How to keep your lawn alive during drought and heat

July 16, 2012|Melissa Scheffler | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

(WICHITA, Kan.) — You wouldn't know we're in the middle of a drought by looking at Ken Tector's lawn.

"It's pretty good for the heat,” Tector said.

He's trying to keep his grass green, considering what happened during last year's dry period.

"This is rebel fescue. We replanted it last fall because everything was dead,” Tector said.

And he doesn't want a repeat. Neither do the countless callers trying to squeeze every last drop of information from Sedgwick County Extension horticulture agent, Rebecca McMahon.

"It's the combination of the heat and the drought. It's kind of a one-two punch for a lot of our plants,” McMahon said.

So, if your lawn is still green...

"You would want to give your lawn about one inch of water every three to four days when it's this hot,” McMahon said.

But if it's going dormant...

"As long as they get a quarter to a half an inch of water every couple of weeks, that's just enough to keep the plants alive,” McMahon said.

If it's dead... just leave it until you replant in the fall or spring. You can tell if it's dead by digging down around an entire grass plant. If you peel everything back and it’s still dry and crispy-- it's done.

"Keep it watered and stay with it,” Tector said.

That's Tector's advice for beating the heat two summers in a row.

"I'm doing the best I can,” Tector said.

Also, when you do water, do it in the morning. The extension office recommends you mow in the morning or evening hours, due to air quality concerns.

How to keep your lawn alive during drought and heat

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