· Ortiz Landscaping & Tree Services
July and August are hard on cool-season lawns. Heat slows their growth, and dry spells can turn them brown. How you water through that stretch makes a big difference.
Water deeply, not daily
A short sprinkle every evening keeps only the top inch of soil wet, so roots stay shallow. Watering deeply and less often encourages roots to follow the moisture down. A common guideline for established cool-season lawns is roughly an inch of water per week, from rain and irrigation combined, delivered in one or two sessions.
Measure it
Put a few straight-sided containers on the lawn while the sprinkler runs and see how long it takes to collect an inch. Many people are surprised by how long that is, and by how unevenly some sprinklers cover a lawn.
Early morning is best
Watering in the early morning means less water lost to evaporation and wind, and the grass dries off during the day. Grass that stays wet overnight is more prone to disease.
Dormancy is not death
Cool-season grasses can go dormant in a long drought, turning tan to protect themselves. A healthy, established lawn usually greens up when cooler, wetter weather returns. If you choose to let a lawn go dormant, keep traffic off it and avoid switching back and forth between watering and not watering.
Help the lawn help itself
Taller mowing, sharp blades and healthy soil all make a lawn more drought tolerant. Mulched beds hold moisture for shrubs and flowers too.
Our lawn maintenance and grass cutting and trimming visits adjust through the season, with taller cuts in summer heat. Call (609) 454-7355 or request a free quote.