Southerners quickly pick up ways to endure the intense summer heat. We move carefully, wear light clothing, seek out shade, and drink one glass of iced tea after another. We’ve also discovered a few techniques tokeep our lawns greenduring periods of intense heat, such asplanting the appropriate kind of turf placing the correct type of lawn cultivating the suitable variety of grass establishing the proper species of grass sowing the right kind of lawn grassfor our climate zone. If your grass is struggling, try these five methods to maintain its green color and get it ready for upcoming hot weather.
Provide a Sufficient Quantity of Water
Sufficient water is crucial to keep lawn grasses from entering a dormant state during times of intense heat. A vital factor in achieving this isusing the correct quantity of wateraccurately. Whether the water is from rainfall or your irrigation system,lawns require approximately 1 inch of water each weekHowever, during a heatwave, 1 1/2 to 2 inches of water should be provided to the lawn. It requires 640 gallons of water to apply 1 inch of water over 1,000 square feet.
Deep Water at the Right Time
Lawns don’t require daily watering. Wait until the majority of the lawn exhibits signs of water deficiency, like footprints that stay visible after walking on the grass or blades that are wilted, folded, or curled. Frequent, brief watering sessions lead to grass with shallow roots that are more prone to damage from heat. It’s far more effective towater thoroughly once or twice a week, applying approximately one inch of water for each square foot, allowing the grass to establish strong roots.
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If your sprinkler system lacks a water-flow meter, there’s a simple method to find out how much water your lawn gets during each watering session. Position several shallow bowls or tuna cans throughout your lawn. After the session, measure the water collected to check if all areas receive about an inch of water. You might need to modify the sprinkler heads and the duration of the irrigation.
The ideal time to water plants is during the early morning hours as this helps minimize the chances of disease and reduces water loss due to evaporation. Water gradually, particularly when dealing with clay soils, allowing it sufficient time to penetrate the ground. If you notice water starting to run off, pause the watering process and wait 30 minutes to let the water absorb, then finish the irrigation session.
Mow to the Appropriate Height
Cutting grass too short can increase heat stress. Adjust your lawnmower blade to 3 inches and create a mowing routine that cuts only about one-third of the grass blades each time. Longer grass blades help shade the soil, slowing its drying process. Shorter clippings can also be left on the lawn to act as natural fertilizer. Ensure the mower blades are sharp for clean cuts. Dull blades cause tears and uneven ends that quickly dry out and turn pale.
Be Ahead of Yard Issues
Maintaining a lush, green lawn throughout a heatwave demands consistent care all year long. It’s not ideal to add fertilizer, pesticides, weed control products, or remove thatch during extreme heat; nevertheless, it’s crucial to ensure your lawn remains in good condition before the temperatures rise significantly.
- Fertilize Properly:Apply fertilizer no more than three times annually, and avoid doing so during the peak of summer heat. If you choose to fertilize just once a year, it’s best to do so in the autumn season.
- Control Weeds:Weeds consume a lot of water. Manage them properly to allow grass to receive sufficient hydration.
- Control Pests:Insects such as grubs, sod webworms, mole crickets, and chinch bugs damage lawn grass, making it more susceptible to heat stress.
- Get Rid of Thatch:Thatch is a layer of dead stems and roots that accumulates in a lawn, located between the soil and the green grass. It needs to be removed every fall or early winter to allow water to penetrate the soil more efficiently.
Apply Topical Greening Agents
I haven’t used a topical greening agent before, but I can understand its advantages if you’re organizing a garden wedding and the grass is brown. However, according to the North Carolina State Extension, there are liquid products available for lawns that can add green color without affecting growth.
A set of products designed for warm-season turfgrasses includes iron (Fe) to enhance the green hue of healthy grass. This deeper green color usually remains for 2 to 4 weeks. A different set offers no nutritional support, only a green dye to give the turfgrass a green appearance without affecting its overall health.
Read the original article hereSouthern Living
