Water restrictions don’t have to be a death sentence to turf. Drought conditions are the time you should be working to keep turf and soil healthy through the season! Here are 5 myths about turf maintenance during drought and how to combat them.

Myth #1 – I can’t fertilize because it won’t get watered in and I will burn my turf.

Using high quality organic fertilizer will direct most nutrient activity to the roots and crowns, avoiding the “burn” you get with water soluble nitrogen. Improving your soil will help the turf stay healthy enough to survive these drought conditions. The time you put in today will save you time in repairs and replacement later.

Myth #2 - I should just scalp my turf through summer.

While scalping may seem like an easier solution, it actually puts more stress on the turf. Mowing heights should be RAISED through summer, creating a deeper and more extensive root system, allowing plants to withstand summer stress. Plus, that taller grass will allow soil temperatures to remain cooler at the soil surface.

Myth #3 - Water restrictions mean my grass will die anyway.

If you are using good water management practices your turf can not just survive but thrive on as little as 2 days of watering per week. By using controller settings like cycle and soak you can get the same impact as watering more often without creating runoff from long run times.

Myth #4 - Water restrictions will dry up the soil and water will runoff anyways.

If you focus on your soil’s health by using organic vs. synthetic products your turf will become more porous, actually retaining water in the subsurface. So rather than just running off, the water is reserved by the soil and released as needed.

Myth #5 - If my grass is green then I’m not saving water.

Using products like humic acids, wetting agents and soil surfactants will help keep your turf green while still reducing water usage by up to 30%!

Before you remove your turf, know how hot things can get!

Temperatures