A drought is a prolonged period of dry weather that occurs naturally throughout the world. Lack of precipitation causes a water shortage in this disaster, which develops slowly. Agriculture, health, economies, and the environment can all be negatively affected by drought.

Summer is the time of year when everyone dreams of having a green lawn with lush grass. The process of accomplishing this can be challenging even in the best of times. The task becomes slightly more challenging when the weather is dry. Drought stress has symptoms that are crucial to understanding. In that period, if you see any signs of wilting, color darkening, or footprints on the lawn, you need to focus on drought lawn care. The following article provides tips for drought-resistant lawn care:

Let the grass grow

You should not be afraid to adjust your mowing height depending on the needs of your lawn. Keeping your grass high is essential when drought strikes. A tall turfgrass provides some shade and helps establish deep roots, which further helps your lawn resist drought. 

Avoid fertilizing

When there is a dry spell in the weather, don't fertilize your lawn. Fertilizers high in salt, especially those applied during hot, dry weather, can burn your turf. You should provide your lawn with plenty of water to allow it to absorb the fertilizer.

You should consider slow-release fertilizer applications over quick-release fertilizer if your grass needs a boost. It is possible that quick-release nitrogen fertilizer will weaken your lawn over time and can even be harmful if you misuse it. Before drought strikes, apply fertilizer to warm-season grasses earlier in the spring. Fall fertilization is recommended for grasses in the cool season.

Weed by hand

A lawn can be sucked dry by weeds, requiring all the nutrients, water, and space they can get. Weed your lawn by hand if you notice pesky weeds creeping up on your lawn.

A risky approach to fighting weeds during drought is applying herbicides. You can't apply herbicides in hot weather (over 80-85 degrees) since the herbicide will evaporate and your turf cannot absorb it. Increasing temperatures and drought lawn care can also cause plants (including weeds) to go dormant and stop absorbing nutrients, so herbicides wouldn't be absorbed. 

Don’t dethatch or aerate

During a drought, you should not aerate or dethatch your lawn. In a drought, dethatching and aerating will add even more stress to your already stressed lawn. 

It's best to dethatch and aerate your lawn in the spring or fall when the weather is cool and your lawn is not under so much strain. It is also possible to recover your lawn after the drought ends by dethatching and aerating it. 

Water efficiently

Watering your lawn efficiently is important during a drought - if you can. A drought or water restrictions will make it necessary for you to maximize every drop of water.  Water every five to seven days if there is enough water available and you do not have water restrictions. Water can be conserved by letting your grass go dormant or waiting until you notice wilting signs before you sprinkle your lawn. Wilting is a sign that your grass is suffering from drought stress. 

Keep off the lawn

If your lawn is suffering from drought stress, you may notice that your footsteps leave a mark on the grass after you walk over it. It can be difficult for your grass to survive in dry, hot weather. During dormancy or when your lawn is withering, it is best to avoid trampling on it. It may be difficult for your lawn to thrive under drought conditions with the added stress of foot traffic. 

The compaction of soil increases with a lot of foot traffic and can exacerbate drought stress. When your soil is compacted, water cannot soak into the ground and your plants cannot establish roots. 

Mulch your heart out

Mulching grass clippings on the lawn can return nutrients to the soil. But you should avoid it if your lawn is infested with weeds or diseased grass. It can also prevent weeds from invading your dormant lawn if you mulch healthy grass during drought lawn care.

You can add organic mulch to your garden beds to keep the soil cool and moist after watering. The mulch will retain water and prevent it from evaporating. Weeds are also kept away from the garden by mulch. When organic mulch is added, such as wood chips, shredded leaves, and grass clippings, will decompose and return nutrients to the ground.