Drought Tolerant Lawn Grasses

(HIT) - Turfgrass research scientists have proven it is not only possible but environmentally responsible to create a healthy, drought tolerant lawn that can survive dry seasons without wasting water! Spring, scientists found, is a good time to begin helping your grass develop the stamina needed to successfully survive the stress of summer’s heat and infrequent rain, according to the Turf Resource Center, a Chicago-based non-profit group.

To develop a drought-tolerant lawn that remains healthy throughout the year’s growing season, several actions should begin in the spring. These include aerating, proper mowing, fertilizing and the absolutely most critical-and often the least understood effort is proper watering techniques; methods that use significantly less water than most homeowners usually apply.

Proper Watering Techniques (For Non-Drought Times)

Although some turfgrass species are naturally more drought-tolerant than others, all can be trained to use less water through a step-by-step process that builds a drought-tolerant lawn.

During non-drought conditions, turfgrasses generally need only one inch of water per week to maintain their healthy appearance. Higher applications are wasted by pooling, evaporating or running into nearby streets and drains.

To begin training your lawn for dry seasons ahead when allowable water for outdoor use is suddenly reduced:

• Delay your first spring lawn watering as along as possible – July 4th in some regions of the U.S. This forces your grass to develop deeper roots that are not only healthier but will also help it survive dryer times.
• Deep, infrequent watering (as opposed to daily or even several times a week) encourages the development of deep root growth which – in times of summer heat stress – will draw moisture from lower depths.
• Set your sprinkler system to water only in the early morning to achieve greater ground absorption. Avoid mid-day watering which results in up to 60 percent evaporation loss from heat and wind.
• Adjust your sprinkler’s irrigation rate to match the soil’s absorption rate. Generally, sandy soils absorb two inches of water per hour, loamy soils one-half inch, and clay soils one-fifth inch.
• Perform regular irrigation system maintenance, including rain shut-off devices – to avoid extreme water waste – check for leaks, and adjust controllers to seasonal needs.
• Aerating your lawn, at least once a year, is one of the greatest water conservation and environmentally-friendly steps homeowners can take. After a year of rain or snow and being trampled on by various activities, soil under the grass becomes compacted. Compacted soils practically suffocate turfgrass of oxygen needed for respiration to help establish better root systems for overall healthier turfgrass.

Unaerated, compacted lawns require up to 50 percent more water, according to University of Georgia turfgrass research scientist Bob Carrow, Ph.D., who also pointed out that, “Compacted turf is less vigorous and competitive overall, which can lead to an increased need for herbicides and fungicides to help fight its battles.”

Homeowners can do the aerating themselves or hire a landscaping service. Best time is early spring or late fall when the grass is growing vigorously and there is minimal heat or drought stress.

The most effective aerator has hollow tines that penetrate the ground and remove core plugs of soil that are expelled as each successive plug is removed, leaving a vent for true aeration. The somewhat unsightly plugs will eventually dissolve, returning nutrients to the grass. The dissolving process can be speeded up by using your lawn mower. First, remove the grass-clipping bag and then set the mower blade low. Be sure to mow the entire lawn in a left-to-right pattern, followed by an up-and-down pattern to assure even break-up and spreading of the aeration plugs. After mowing, watering the lawn further helps dissolve the aeration plugs.

Proper Watering Techniques (For Times of Drought)

Having followed the “Proper Watering Techniques for Non-Drought Times” and aerating, your lawn should be ready to survive summer stress with as little as one-quarter inch of water per week in many areas. For many homeowners, this will require a new way of thinking, according to Bingru Huang, Ph.D., Rutgers University, Cook College. She said, “If proper steps have been taken, allowing your lawn to go dormant and turn a golden brown during the hottest part of the summer can be an acceptable solution.”

Trying to maintain a green lawn during drought conditions is like putting artificial leaves on trees in the fall to keep them looking nice through the winter.

Attempting to maintain a totally green lawn when only limited available water is financially expensive and environmentally costly, impractical and usually frustrating. However, as the summer heat subsides and water availability increases, homeowners can once again begin watering deeply and infrequently to help bring life from the grass’ root system up to its leaf blades.

Mowing

Proper mowing techniques can make a big difference in whether your grass becomes a healthy lawn that can easily survive the stress of summer heat and infrequent rain. Here are some tips:

• Sharp mower blades cut cleaner and expose less grass blade surface to potential disease, pest and water loss
• A mulching blade is worth far more than its nominal cost not only in the additional nutrients it creates for your lawn, but also its elimination of having to empty the mower’s grass-clipping bag
• Proper mowing height depends on the time of year and, according to Dr. Huang, “Mow as frequently as necessary so you never remove more than one-third of the grass blade.” She further advised that more frequent mowing, along with an increased mowing height of 25 to 50 percent as summer temperatures rise, encourage deeper roots that are essential to a lawn’s health and summer survival. The higher cutting height used during the summer (when the photosynthetic processes in the leaf tissues are at their peak) should progress to a lower cutting height by late fall when the plants begin to store food reserves.
• “Early morning mowing is a proven disease-fighting weapon,” according to Dr. Doug Brede, associate editor for Agronomy Journal. He added that the exception is when the turf is wet from rain or frost-covered.

Drought Tolerant Lawn Fertilizing and Weed Control Techniques

Fertilizers and chemicals should be applied conservatively and in total compliance with their product labels. Timing fertilizer application to nature’s cycle assures turfgrasses are more receptive. Although the fall application of a weed-and-feed type fertilizer provides longer lasting lawn benefits than at any other time of the year, proper spring application of a fertilizer will help get your lawn off to a good start.

Any reputable lawn and garden retailer should be able to recommend the best fertilizer mixture for your area. Be sure to read the fertilizer bag label to determine how many square feet the product will cover.

A Different Way of Thinking

The idea of a “golden brown” lawn during dry summer months may not sound appealing until considering the significant savings of not only money but also water for other uses.

For more information and recommendations on lawn care, visit the following website: http://www.TurfGrassSod.org or LawnInstitute.com

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center