Worrying about the lawn getting brown? Try these tips for healthier lawns in hot, dry times.
Raise mowing height.
This promotes deeper root growth. Mow off no more than a third of the grass height to prevent stress on lawns.
Keep mowing blades sharp.
Dull blades injure grass and cause stress.
Water in early morning or at night to minimize evaporation.
Water deeply but infrequently to promote root growth. About 3/4 inch per week is a rule of thumb, depending on soil type. Measure with rain gauges or shallow pans.
Evaluate and make changes.
If you're tired of battling drought, consider letting your lawn go dormant. The crowns should stay alive if you give them an inch or so of water every two or three weeks. (Don't do this with lawns less than two years old). Warm-season grasses such as zoysia and Bermuda grass don't go dormant, but reportedly handle drought fairly well, as do native grasses such as buffalo grass and blue grama.