The hotter than usual summer weather in the Treasure Valley has caused major stresses to our lawns. These hot temperatures shattered the current record of consecutive days over 100 degrees measured at the Boise Airport. It was also the hottest June ever in Boise.
This hot weather without proper watering will turn a green lawn into a crispy brown lawn in no time. Like any plant, turf will react to the high temperatures and lack of water with browning, wilting and even possibly death.
If your turf is turning brown here are some things to look for:
(1) Lightly pull up the grass. If it pulls up easily from the soil and is not properly rooted, it’s likely brown from drought stress
(2) Push a soil probe or screw driver into the brown and green areas of turf. If the probe goes into the soil easily in green areas and will not penetrate into brown areas, the soil is dry.
(3) Stand back and look over the entire lawn. When you suspect drought, brown spots appear randomly and in rough patterns. Turf near a sprinkler head may be green, while turf away from the head is brown. This would lead you to assume poor sprinkler coverage or a broken/plugged nozzle.
(4) Other signs of drought stress are footprints on grass after its walked on, a grayish casting or darker color and even wilting of grass blades.
During hot, dry conditions lawns can go into summer dormancy without proper watering.
To achieve the best lawn possible, proper watering techniques are a necessity throughout the year. Lawns have a minimum water requirement and any quantity less than the minimum amount, limits the vigor and health of the grass. Obviously during high temperatures, the water necessity increases dramatically for turf. An aeration will also increase water penetration, mitigate soil compaction, rapid runoff, and will promote deeper rooting, all of which will help use water more efficiently.
