What can you do before a drought?
There are actually preventative measure you can take before the expected dry time, or hot time, of the year. You can:
– Manage the amount of thatch in your yard.
– Begin using potassium fertilizer. Potassium is an extremely useful nutrient and can really aid your yard if it begins looking unhealthy.
– Water your yard in the evening or morning hours.
– Sharpen your mower blade at least twice during the mowing season to maintain a green, healthy lawn.
– Increase the frequency of your mowing so that you are only taking off the top 1/3 of the blade when you mow.
– Don’t bag those clippings! Leave them so your yard can gain valuable nutrients from them.
– Avoid using herbicides and pesticides if possible.
Once the drought hits, now what?
– Keep your grass longer – raise the mower height.
– If you can, decrease the amount of traffic on your lawn.
– Increase watering time on allotted days.
In an extended drought, you should:
– Eliminate lawn traffic.
– Water only areas that are necessary.
– Come to terms with the fact that some portions of your yard will be become brown (dormant), but will improve when the conditions improve.