Drought Survival for Your Lawn

With a little extra effort. you canhave a lush, drought-resistant lawn.

Drought is a fact of life most of us have to deal with at some point. Whether the period of abnormally low moisture is long or short, you can prepare for your lawn's survival. Here are some tips from the Turf Resource Center, an international nonprofit organization.

For existing lawns, maintenance 30 to 45 days prior to an expected drought, dry period, or excessively hot time of year can have a real impact on your lawn's survivability. The idea is to make the lawn as strong and healthy as possible beforehand. Here's how:

• Reduce thatch and compaction.
• Reduce or eliminate nitrogen fertilizer and increase potassium fertilizer.
• Water the lawn late at night or early in the morning.
• Water infrequently and deeply.
• Sharpen your mower blade two or three times per season.
• Mow often so you never remove more than the top third of grass blades.
• Leave clippings on the lawn.
• Avoid using herbicides and pesticides.