Lassenite, click here.

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Pesticides & Kids - why you should be concerned
Tips for Installing a Rainwater Collection System
No-till Gardening

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