DROUGHT DAMAGE EMERGENCY!!
Posted on July 14, 2012 - 9:04 am
by 2012 Drought Information
WARM WINTER AND SPRING WITH LITTLE RAIN AND SNOW ADD TO SEVERITY
LANDSCAPE PLANTS WILL BE AFFECTED FOR SEVERAL YEARS
Summer droughts are common for this region but this year we are having an extended period of almost no rainfall and warmer than usual temperatures. Normally drought conditions start in mid-summer and end with early fall rains. This year we have had a warm dry winter and spring as well.
Bluegrass, ryegrass, and fescue grasses survive the normal drought periods of six to eight weeks by going dormant…the leaves turn brown and all moisture is stored in the crown of the plant at ground level. After six to eight weeks, the plants begin to die. If they are watered they may “break” dormancy and start growing again. This takes a lot of energy and it is not good for plants to go in and out of dormancy multiple times. It is important to have some slow-release plant food available to the lawn to provide the energy needed for recovery. Our dry material falls to the ground where it cannot burn the plants and is released when the lawn is watered or we get rain.
Drought Survival Strategies can be found Here!
Other Important Drought Considerations can be found Here!
Specific Watering Guidelines can be found Here!