The summer of 2020 has come to an end and it was quite the dry one. Many states in the northeast are still dealing with extreme to moderate drought conditions. This has left many lawns dried out with dying grass. If you want your lawn to survive the winter, you need to take steps now to repair the damage to your lawn from drought. With the air slowly growing cooler, early fall is an optimal time to repair the damage to your lawn from drought. Our article this week will focus on how to do this. Be sure to check out one of our locations to see the products we have that can help you repair the damage to your lawn from drought.
How to Repair the Damage to Your Lawn from Drought
Dethatch your lawn
This can help your soil absorb what small amount of moisture is available. Accumulation of dead grass, leaves, and twigs can stop moisture from getting to the soil. The easiest way to thatch is with a sturdy rake.
Aerate your lawn
Punching holes in dry soil can help moisture reach the root system. This can be done with a rented power aeration tool or manually. If your watering restrictions are lifted, aeration is a great way to get water to the grassroots quickly and effectively.
Don’t walk on the lawn
Lawns that are damaged from drought should never be walked on. Foot traffic can further compact dry soil and break the already fragile blades of grass. Direct foot traffic away from the grass until the drought subsides.
Reseed once the drought is over
If you have damaged areas in your lawn that are larger than a handprint, you’ll want to reseed them. Before you reseed, make sure you remove all the dead grass and other material so it is easy for the seed to grow and make contact with the soil.
Fertilize a drought damaged lawn carefully
If you find that there are some excessively damaged areas, you’ll want to fertilize them. This should only be done after the drought has subsided for at least two weeks. The best type of fertilizer to use is a balanced type of fertilizer.
Don’t mow the recovering grass
Let the grass become reestablished before choosing to mow it. This also goes for grass that has been overseeded or reseeded. After your grass grows to at least 2 inches, it can be mowed but make sure the blades are sharp so they don’t rip the new grass.