Maintaining a lawn during a drought takes a few smart adjustments. Water less frequently but more deeply, let your grass grow taller, and leave clippings on the lawn to help retain moisture.
It’s also important to avoid stressors like fertilizing or aerating during dry spells. These practices, while helpful in normal conditions, can do more harm than good when your grass is already struggling. Instead, focus on helping your lawn conserve energy and stay as healthy as possible until rainfall returns.
In this guide, I’ll show simple but effective strategies to help your lawn survive dry conditions and bounce back strong. With the right care, you can build a yard that stays healthy, even when the rain takes a break.
Water deeply and infrequently
During a drought, aim to moisten your soil about 6 to 8 inches deep. This means you need to apply about 0.5 to 1 inch of water once or twice a week. In extreme drought, just a half-inch every 2 to 4 weeks can keep dormant turf alive. On average, 30 minutes of watering delivers about half an inch.
The goal is to water the root zone. According to turf experts at the University of New Hampshire Extension, this helps grass grow deeper roots that can reach moisture farther underground. Always check local watering restrictions, as many areas have limits during drought conditions to conserve water.
Water at the right time
The best time to water your lawn is between sunrise and 9 a.m. Avoid midday watering; it can stress your lawn, and most of the water evaporates before reaching the roots. Likewise, watering in the late afternoon or evening isn’t good. Damp overnight conditions lead to mold and fungal infections, explains the lawn experts at the University of New Hampshire Extension.
Consider drip irrigation
Drip irrigation and soaker hoses deliver water slowly and directly to your soil, reducing evaporation and runoff. This is useful for watering flower beds, shrub borders, or trees, but it can also be used for the lawn with specialized subsurface drip lines during a drought.
“Use drip irrigation wherever possible to prevent excessive evaporation,” says Heidi Kratsch, professor at the University of Nebraska Extension. For example, a soaker hose can target a problem patch without watering the entire yard. Just make sure to pick it up before mowing.
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Leave grass longer
When mowing during a drought, cut your grass higher than usual. Richard Durham, a horticulture specialist at the University of Kentucky, explains that “leaving grass fairly high shades the soil and keeps the ground moist. Mowing high helps grass produce a deeper root system that makes it more resilient to stressful growing conditions such as drought.”
Below are my recommended mowing heights for the most common types of grass during drought conditions:
| Type of grass | Adjust your mower to this height (inches) |
| Bahiagrass | 4 |
| Bermudagrass | 2 |
| Buffalograss | 4 |
| Centipedegrass | 2 |
| Fine fescue | 3 |
| Kentucky bluegrass | 3 |
| Perennial ryegrass | 3 |
| St. Augustinegrass | 4 |
| Tall fescue | 4 |
| Zoysiagrass | 2.5 |
Keep mower blades sharp
A sharp blade makes clean cuts, helping your grass retain moisture and resist disease, especially during a drought. According to turf specialists at the University of Georgia, “Dull blades will shred the leaf tips, causing the turf grass to use more water, undergo undue stress, and have a ragged appearance.”
In general, sharpen your lawn mower blades after 25 hours of mowing or about 1 to 2 times a year.
Leave grass clippings on your lawn
Grass clippings are full of moisture and nutrients, making them helpful for lawns in dry conditions. Clippings act like a light mulch, shading the soil and retaining humidity. They also provide nitrogen and other nutrients as they break down. You don’t have to worry about clippings causing thatch. According to Durham, they recycle nutrients without creating buildup.
My tip: Use a mulching mower or blade to chop clippings and spread them evenly when your grass is dry.
Don’t aerate compacted soil
While compacted soil is a common lawn problem that restricts water penetration and root growth, drought conditions are not the time to address it. During dry periods, your grass is already under significant stress, and aeration will only add to that burden.
Even though core aeration is typically the most effective method to relieve compaction, avoid aerating during drought conditions. The process adds stress to already struggling grass. Instead, schedule aeration for spring or fall when your lawn can better handle the disruption.
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Add organic matter to your soil
Incorporating organic matter, such as compost, into your soil boosts moisture retention and supports root growth during a drought. Soil rich in organic content acts like a sponge and holds water longer, slowly releasing it to the roots. It also feeds beneficial microbes and gives grass nutrients.
To apply organic matter to your lawn, spread a layer of compost about ¼-inch thick over the surface and rake it in to help it settle. This process is known as topdressing, and it enhances soil health.
Don’t fertilize
Skip nitrogen-heavy fertilizers during a drought, as they encourage grass to grow when it is trying to conserve resources. Forcing new growth in dry conditions can weaken your lawn and make it more susceptible to stress. Fertilizing during a drought encourages the wrong kind of response when your grass is trying to go dormant.
Fertilizing in dry weather can also lead to fertilizer burn, where salts in the product draw moisture away from already parched roots, causing more damage. It’s best to wait until the weather cools and moisture returns before applying any nutrients.
Avoid foot traffic
Drought-weakened grass is fragile and doesn’t bounce back well. Foot traffic, pets, or lawn equipment can crush your grass and compact dry soil, leading to dead patches that are hard to reverse. Whenever possible, limit traffic of any type on a drought-stressed lawn.
Control weeds
Most weeds are hardy and have adapted to survive dry conditions. They compete with your grass for water and nutrients, making them a bigger nuisance during droughts.
During a drought, hand-pulling is the most effective method, especially for isolated weeds or small patches. Removing them by the roots prevents further spread without adding stress to your lawn. For larger infestations, wait until cooler, wetter weather before using herbicides, when your lawn can recover from chemical treatments.
Get expert help to prepare for dry conditions
Caring for your lawn during a drought takes more than just watering. Once the dry spell ends, LawnLove can connect you to services like seasonal yard cleanup, aeration, and targeted weed control to restore your lawn’s health and prepare it for future drought stress.
Sources:
“How do I keep my lawn alive in a drought?” University of New Hampshire Extension.
“Managing Lawns During Drought.” University of Illinois Extension.
“Tips for Keeping Your Landscape Plants Alive During a Drought.” By Heidi Kratsch, Professor, State Specialist. University of Nebraska Extension.
“Managing Your Lawn During A Drought.” By Richard Durham, Horticulture specialist. University of Kentucky.
“Ten Steps to a Healthier Home Lawn.” By Clint Waltz, Extension Specialist, and Alfredo Martinez, Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist. University of Georgia Extension.
“Preparing Your Lawn for Drought.” By Mingying Xiang. Oklahoma State University.
Main Photo Credit: Christian Delbert / Adobe Stock
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