Introduction

As temperatures continue to rise, and the summer months are just beyond the horizon, your lawn may look "stressed". Everybody wants a lush, green lawn but unfortunately circumstances can make this harder to achieve than one might think. 

Droughts are caused by low precipitation rates for long periods of time. Climate change, global warming, atmospheric pressures, and your location are just a few things that can play into the cause of a drought. Despite the unfortunate event of a drought, your lawn doesn't have to sacrifice as much as one might think. Although your usual lawn practice might have to adjust some, there are still some ways to get a beautiful lawn that may have some second guessing if a drought is even occurring. From the PRO ORGANIC experts, here's our tips to keeping your lawn looking excellent during a drought.

Here's our Tips:

Step 1 

• Keep a close eye on the conditions of the drought.
  • First and foremost, droughts are serious natural events that can have severe implications. It is imperative to watch closely what local governments and meteorologist are suggesting. For example, some droughts can be so severe there is a limit placed on households with how much water they can use. Check your local guidelines to see if you are under any such restrictions.
  • Here are some good links to help you monitor your drought:
    • Drought.gov
    • NRCS

Step 2 

• Water deeply and infrequently. 
  • During a drought, most likely you will be conserving your water use. When it's time to water your lawn, make sure you water it "deeply", but do not water it often. You want to make sure that your lawn has enough water to really absorb it into its roots, but you do not have to water every week like you would normally. Think conservatively. 
  • Some tips for watering your lawn include the following:
    • Water in the morning hours. According to Quality Irrigation, they recommend between the hours of 4-6 am for best results. We agree.
    • Increase your watering zone by about 50%.
    • Do not water your lawn at night for the purpose of fungi protection.
    • Lastly, different types of grasses react differently to a drought. Depending on your type of grass, you may end up with different results.

Step 3 

• Fertilize less.
  • Fertilizing during a drought is a question that comes up often, especially when the weather turns dry and hot. The importance of fertilizer is second to none, so when choosing the right fertilizer for you, remember to think organically and natural.
  • Fertilizer, (especially the wrong ones), can "burn" your lawn when use improperly. We highly recommend fertilizing your lawn less, especially since you will be using less water. Cut your fertilization methods in half. This way your lawn gets the nutrients it needs, but there is no risk for over fertilization.
  • A great lawn food to use is PRO ORGANIC'S 22lbs Lawn Food. During the summer time, Pro Organic's REE components allows plants to contain its water longer, and with higher capacity. Also, during the winter season, it allows plants to be able to live with less water to avoid freezing. These same components that help during the harshest months, will surely help during a drought.

Step 4 

• Get rid of all weeds.
  • Although nobody likes to see weeds in their lawn, unfortunately it happens. When in a drought, it is essential to keep them out of your lawn and to get rid of them as soon as you see them. Weeds will compete for the nutrients and water that should be going to your lawn, which is why they must go.

Step 5 

• Mow high, not low.
  • Although everyone loves a freshly cut, low, and manicured lawn, when you're in a drought this just simply isn't feasible. To keep your yard looking lush and green, we highly recommend mowing high. A general rule of thumb is no less than 1/3 of your grass length should be cut.
  • Along with mowing high, we recommend making sure the blade on your mower is new or at least super sharp. This allows for a cleaner and easier cut. When your blade is dull, you can actually harm your grass and can have a negative impact on the health of your lawn.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, we hope that this guide helps you in taking better care of your lawn during an emergency. Droughts unfortunately can be a common occurrence, especially if you live in warmer climate zones. With that being said, your lawn doesn't have to suffer. You can still have a green and thriving lawn, just simply follow the tips above!