What To Do With A Dry Lawn
Ahh, the famed Kiwi summer. There could be nothing better than endless sunny summer days out playing backyard cricket, wearing jandals, and gathering around the BBQ. In fact, most summer days are spent outside with friends and family in the backyard taking part in a range of fun activities on the lawn.
Here are some tips to help prevent your lawn from drying out even further.
While having fun in the sun is the most important thing about summer and the festive season, it’s important to remember not to forget about your lawn maintenance and lawn care. The last thing you want is to walk onto your previously luscious grass only to realise you now have a dry lawn – and not a very nice one.
With a lack of rain and a lot of use, it doesn’t take long before you say goodbye to your vibrant and soft green lawn and reluctantly welcome hard, dry, and dying grass to take its place. However, not all is lost. There is so much you can do to prevent a dry lawn, and all it takes is a little lawn maintenance.
Keep Cutting It, But Not Too Short…
It seems counterproductive, but the best way in which to keep your hair growing longer is by cutting it shorter. The same unusual concept applies to your lawns. Rather than have the mindset of “the lower you cut it, the longer it is before you need to mow it again” keep the height a little longer.
When you cut your lawns too short, the grass isn’t able to produce energy to grow. Then, it will die off, which not only means your backyard looks terrible, but it means you now have a dry lawn that will take so much longer to grow back – if at all.
When you go to cut your lawn, keep it at a medium length. When you do, the roots are stronger, thicker, and can withstand even harsh summer conditions better than grass you’ve cut down to the dirt. If you’re unsure how to maintain your lush lawns, contact your local lawn care experts.
Be Smart with Watering
If you’re enjoying the intense summer sun, but your lawn isn’t, then it’s time to take action. Your yard needs some TLC, and you need to keep on top of lawn maintenance to ensure it remains vibrant and green throughout those warmer months.
If your council hasn’t imposed water restrictions, the following information can help. However, if there are water bans in place, be responsible and let your lawns succumb. It might be tough, but drinking and washing water are more important than water for lawn care.
However, if you can keep up with lawn care, or have wastewater you can spare for your lawn, then you don’t have to welcome that dry lawn with open arms just yet. Rather than drench it sporadically and hope it’s going to grow, however, it’s a good idea to water it a few times a week when it starts to cool down at night. If you water your lawns during the heat of the day, you run the risk of burning new growth and evaporating the water before it works its way to the roots.
Don’t Be Too Heavy-Handed with Fertiliser
It might seem like the more fertiliser you add, the thicker and more luscious the lawn, but that’s not quite how lawn care works. Instead, if you apply too much fertiliser, you can burn the grass and have the opposite problem. Dry lawns are an issue you can combat, but only if you make sure you read the instructions when using any product. The last thing you want to do is re-sow your lawns because you misread the fine print.
If in doubt, get in touch with lawn maintenance experts or talk to someone when you’re buying fertiliser. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the health of your lawn.
Don’t Use It
In summer, there’s nothing quite like a game of swingball in the backyard, a few rounds of cricket, or even a game of tackle. However, as that lawn begins to dry out, it might be a good idea to keep those games for your local park instead. The more time you spend on that dry lawn, the more compact the soil. Then, when rain does finally arrive – or you water it – the grass may struggle to absorb all that much-needed moisture.
Stick to the concrete and playing fields for all your outdoor activities – just until your lawn has time to recover.
Don’t Clean Up the Clippings
Lawns with grass clippings all over them aren’t the prettiest sight, but during summer it’s a necessary sight. When you mow your lawns to encourage growth, cut the grass with the catcher off. The lawn clippings will help to keep moisture in the grass that may be struggling with a lack of rain. If you see any grass clumped together, spread it out a little more evenly so your lawn can still breathe.
Consider Your Grass Type
After two to three weeks without rain, grass can go dormant to protect itself. However, after about six weeks with no rain or moisture, there’s a high risk of your lawn dying – with no chance of revival. If you’re facing this genuine possibility, it might be time to consider a new lawn type. Depending on where you are in the country, you may find that drought-resistant lawn could be in your favour.
Some regions tend to have more extreme weather than others, and making sure your lawn, for the most part, can handle the extremities is crucial. If you have to start from scratch, talk to a lawn care expert about the best type of grass for your region.
With all these things in mind - we know how difficult it can be to keep the lawn looking its best. Trust us; we have over 25 years’ experience. If you're thinking you need a little bit extra help, be sure to contact the friendly Crewcut team. We can offer advice or additional garden services.
