What to do with my lawn?

Question

How can i get my lawn green in this drought without water?? It is turning into just dirt??

yes this is a serious question. well obviously we cant use water because of water restrictions in our area and the grass is dying and turning in to dirt patches!

Answer 1

If you live in an area with rainfall, you can set up rain barrels to catch the rain and use that to water the lawn instead of from the hose. Otherwise, I'm afrain there isn't much left for you to do. If you can give the lawn more shade it would help, but that is more of a long term aid than something right now.

Answer 2

It sounds to me that you are in an arid climate where your water is critical. Consider finding out the variety of grass you are using. Cool season varieties that can take drought are the fescues like Kentucky 31 or the turf type ones like Rebel or Falcon. Also, if you have any opportunity to irrigate at all, consider applying iron sulfate in a liquid spray. The iron will do some leaf greening without the constant water. This in not a cure all but will help on a temporary basis. Let's face it, nothing like water and rain will help more than anything. Good luck.

Answer 3

Depends on which type of grass you have. Not all grasses respond to lack of water the same way.

For example .. St. Augustine grass will die if not watered while Bahia grass tend to shut down and will revive when watered again, within a reasonable time frame. (Unless you have the newer St. Augustine’s being developed with stronger drought resistances)

As general advise I would suggest that everyone stay off your yard as much as possible to not cause any more damage to the already stress grass, and on the 1 or 2 days allowed for watering to soak at least 1" water to lawn during the early morning hours of 4 or 6 am.

You may also consider using your "used" water. Go back to the old way of washing dishes in a sink tub and throw the used soapy water out in the lawn (again not during bright sunlight as this will burn the grass). Bathtub water is another source that can be bucketed out. Plus you can unhook the drain hose of your washer into buckets; put a plastic tub in sinks for when washing hands, brushing teeth, shaving, etc. All of these give you the extra bonus as the soaps will help control pests that love stressed grass.

If a green look is what is important to you, overseed lawn with a drought resistant quik grass which will sprout quickly and make your lawn look greener. As your other grass recovers it should chock out the quik grass.

And please don't forget that some weeds survive because they do not require as much water and will be looking to overcome your lawn chocking out your grass, so pull out any spreading weeds as you see them develop.

Answer 4

It really depends on the type of grass you are trying to grow however grass needs food and water... the food is the fertilizer you feed it scotts has a great plan at any hardware store and i always double up on iornite this will keep it nice thick and green... Good Luck!!!

Answer 5

I have no idea but to tell you to replace it with fake grass then you don't have to worry about using water. My whole yard is rocks and concrete and I do have a few Palms and other landscaping but no Grass. But I do live near Las Vegas so we try not to use alot of water in our yard.

Answer 6

Its going to be tough, try saving your dish water and bath water taking it out on the lawn to water it.

Answer 7

buy sprinklers and leave it open during the night..... do it at least twice a week... this may help your lawn turn into green.... grass needs water more than anything else....

Answer 8

It take's along time to kill the roots without waterbut after a year or two the soil will turn into sand

Answer 9

Is this a serious Q? Why are you clogging this site w/a ridiculous Q?

A: You can't. The green in grass [lawn] comes from nutrients [in soil], photosynthesis [sunlight], and water; all three are needed.

Answer 10

I take it you are watering it? You need to have your soil tested at you local landscape suppliers and they will guide you toward the best additive or fertilizers to use.