Lawn Care | Drought Dormancy or Drought Stress |
Drought Dormancy or Drought StressWarningYour lawn is not dead!
A dormant lawn or plant will die back above ground, while the roots underneath will go into“hibernation” during climates that it doesn’t thrive well in, such as dry, hot temperatures, and cold, Lawns can survive drought by going dormant – which is different from dead. It looks the same, straw-colored and parched, but all that is needed to get them up and growing again is water. It will be important that the times you water are covering your lawn to allow for a 2- inch depth each time, to help bring back the lawn to its normal growing pattern. Dormancy can occur during a hot, dry season, with some types of grass going dormant in temperatures reaching 70 degrees or more. Again, the need to water is important, allowing for a thick, one inch saturation to the roots each watering session. Caring for a Dormant LawnIt is also important to recognize that a dormant lawn does not require mowing. The weaker, top grass or “crowns” are dry, and the cell structure can not withstand the lawn equipment. Using a mower during this time can create permanent damage to your lawn. Further, you may notice, during this time, the weeds and weedy grasses are thriving. Resist the temptation to raise the mower height, to cut these weeds down, as the mower wheels themselves can damage your dormant grass. |
winter climates.
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