Ways to Keep Your Lawn Healthy During a Drought

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With warmer weather and an abundance of sunshine, summer is the perfect time to get outdoors and spend some time in the garden. However, even these lovely weather conditions can get a bit extreme at times, and the sweltering summer sun can make it difficult to grow anything in your garden. Maintaining your lawn in the face of a particularly hot summer is no easy task. Drought conditions make it difficult for most plants to receive the right amount of water and sunshine each day. Plants generally become very dehydrated and can quickly wither away under the oppressive summer sun. Your lawn as a whole will begin to suffer as well. The grass will become brown and brittle, and the dirt will become far too dry to grow even the most resilient plants. The following ways to keep your lawn healthy during a drought will ensure that your plants remain hydrated and healthy no matter how high the temperature climbs.

Secure a Reliable Water Source

Rain is not easy to come by during a drought, and putting too much faith in Mother Nature will likely leave you high and dry. It’s very important, therefore, that you secure a reliable backup water source to keep your plants healthy and hydrated all season long. Installing a cistern water tank is a good option that will allow you to store large quantities of water year-round. This water can be distributed through hoses, sprinklers, or a more sophisticated irrigation system, depending on the size of your lawn. Be sure to take the necessary measures to keep the water inside the cistern cool. A drought will affect the cistern as much as it will your lawn. Plants thrive best when watered with cool water, so it’s best to balance the temperatures inside the cistern as much as possible.

Create a Watering Schedule

In an attempt to offset the effects of a drought, many people spend much more time watering their lawn than they normally would. This causes lawns to become severely overwatered, which can be as detrimental as if it were underwatered. Creating a watering schedule will help you find a happy medium that will ensure your lawn is correctly cared for no matter what the weather brings. Remember that deep, infrequent waterings are much more beneficial for your lawn, as they more accurately reflect the natural weather cycle. If you have trouble remembering to water your lawn, consider installing a sprinkler system that runs on a timer. This will ensure that all areas of your lawn are watered regularly and with the same amount of water at all times.

Mow Wisely

Though it may seem a bit contradictory, one of the best ways to keep your lawn healthy during a drought is to continue mowing it and to mow with a purpose. If your lawn has undergone a significant dry spell, it will likely stop growing at some point. Until that day comes, however, it’s important that you keep mowing, aerating, and dethatching it as you normally would. Try not to bag the grass clippings, if possible. These clippings provide a bit of extra ground cover or mulch that will help your lawn retain its moisture levels a bit longer.

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