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Depending
on the area of the country you are in, cool season grasses
perform best between 60-70 degrees and warm season grasses
perform best at temperatures above 80 degrees. Turf grasses
can usually survive four-five weeks in dormant stage with
minimal damage. There are four keys to managing turf in
drought conditions:
1) Proper irrigation practices are critical during times
of drought. Water should be applied from 5:00 a.m.-9:00
a.m. and approximately one inch per week is enough to
keep the crown, rhizomes and roots hydrated properly.
2) Mowing properly, during the cool part of the day, sharp
blades, and removing no more than 1/3 of the leaf blade,
will help control stress of the plant.
3) Proper fertilization will help the turf become more
stress resistant and allow for quicker recovery. Potassium
is a critical element to make the plants more stress,
insect, and disease resistant. Using slow release fertilizers
helps keep the plants growing during drought conditions.
4) Applying wetting agents will allow for more efficient
use of the available water by reducing surface tension
allowing water to spread quicker and more evenly in the
root zone areas. Co-Polymer gels can be used for water
retention.
Utilizing the above practices will allow you to minimize
turf damage from drought conditions.
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Mike Harris, Area
Manager
John Deere Landscapes
MHarris@johndeerelandscapes.com |
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