Dry to Drought and your Lawn.

Unfortunately when dry continues for a while, the probability of getting our rain deficit back soon is lower because dry has been the trend and will take some catching up. 

If you have sprinklers this is not as big of a problem - Just make sure to use them.

If a lawn goes dormant early, especially if cut too short with a dull mower blade, this can mean thinning and patchy dead areas when rains return.

• Normally lawns go dormant in late July and August, not June.

• ATTENTION- All lawns not normally watered could use a couple of good waterings to bridge the gap to late July/August's naturally dry and more normal dormancy period. If you normally are not watering in late July or August, no problem but if it gets dry in June with an early dry trend that continues, it has the potential to damage lawns, especially lawns already dry and cut too low, because it extends the amount of time the lawn can naturally be dormant without damage. 

BRIDGE THE GAP to the more normal-dry times of July/August in Northern IL, so your lawn doesn't thin and die out in areas just weeks before more seasonal rains come in late summer/fall. 

• So, if you’re not looking for a lawn of the month and you never water and you are just looking for a decent lawn, we're talking to you.  Also, Mr. I always forget to sharpen my blades or cut at the right height as your current lawn is going brown fast. I’m also speaking to all the lawn owners that cut their lawn right with a sharp blade, with a lawn that may still be holding a dull green during a dry period- EVERY YEAR IS DIFFERENT so even if you never water, do it this time and ensure your turf will be there after the summer drought is over. 

• Your lawn still needs food when the water does come and can make all the difference in full recovery when it's raining again, especially with the slow release of organic Potassium and Phosphorus nutrients.

• Our upgraded fertilizer blends and our drought recovery fertilizer analysis are formulated for optimal results in a Dry to drought Year. These Dry slow-release fertilizers will release when watered in and all have a high percentage of composted organic base. These blends of slowly releasing organic fertilizer will give the nutrients needed when they are needed.

• Standard fertilizer lawns may receive Balance, Organic upgrade, or drought recovery application for their round 3 or 4 treatment round depending on how dry and or dormant.  We will upgrade your treatment if needed for no additional charge.

• If possible, bridging the gap into July and then letting it go dormant would be better for your lawn.

Sprinklers come in a variety of designs and can help water your growing lawn. The This Old House Reviews team researched the best sprinklers to help you find a product that can nourish your grass all year long. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon.   By This Old House Reviews Team  

Adjustments will be made for the best possible outcome depending on the conditions on your lawn.

*Drought protocol will start after 4-6 weeks with no significant amounts of rain and the lawn is dormant.  We may route and treat some lawns with sprinklers and or service areas differently as some areas may get more rain than others but generally, if your lawn has gone dormant/not green you should start expecting the changes listed below

• Make customers aware of conditions and of potential changes and how important mowing at the right height with a sharp blade is.
• Slow Treatment Timing in July and August if the lawn is dormant when last applied 
  • Note: lawns still need food going into and coming out of dormancy.
• Continue to treat weeds as they will try to out-compete the grass.
• Change to drought recovery-friendly formulations/ analysis to activate when watered/rained in to aid in a healthy recovery.  Our upgraded fertilizer blends and our drought recovery fertilizer analysis are formulated for optimal results in a dry to drought year.
  • This will not harm a dry or dormant lawn. It will only help it recover.
• Stop fertilizer treatments if the lawn is dormant with no significant amounts of rain since the drought recovery-friendly treatment was applied.  Weed control may continue.

We have experienced drought conditions going back to the 1990s so this isn't our first dry to drought time. We have deployed in the past a drought protocol. 

• Cut height 3.5-4 - confirmed with a ruler- Yes use a ruler.
• Sharp Blade - less tearing less water lost
• Don't mow unless it grows- Do not lower your mower!
• Water your lawn- especially if you are in the drier areas on the map below.