If you have a cool-season fescue lawn, you are likely bracing for its dormant period. This is the time when this grass can’t take the heat, so it goes to sleep until conditions are acceptable. It’s sort of like taking an afternoon siesta during the hottest part of the day. The difference is that it’s in your yard, and it isn’t going to sleep for a couple hours.
Summer dormancy is a normal part of cool-season grass’ survival, and the grass does this when the nighttime temperatures across the region reach up into the 90-degree range because the ground does not cool off enough at night. You can expect this yellowing to occur when night temperatures no longer dip below 70 degrees, and if you don’t have air conditioning, you probably wish you could go dormant during this time period too.
If the appearance of your grass is a great priority, you may be dreading your future yellow lawn. Part of this is unavoidable…especially during a harsh summer. It is called summer decline, and it can even happen to warm-season grasses if the summer is hot enough. You actually want your grass to do this when it needs to do it, so it can live and return to its green glory when temperatures are more...temperate. However, there are a few things you can do to prevent or reduce the effects of the heat on your fescue lawn.
You cannot change the outdoor temperature, so the only thing you can do is provide shade. We don’t recommend installing sun shades all over your yard. Instead, raise the height on your mower and let your grass grow a little taller than normal. This helps to shade the soil a little bit and keep the temps down.
Watering is not the problem, and your yard should only get about 1 inch of water per week even in the heat of summer. This includes any torrential downpours from thunderstorms, so make sure you include this in your calculations. Morning watering is recommended, so water has time to be absorbed in the ground and does not sick around to grow mold or mildew.
Fertilizer is not going to prevent dormancy. It could actually harm your fragile grass. Wait until it is in its growing season again to apply any harsh chemicals.
You don’t have to have an ugly lawn if it doesn’t get too hot, and these tips will help prevent it if you have a mild summer. However, if your lawn goes dormant, just be patient. It will be back soon.
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Greenfeet Lawncare Provides Service to the Following Areas.
770-619-2929
North Fulton, East Cobb, Cherokee, Forsyth Counties - including Alpharetta, Canton, Cobb, Cumming, Dunwoody, Gwinnett, Johns Creek, Marietta, Milton, Roswell, Sandy Spring
