We
all know that prolonged dry spells seem to be hitting more of the country every
year, and lasting longer than they used to. When a drought hits your area,
follow this plan of action to help your lawn survive.
Spread the wealth. If you’re fortunate enough
to have some warning that a hot, dry period is looming in the not-too-distant
future, give your lawn extra protection by applying another ½-inch layer of
compost. (This should be in addition to the layer you spread earlier in the
spring.)
Hold the chow. Feeding your lawn during
drought will only add to its stress level. And stressed-out grass is a sitting
duck for pests, diseases, and weeds.
Declare a truce. Speaking of pests,
diseases, and weeds, if they do show up, just ignore them until cooler, wetter
weather arrives. Believe it or not, engaging in battle now will only make
things worse!
Keep watering. Continue your normal
watering routine for as long as your City Fathers and Mothers allow. And be
sure to perform this chore early in the morning, so as little H2O as
possible is lost to evaporation. Whatever you do, don’t water in the evening
because grass that stays wet after dark — especially on a hot night — is fair prey
for foul fungi.
If
a drought strikes, take a tip from Grandma Putt and stay off the lawn as much
as possible — regardless of whether you’re still able to water, or you’ve had to
let the grass go dormant. Otherwise, the added trauma of foot traffic and other
activity just may put that turf over the edge, and it’ll never come back to
life. As Grandma Putt used to say, “When in doubt, sit it out!”
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment