Landscapes fight drought, need water to make it through without stress, damage
February 27, 2006
Homeowners who aren't watering their lawns and landscapes given the dry weather should be; the staff at Ryan Lawn and Tree is noticing drought stress on landscape plants.
Most at risk for drought damage are new lawns planted last fall. New grass does not have a deep root system, and new plantings are beginning to fail in absence of adequate water. There is no relief in sight with warm weather predicted for the early part of this week. As days go by without any precipitation, expect to see more damage.
To minimize damage from dry conditions, homeowners should set out the garden hose and sprinkler and water each part of their landscapes. Apply at least an inch of water to every part of the lawn. This usually requires running an oscillating sprinkler at least two hours in each location. Set out a rain gauge and time how long it takes to get an inch in each spot, then set a timer as a reminder to move the hose.
Not just lawns, but all landscape plants will benefit from supplemental watering during this dry spell.