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Here are four steps you can take in caring for your lawn in drought conditions. Read on to find out what you need to do.
As the effects of climate change become increasingly apparent, many areas have begun experiencing drought conditions on a fairly regular basis. Depending on how severe a drought is, water rationing may be required by your state or local government. Needless to say, this can have a significant impact on how much and how often you’re able to water your lawn.
While a well-kept lawn is the pride and joy of many homeowners, lawn-watering is understandably a low priority when drought conditions have taken hold. Anyone looking to provide their lawn with the proper TLC during a drought should consider the following measures.
What's Inside
Mow Less Often
While mowing less often may sound like a far-out prospect for passionate lawn care aficionados, it can prove tremendously helpful when dealing with a drought-stricken lawn. The shorter you keep your grass, the less equipped it is to soak in and retain vital nutrients. Since shorter grass requires a great deal more water than grass that’s able to grow to its ideal length, you’d be wise to amend your mowing schedule while conditions are in effect. Not only will mowing on a less consistent basis help keep your lawn healthy, it can also be a boon to your leisure time – particularly if your yard is on the larger side.
It should also be noted that even outside of drought conditions, many of us tend to over-mow our lawns. Instead of sticking with the ideal length for the types of grass that populate our lawns, we opt to set our mowers to the shortest possible setting and mow away. While this may seem like a good idea, it can leave your grass poorly equipped to fend for itself and heavily dependent on frequent watering. If you’re unclear on the proper length for your grass type – or on what your grass type is – obtain this information and put it to good use.
Call in Seasoned Pros
If you’ve never cared for grass during a drought or simply lack sufficient time to do so, consider enlisting the aid of a professional lawn care service. The right lawn care company will be well-versed in drought-based yardwork and take all the necessary measures to help your lawn survive and thrive throughout the drought’s duration. Outsourcing your lawn care during times of drought can remove a huge weight from your shoulders and provide tremendous peace of mind.
Switch to Drought-Tolerant Grass
Ditching your current grass and replacing it with an all-new lawn can be a bit cumbersome, but desperate times call for desperate measures. If drought conditions are a common problem in your area, making the switch to a drought-tolerant grass type may be the right move. As droughts become more and more common, a growing number of homeowners have opted to invest in grass types that are better equipped to withstand drought conditions. When shopping around for the right grass type, tall fescue, sheep fescue, buffalograss, and wheatgrass are all options you may want to consider. As an added bonus, drought-tolerant grasses tend to be low-maintenance in general. So, if you’re tired of sinking large portions of your leisure time into lawn care, these grasses should be right up your alley.
Make the Jump to Artificial Grass
Although many yard care enthusiasts would scoff at the very notion of swapping out real grass for an artificial lawn, people who reside in desert communities with frequent droughts are liable to see things differently. Keeping a lawn alive in this type of environment can be exhausting, prohibitively expensive and a waste of resources. If drought conditions have caused you untold amounts of lawn care-related stress, making the jump to artificial grass be the most practical and cost-effective course of action.
Drought conditions have become increasingly common in many parts of the U.S. Unsurprisingly, droughts often facilitate the need for restrictions on water usage, and lawn care generally isn’t considered a worthwhile use of valuable water. So, if you’ve grown accustomed to watering your lawn on a consistent basis, drought conditions are liable to throw a wrench into your usual routine. Of course, this isn’t to say that your lawn should be completely neglected in times of drought. Homeowners looking to keep their lawns healthy and vibrant amid drought conditions can benefit from the previously discussed pointers.
