7 Miracle Tips to Recover Your Lawn after a Drought ...

Sandra Mason, Horticulture Extension Educator from the University of Illinois Extension, says that one of the first things to focus on to recover your lawn after a drought is to focus on the grass first. She says in order to help your grass grow back you’ll need to focus on top-dressing the lawn with black soil or a compost. This helps provide a base where new grass seedlings can grow to re-establish a healthy lawn.

You might also consider getting your soil tested during the recovery process. This way any extra soil treatment that needs to be added can be done before you focus on top-dressing the lawn with your soil or compost. Remember, you want your lawn to have all the nutrients it needs so your grass can regrow, and healthy soil is the most important part of the puzzle.

Some people prefer using seeded grass while others prefer sods to give the regrowth process an extra jolt. The benefits of sods is they all match up, are level in height, and usually appear to be all the same color. Some people, however, prefer to go with a more natural look using seedlings, where some spots may be shorter or taller than others and color may differ slightly.

Once you’ve chosen your grass and had it planted, the next thing you want to focus on is the water. Water religiously with a sprinkler system, making sure to coat all areas of the grass in an even manner. Grass seedlings can take up to 14 days to sprout, so daily watering is important. If you’re using sod, you’ll still want to water regularly since it’s highly dependent upon moist soil to thrive.

Next, to maintain your lawn, you’ll want to be sure you mow it regularly once your grass reaches 4 inches in height. This will help your lawn develop a healthy foundation, and you can begin planting crops or other plants.

While maintaining your lawn, be sure you choose a good fertilizer. It should be one that doesn’t include harsh chemicals and won’t ruin the pH of your soil. Some fertilizers are best for plants and shrubs, while others are better for crops. Speak to a lawn and garden specialist so you can choose the best one for you.

To keep your lawn healthy all year long, it’s best to water your lawn twice a week, even if rain is called for. This way, if a drought happens you’ll be prepared and your lawn won’t immediately suffer.

Hopefully these tips will help you if you’re dealing with a summer drought or if you ever find yourself in the middle of one in the future. If you have any tips to share about caring for your lawn after a drought, I’d love to hear from you! What’s your best tip?

Sources: web.extension.illinois.edu, lowes.com, scotts.com