- What is drought?<\/a><\/li>
- Ways to prepare your lawn for drought<\/a>
- Plant a drought-tolerant landscape<\/a><\/li>
- Conduct a water audit<\/a><\/li>
- Get your soil tested<\/a><\/li>
- Grow resilient grass<\/a><\/li>
- Aerate ahead of time<\/a><\/li>
- Dethatch if needed<\/a><\/li>
- Add mulch to your landscape<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
![\"Brown](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/drought-3589606_1920_800.jpg\")
Myriams-Fotos<\/a> | Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure> What is drought?<\/span><\/h2>
Drought is a period of time, lasting months or years, when the environment is arid and access to water is limited. Drought can be caused by low water levels, high temps, increasing evaporation, reduced precipitation, and overuse of natural water resources. <\/p>
During a drought, your municipality will likely place restrictions on water use until water levels are restored. It\u2019s a good idea to get ahead of these restrictions by saving rainwater in a rain barrel<\/a> so your lawn and garden have some access to water throughout the dry period. <\/p>
How does drought impact my lawn?<\/strong><\/p>
Drought can cause your lawn to:<\/p>
- Dull in color<\/li>
- Wilt<\/li>
- Become more sensitive to foot traffic<\/li>
- Go dormant<\/li>
- Brown<\/li>
- Die<\/li> <\/ul>
Unfortunately, drought is unpredictable. But if you live in a hot, arid climate, or your city has been implementing precautionary water restrictions, you might want to consider what you can do to be prepared. Take these steps ahead of summer, when drought most often occurs (or worsens). <\/p>
Ways to prepare your lawn for drought<\/span><\/h2>
![\"Dwarf](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Dwarf-periwinkle.jpg\")
Dwarf Periwinkle Ground Cover | WikimediaImages<\/a> | Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure> Plant a drought-tolerant landscape<\/span><\/h3>
The best way to make your lawn more durable ahead of drought is by planting drought-tolerant grasses or ground covers<\/a> for your lawn. You also can add drought-tolerant and drought-resistant plants to your landscape. <\/p>
- Drought-tolerant plants<\/strong> have a high resistance to drought, with most drought-tolerant plants able to withstand weeks to a month of drought conditions. After drought-tolerant plants begin to exhibit signs of drought stress, they will need to be irrigated to be revived. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Drought-resistant plants<\/strong> are even hardier, with the ability to survive months or even years without extra irrigation. <\/li> <\/ul>
Many native plants are drought-tolerant or resistant. There are drought-tolerant options<\/a> for your turf, too. Popular drought-tolerant grass types include: <\/p>
- Buffalograss<\/li>
- Bahiagrass<\/li>
- Zoysiagrass<\/li>
- Tall fescue<\/li>
- Bermudagrass<\/li> <\/ul>
Keep in mind that some plants can take some time to establish (become mature) before becoming drought tolerant. To become drought tolerant, most plants need time to establish a deep root system, and plant roots can grow at varying rates. This establishment period can take weeks or years depending on the type of plant. <\/p>
Planting drought-tolerant plants in the fall enables more time for the plants to become established in your yard ahead of summertime drought. Since every plant grows on a different timeline, take care to research ahead of time to know when your plants will reach their mature stage. <\/p>
![\"drip](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/rsz_1024px-irrigation_drip_leaks.jpg\")
Sciencehacker<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Conduct a water audit<\/span><\/h3>
The EPA estimates that nearly 50% of the water<\/a> we use outside goes to waste thanks to poor irrigation management. By conducting a lawn water use audit, you\u2019ll save a few bucks on your water bill and help your local environment by reducing water waste. <\/p>
Conduct a water audit during your grass type\u2019s growing season.<\/p>
- Cool-season grasses<\/a> grow in the fall and early spring<\/li>
- Warm-season grass types<\/a> grow in the summer<\/li> <\/ul>
Water audits have proven to save between 20 to 30 gallons of water<\/a> per day in a single household. Your local water utility has an interest in water conservation and may offer affordable or free sprinkler audits. <\/p>
You also can conduct a water audit yourself<\/strong> by looking inside and outside for any leaks, checking flow restrictors, optimizing your irrigation system so it\u2019s not wasting any water, checking sprinkler timers to ensure your lawn is being watered before 10 am, and keeping track of your water meters. <\/p>
![\"worker](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/rsz_1rsz_shutterstock_668139877.jpg\")
Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Get your soil tested<\/span><\/h3>
Just as too much rainfall can leach nutrients from the ground, lack of water can impact lawn fertilization and nutrient levels. <\/p>
Drought can impact your regular soil testing, skewing the results such as making it seem like your soil pH is lower than it actually is. <\/p>
Test your soil ahead of drought to make sure your soil is full of nutrients and your grass is as healthy as it can be. The healthier your grass is ahead of the drought, the more likely it is to survive without being significantly damaged. <\/p>
How to test your soil conditions:<\/strong><\/p>
See how your soil is doing by<\/p>
- Conducting a DIY soil test<\/li>
- Sending in a lab sample <\/li> <\/ul>
DIY soil tests are quick and cost-effective but don\u2019t provide as much information as a more thorough lab test. Get more information about your soil by sending a sample to your local Cooperative Extension office, which will provide you with a detailed soil test report<\/a>. <\/p>
A soil test will give you information about your soil\u2019s pH level, in addition to the amount of phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium present in the soil. <\/p>
![\"Buffalograss\"](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3139246071_47110d3ef9_c.jpg\")
Buffalograss | John Tann<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure> Grow resilient grass<\/span><\/h3>
It\u2019s hard for many plants to thrive during drought because high temperatures evaporate the water before they have a chance to absorb it through their roots. During dormancy, your grass blades can weaken, curl, and turn brown but the crown and root of the plant is still alive. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to grow resilient turfgrass with a deep root system. <\/p>
Many things can weaken your grass, including:<\/p>
- Overwatering<\/li>
- Underwatering<\/li>
- Frequent watering<\/li>
- Shallow roots<\/li>
- Compacted soil<\/li>
- Too much thatch <\/li>
- Poor lawn care management overall<\/li> <\/ul>
Thankfully, there are some ways to strengthen your lawn ahead of drought. <\/p>
Mow frequently<\/strong><\/p>
Mowing<\/a> is a great way to stimulate your turf and help encourage dense, deep-rooted grass. Mowing frequently encourages your grass to spread, causing a thicker turf. Mow weekly ahead of a drought, and mow less frequently during an active drought season. <\/p>
Be sure to use sharp mower blades \u2014 a dull blade can cause damage to and weaken your grass.<\/p>
Water infrequently and deeply<\/strong><\/p>
Water your grass<\/a> when it begins wilting or showing other signs of drought stress, like leaves are curling or grass is slow to recover after being stepped on. This can be weekly or bi-weekly, depending on your grass type. <\/p>
Be sure to water in the morning, before 10 a.m. This allows your grass to soak in all the water before the heat of the day. If you water too late in the day, the sun will evaporate all the water and dry out the soil, wasting precious water and preventing your lawn from getting hydrated. <\/p>
Water infrequently and deeply to encourage deeper roots \u2014 the roots will grow toward the water soaking down into the ground. Aim for 1-\u00bd inches of water a week, which should soak 6 to 8 inches deep in the soil. <\/p>
Mow higher<\/strong><\/p>
Stay on top of your regular mowing routine, but consider cutting the grass high, especially ahead of drought. Tall grass helps keep the soil cool and shaded and can help retain moisture during hot, sunny weather. <\/p>
Gradually increase the mowing height each time you mow until it\u2019s at the higher end of the recommended mowing height for your grass type. <\/p>
- Warm-season grass types<\/a> grow in the summer<\/li> <\/ul>
- Cool-season grasses<\/a> grow in the fall and early spring<\/li>
- Drought-resistant plants<\/strong> are even hardier, with the ability to survive months or even years without extra irrigation. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Drought-tolerant plants<\/strong> have a high resistance to drought, with most drought-tolerant plants able to withstand weeks to a month of drought conditions. After drought-tolerant plants begin to exhibit signs of drought stress, they will need to be irrigated to be revived. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Conduct a water audit<\/a><\/li>
- Ways to prepare your lawn for drought<\/a>
![\"illustration](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/rsz_aeration.png\")
<\/figure> ![\"Illustration](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/thatch-illustration.jpg\")
![\"Mulch](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/5091086347_282b513729_c.jpg\")
![\"Zoysiagrass](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Zoysiagrass-lawn-1200_800.jpg\")