Why Lawns Go Full Drama Queen During Droughts

Imagine being stuck in a sauna without a drink of water.

That's your lawn during extreme dry heat. Here are the main culprits:

1. Lack of Water: Duh. When it's hot outside, your lawn needs more water. But with water restrictions and the general annoyance of hauling a hose around, many lawns just don't get enough.
2. Soil Compaction: If your soil is as hard as a rock, water won't penetrate it. Roots can't grow, and your grass will starve for water.
3. Poor Root System: Grass with shallow roots is like a teenager with a bad Wi-Fi connection—constantly in distress. Deep roots are essential for tapping into moisture reserves, but hot, dry conditions can prevent roots from growing deep.

Common Lawncare Blunders in the Heat of the Moment

We all make mistakes, but when it comes to lawn care in extreme heat, these common goofs can turn your yard into a crispy nightmare.

1. Overwatering: Believe it or not, you can overdo it. Too much water can lead to shallow roots and fungal diseases. Plus, if water just sits on the surface, it can evaporate before it even reaches the roots.
2. Underwatering: On the flip side, skimping on water is a sure way to send your lawn into a death spiral. Consistency is key, folks!
3. Mowing Too Low: A short tight lawn might look neat, but it's a death sentence during drought. Longer grass shades the soil, keeping it cooler and reducing evaporation.
4. Fertilizing During Drought: Fertilizing during extreme heat can burn your grass and make it extra crispy.
5. Ignoring Soil Health: If your soil is more barren than a Monday morning coffee pot, your grass won't thrive. Healthy soil retains moisture better and provides essential nutrients.

Strategies to Survive the Lawn-pocalypse

Alright, enough with the doom and gloom.

Here's how to be the Lawn Whisperer and keep your yard looking fabulous, even when Mother Nature is throwing a tantrum.

1. Water Wisely: Water deeply and infrequently. Aim for early morning watering sessions to reduce evaporation. If you have an automatic sprinkler system, set the times so that your sprinkler cycles are ending right as the sun comes up.
2. Aerate Your Lawn: Give your grass some breathing room by aerating your lawn. This reduces soil compaction and allows water to penetrate deeper. It's like giving your lawn a spa day. Try not to do it when your lawn is stressed, spring and fall are best.
3. Mow High: Set your mower blade to the highest setting. Taller grass shades the soil, retains moisture, and promotes deeper root growth. Your lawn will look thick and lush in no time. Like aeration you should avoid mowing spots of stressed grass, it's only going to damage the lawn more.
4. Soil Care: Improve your soil's health by adding organic matter like compost. Healthy soil holds onto water better and provides essential nutrients to your grass.
5. Avoid Fertilizing During Drought: Hold off on the fertilizer until conditions improve. Focus on watering and soil care instead. When the weather cools down, your lawn will be ready for a nutrient boost.
6. Monitor and Adjust: Keep an eye on your lawn's condition and adjust your care routine as needed.
7. When all else fails let it go dormant. It may not look great but the reason your lawn looks brown and crispy is because it's going dormant and protecting the crown to come back when conditions improve. If you can't provide enough water to consistently keep the grass healthy it's better in the long run to let it go dormant rather than to provide inconsistent health that drains resources that the grass will need to recover later. Grass can survive for weeks in that state but if you're going to let it go dormant, provide sufficient water every two weeks or so to keep the roots from drying out completely.

You may notice a shift in turf species growing in your lawn after a spell of drought and dormancy due to differences in stress tolerance, especially for a prolonged drought.

Embrace the Chaos?

Let's be real—sometimes, despite your best efforts, your lawn might still look like it's auditioning for a zombie movie. And that's okay, droughts are tough!

Remember, the key to surviving a Lawn-pocalypse is to stay calm. The lawn could just be responding to environmental stress, but with a little TLC and some strategic care, you can help your lawn bounce back.

Keep hydrated (both you and your lawn), and maybe learn to love a little bit of brown.