Summer Lawns 101

The secret to achieving a healthy lawn in the summer is thorough, careful watering to encourage deep, drought-resistant roots. Both the frequency and amount of water required will vary with your climate, soil and lawn's needs. Here are some easy tips to help you look after your lawn in hot, dry weather.


* Choose a time of day. Evening and early morning are the best times to water because less water is lost to evaporation than with midday irrigation.

* Choose a watering method. Aboveground sprinklers cover large areas such as lawns most effectively. Use drip irrigation in arid climates, around shrubs and trees, and in gardens for maximum water efficiency and disease control.

* Adjust sprinkler and drip systems. Set up overhead sprinklers so that water falls only on your lawn and not on sidewalks, roads or buildings. Adjust the water pressure of either type of system to allow water to penetrate the soil without running off.

* Adjust the height of your mower blade. This drastically increases your lawn's survival chances during a drought. Sharp blades also help reduce the need for water because dull blades shred leaf tips, causing the turf to use more water than necessary.

* Keep off the grass. Avoid walking on the grass during periods of drought. Mow lawns as little as possible during droughts to avoid additional stress, and never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade in one mowing. Allow mulched clippings to remain on the lawn to help cool the soil and retain moisture.

* Aerate your lawn. Aeration improves the movement of water and nutrients into the soil, decreases run-off and encourages the roots of grass to grow deeply and to become more drought tolerant.