- Use Smart Watering Strategies<\/a><\/li>
- Mow Your Lawn Properly<\/a><\/li>
- Maintain Soil Health<\/a><\/li>
- Avoid Fertilization During Drought<\/a><\/li>
- Let Your Lawn Go Dormant<\/a><\/li>
- FAQ About Taking Care of Your Lawn During a Drought<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
Use Smart Watering Strategies<\/h2>
Simply increasing the amount or frequency of your watering won\u2019t help keep your lawn alive during a drought. Instead, you\u2019ll need smart watering techniques. Here, we\u2019ll discuss the best time to water, how much water to give your grass during a drought, and ways to stretch every drop for maximum benefit.<\/p>
When to Water<\/h3>
During a drought, the best time to water your grass<\/a> is early morning (between<\/strong> 4 a.m. and 9 a.m.)<\/strong> when the temperature is at its lowest for the day. This reduces evaporation loss, giving the grass time to absorb moisture before the heat kicks in.<\/p>
Additional tips:<\/strong><\/p>
- Avoid watering in the evening<\/strong>, even during a drought, as it encourages lawn diseases<\/a> by leaving the grass damp overnight.<\/li>
- To conserve water<\/strong>, many regions enforce drought watering schedules, limiting lawn watering to specific days and hours. So, check and follow your city\u2019s local watering restrictions.<\/li> <\/ul>
See Related:<\/strong> How Often to Water Grass in Summer<\/a><\/p>
Note:<\/strong> If you don\u2019t have a drought-tolerant grass lawn<\/a> that demands less water or can\u2019t tend to your lawn during a drought, you can hire a LawnStarter landscaping pro<\/a> to install an automatic sprinkler system.<\/p>
How Much to Water<\/h3>
You\u2019ll want to water your lawn with about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week<\/strong> to encourage strong root growth.<\/p>
Watering once or twice a week is better than watering daily. Shallow, frequent watering keeps the grass roots near the surface, making them more vulnerable to drought stress. But watering your lawn deeply but less often can make it more resilient in dry conditions. For sandy soils, though, you\u2019ll need to water more often but less per session.<\/p>
To avoid overwatering<\/strong>, use the rain gauge or tuna can test<\/a>. This simple test is cost-effective and surprisingly accurate.<\/p>
See Related:<\/strong> How Long Should I Water My Lawn?<\/a><\/p>
Water-Saving Techniques<\/h3>
![\"Water](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/rain-barrel.jpg\")
Rain barrel. Photo Credit: NinaMalyna<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure> Even if you already have drought-tolerant landscaping<\/a>, it wouldn\u2019t hurt to use these water-saving methods:<\/p>
- Install rain barrels<\/strong> under downspouts to collect stormwater for your lawn. Even a quarter inch of rain on a 1,000-square-foot roof can yield over 150 gallons of free water.<\/li>
- Apply wetting agents<\/strong> or soil surfactants once a month to help water soak evenly into the soil instead of pooling or evaporating.<\/li> <\/ul>
Note:<\/strong> Sudden heavy rains are not uncommon during a drought. While it can be a relief, it can also cause soil erosion and even flooding. <\/p>
Similarly, to avoid erosion and runoff (and save water) when you irrigate, use the cycle and soak method, especially on clay soils and sloped landscapes. For each zone, run your sprinklers until water starts to pool. Program that time in your smart controller (\u201ccycle\u201d). Then program a 30 minute to 1 hour rest period (\u201csoak\u201d). Repeat 1-2 more times.<\/p>
Mow Your Lawn Properly<\/h2>
During a drought, your mowing routine needs a few key adjustments as well. <\/p>
Jason Lanier, Extension specialist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, says, \u201cMowing more frequently than growth demands is unnecessary and can cause undue stress and physical injury to grass plants.\u201d<\/p>
These simple changes can help your lawn retain soil moisture<\/a> and reduce lawn stress:<\/p>
- Raise mowing height<\/strong> to the highest recommended setting<\/a> for your grass type. Tall grass shades the soil, reducing evaporation and keeping the roots moist.<\/li>
- Keep blades sharp<\/strong> to create clean cuts that heal faster. Depending on usage, you may have to sharpen your lawn mower blades<\/a> every 10 hours of mowing.<\/li>
- Mow less frequently<\/strong> when the grass is growing slowly to reduce lawn stress, advises Lanier. Or, suspend mowing completely if the grass isn\u2019t actively growing.<\/li>
- Leave grass clippings<\/strong> after mowing your lawn. Using grass clippings as mulch<\/a> can help return moisture and nutrients to the soil.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Keep blades sharp<\/strong> to create clean cuts that heal faster. Depending on usage, you may have to sharpen your lawn mower blades<\/a> every 10 hours of mowing.<\/li>
- Apply wetting agents<\/strong> or soil surfactants once a month to help water soak evenly into the soil instead of pooling or evaporating.<\/li> <\/ul>
- To conserve water<\/strong>, many regions enforce drought watering schedules, limiting lawn watering to specific days and hours. So, check and follow your city\u2019s local watering restrictions.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Mow Your Lawn Properly<\/a><\/li>
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