Too Hot To Handle

6/19/2019 (Permalink)

On June 21, we can all sit back, enjoy the longest day of sunlight in 2019, and officially welcome in summer! So what can we do to help our lawns survive in the 100+ degree weather that is sure to come our way and still stay Water Wise?  We are so glad you asked!

Plant Right. Some grasses do better than others in our heat. The best options for our area are Bermuda, Zoysia, and Buffalo. They also have the advantage of being able to develop a deep root structure which is important to developing a drought resistant lawn.

Go Blonde! Really. When it gets hot out, plants naturally slow their growth in order to conserve moisture. This means that your grass will “blonde” during the peak of heat. This is natural and does not harm your lawn.

Forget the Fertilizer. Putting fertilizer on a blond lawn in order to green it up will encourage your grass to grow. But doing so, will make it thirsty. This will put stress on your lawn’s root system and cause your water bill to soar with the high temperatures.

Mow Higher. Once your grass goes blonde, its growth has slowed and leaving it a little taller may even help it to stay greener a little longer during hot spells, as your grass can spend more energy on expanding its root system (making it more drought tolerant) instead of trying to recover from a short cut.

Most of all, remember to take care of any yard work early in the day to take advantage of the cooler temperatures. Come up with a plan the night before, get organized, stick to your plan, and finish quickly.

While no one looks forward to the days when temperatures soar above 100 degrees, with a little planning and a little understanding, we can all reach the other side with our lawns intact and a sense of accomplishment for staying Water Wise.