As summer hits year after year, we watch lawns turn from green to brown. As we watch, we wonder, “should I water it? Is it a waste to water it now because it won’t make it until the end of the summer?” Surprisingly established lawns generally can’t be killed by drought. Grass goes brown and dormant and will come back green in a couple weeks after a rain. Grass going dormant removes a lot of the worries that come in the heat of the summer.
Lawn care prior to and during a drought is more important than the amount of water used on a lawn when trying to improve the survivability of a lawn during drought conditions. Surviving a drought spell and thriving a drought spell are two completely different conditions for a lawn.
Mowing in Dry Weather
The most common error is keeping the cut short. A close shave causes grass to lose moisture at a higher rate, and the grass plant crowns become sun exposed. Once the weather becomes dry, the cut height should be raised, and this should remain the case for the season. When growth has slowed down, the cut should be less frequent. The cut should be skipped for the period, as summer seasons have dry spells that are better spent leaving the mower in the shed. Leaving mowing clippings in dry spells on the lawn, rather than collecting them, returns some moisture and covers the soil. While this may not look well organized, the mower is best left unplugged in dry spells.
The mower blades also earn their keep during this time, as a blunt blade tears grass rather than cutting. When grass tears rather than cuts, the tips brown and stand out, especially on a struggling lawn.
To Water or Not
The most truthful answer especially for the case of lawns is to not water. Grass should recover on its own and the effect of keeping an entire lawn green during a water dry spell is massive and a waste when compared to a water meter or hosepipe ban. An all brown lawn during an August dry spell is normal behavior for British grass. This is a behavior that has outlasted the existence of lawn sprinklers.
Watering new lawns does make sense. Seed and turf laid in the last year have not established deep roots, making them more susceptible to death from drought. In the first dry summer, new lawns should receive the deep, thorough watering that soaks the soil and goes well beyond the surface, as opposed to the nightly sprinkles. Shallow, frequent watering teaches new lawn roots to stay near the soil surface, making them more vulnerable. For those who feel the need to water a more established lawn, the once-a-week, evening, or early morning watering is the best option, as the amount of water lost to evaporation will be minimized.
Feeding, or Rather Not
Summer and fertilizer don’t mix. Fertilizing a lawn during the summer drought leads to grass burning from die off and growth. The grass is even more vulnerable during a drought filled summer. The only summer fertilizing should be done when the soil is moist and there is forecasted rain. The summer is dry? Skip the summer fertilizing and feed in the autumn with a formulation that will help the lawn recover from the summer.
Wear and Tear
During a drought, it’s easy for a stressed lawn to get damaged. Tracks worn into the grass from repeated trips to the washing line or paddling pool are more visible during dry spells. Grass gets too dry to bounce back quickly. We move the paddling pool and goalposts to different locations over time to spread out the damage. Any worn areas will be seeded to spread growth, but it’s pointless to put seed down where it’s hot and dry, so we will wait until September.
When the Rain Comes
When rain comes, grass is usually able to recover on its own. Typically, in a few weeks, grass will green up. In early autumn, we have a more limited timeframe to repair any damage that was done during the dry spell. While the grass goes into a dormant state to help retain water for the lawn, it is a good time to remove dead grass, break up compacted soil with a fork, reseed, and put down the fall fertilizer. Grass in autumn has a thirteen percent higher growth rate. The best time to a drought proof lawn is in mid September, not July when the lawn is being watered daily.