Mowing when your grass is too dry can damage it.
Use these smart tips to properly care for your lawn through drought.
Grass demandsmowing at least once a weekduring spring and summer in most regions.
Credit:Alina Rosanova / Getty Images
Cold weather is usually what triggers warm-season grasses likebermudagrassandzoysiagrassto go dormant.
The blades will green up again as soon as more favorable conditions return.
Wait out dormancy with good lawn care practices to help your grass revive and thrive.
Should You Mow Dry Grass?
Every time you mow, the grass is spurred to use water and nutrient reserves to create new growth.
Mowing an overly dry lawn quickly depletes moisture reserves, potentially causing more stress than the plants can handle.
Only mow during drought conditions if you areproviding your lawn with enough supplemental waterto prevent it from going dormant.
Because of this, there is no need to mow while your grass is dormant.
Mow off the tall weeds at that high setting as often as needed to keep weed growth in check.
Hold off on lawn projects.
Delay dethatchingand aerating, along with resodding and other lawn renovations, until the grass is actively growing again.
When dormancy is approaching, raise the mower deck up an inch or two from theregular mowing height.
Taller grass will shade the soil, slowing moisture loss and reducing weed competition.
Mowing high also promotes a deep root system which is more equipped to mine for water during drought.
Continue mowing high, if needed, during dormancy.
When grass greens up again and starts actively growing, reduce the mowing height.
Water every few weeks.
Monitor the irrigation system or sprinkler closely to ensure water is not wastefully spraying onto sidewalks and driveways.
Fertilizer spurs turf grass to grow.
Dormant grass does not have moisture available to use the nutrients in the fertilizer.
No amount of fertilizer will green up a dormant lawn.Wait to fertilize grassuntil it’s actively growing once again.
Stay on top of weeds.
Besides competing with grass for moisture and nutrients,some lawn weedsare able to continue growing in drought conditions.
Occasionally mowing a dormant lawn on a high setting can help prevent taller weeds from flowering and setting seeds.
Maintain sharp lawn mower blades.
Dull mower blades tear grass blades instead of cutting them.
Torn grass blades require 40 to 60-percent more water to recover from mowing than grass cut with sharp blades.
If you must mow during hot, dry conditions, ensure your blades are sharp.
Take time tosharpen mower bladesat least twice a year.
