​Prioritize Your Lawn Care

  • Decide which areas are most important to be lush and limit your water use to these areas.
  • If you have a patch of grass that is not meant for display (i.e. a backyard play area), practice "survival irrigation"—6mm - 1.25cm (1/4in - 1/2in) of water every four weeks will ensure that the grass will survive.
  • Minimize foot traffic during drought to reduce turf damage.

Watering Your Lawn

  • The best lawns need 2.5cm / 1in of water per week. Keep track of how much water your lawn is getting by setting out a small food tin to collect rain water and irrigation. There is no need to water your lawn once 2.5cm / 1in has been collected in the tin.
  • Established lawns can endure 4 - 6 weeks without water without suffering long term damage. Don't worry if your lawn turns brown during dry periods. It is simply dormant and will recover with irrigation.
  • Ensure the placement of your sprinkler waters your lawn, not your driveway or the street.
  • Make sure the water you use for your lawn is absorbed. Try 20-minute intervals to allow for maximum absorption.
  • Even if the surface soil is dry, there may still be moisture further down where the roots are. Use a soil probe (such as a screwdriver) to check moisture levels. If you can easily push the probe 10 - 15cm / 5 - 6in into the soil, you don't need to water.

Hoses and Sprinklers

  • Inspect your hoses and sprinklers regularly for leaks. If a certain area of your lawn seems especially green or overgrown, you may have a leak that needs your attention.
  • Replace cracked hoses and clean nozzles regularly.
  • Store hoses away from human and pet traffic to avoid damage.

Sprinkler Timers

  • Manual sprinkler timers allow you to set the irrigation schedule based on need, rather than automatic timers that are preset based on time.
  • If you use an automatic timer, make sure you reset it regularly as rainfall changes.

Preventing Water Loss

  • Don't water your lawn when it's windy.
  • Water your lawn in the early morning or late evening.
  • The larger the sprinkler nozzle and the lower the water pressure, the more likely the drops will reach the plants without turning to vapour.

Deepen Your Roots

  • Deep roots are happy roots. Gradually decrease the amount of watering you do to encourage shallow grass roots to grow deeper. They will become capable of living with less irrigation.
  • Weed regularly, as weeds leave less water for your other plants.
  • Rich soil holds water more efficiently than soil with clay or sand and encourages deep root growth.
  • Use a slow-release fertilizer to encourage growth and reduce the need for large doses of water.

Mowing Your Lawn

  • Cut less often and leave your grass a little longer than usual to maintain a robust root system. For example, Kentucky bluegrass mowed to 7cm / 3in will develop extensive roots that often reach 20 - 25cm / 8 - 10in into the ground.
  • Increase grass height as summer turns to fall. Longer grass blades generate more energy to help the grass better survive winter.
  • Sharpen your mower blades at least 3 times per year to reduce plant stress.
  • Scatter soft grass clippings on your lawn. This will help replenish up to 40 per cent of the applied nitrogen back to the lawn as the clippings break down. A mulching mower will help speed the breakdown of the clippings.
  • Keep lawn thatch down to 1.25cm / 1/2in.  To break down thatch, add a thin layer of loam in the spring.