After enduring scorching summer temperatures, lawns are showing signs of heat stress. While extreme heat is behind us and temperatures are dropping, it’s time to repair the damage from heat stress. Understanding what this looks like and how to fix heat stress in lawn will help your lawn become vibrant again.
What is Heat Stress in Lawns?
Heat stress occurs when your lawn is exposed to prolonged high temperatures, especially when combined with insufficient water. During heat stress, grass blades lose moisture faster than they absorb it from the soil. This leads to wilting, browning, and thinning. The grass becomes brittle, and in severe cases, patches of grass die completely.
Signs of Heat Stress in Your Lawn
Here are some key indicators that your lawn is suffering from heat stress:
- Brown or yellow patches: Discolored patches are one of the first signs of heat stress.
- Wilting or curled grass blades: Grass blades appear limp or rolled up. This indicates they aren’t getting enough water.
- Footprint effect: When you walk on your lawn, your footprints stay visible longer because the grass is too dry to bounce back.
Why Heat Stress Occurs
There are two main causes of heat stress: soil issues and lack of water. Identifying the root cause is crucial for determining how to treat your lawn.
Soil Issues: Poor soil health exacerbates the effects of heat stress. Compacted soil, poor drainage, and low organic matter prevent water from reaching the roots. Which in turn, makes it difficult for the grass to absorb moisture even if it’s being watered regularly.
Auer (2019) many homeowners tend to overlook soil health as a cause of less-than-healthy grass. Soil tends to be out of sight underneath plants and grass, and it’s not always clear what poor soil even looks like. But it’s worth distinguishing between poor-quality soil and lawn heat stress. After all, heat will diminish as the seasons change, but poor soil will remain until it is treated.
How Lawn Care Companies Address Soil Issues
A professional lawn care company will help by improving your soil’s health. Lawn aeration is one of the most effective treatments for compacted soil. By creating small holes in the lawn, aeration allows water, nutrients, and oxygen to reach the root zone. Also, top dressing your lawn will improve soil health. Soil amendments like compost or organic fertilizers can be applied to enhance the soil’s water retention capacity and nutrient content.
Lack of Water
If the issue is primarily due to insufficient water, it is more straightforward to address. However, during periods of intense heat, even frequent watering might not be enough if the water isn’t penetrating deeply into the soil. A professional lawn care company can come out and assess your lawn to see if an irrigation service is necessary.
Treat Lack of Water Issues with Hydretain
Lastly, hydretain is an effective solution for lawns suffering from water shortages. This moisture management product helps retain moisture in the root zone, making the water that is available more accessible to the grass. Hydretain essentially pulls moisture from the air and surrounding soil particles and directs it to the plant roots. A lawn care company will apply Hydretain to your lawn to ensure that your grass stays hydrated even during hot periods. Contact us for more details about hydretain.
Hydretain (2019) Hydretain is a unique hygroscopic humectant technology designed condense water vapor in the soil back into plant usable water droplets. By supply plants with more usable water in between waterings and/or rainfall, Hydretain reduces drought stress, delaying wilt and reducing the need for frequent irrigation.
Good Irrigation Practices
To prevent heat stress in the future, adopting proper irrigation practices is essential. Here are some best practices to follow:
- Water deeply and infrequently: It’s better to water deeply a few times per week rather than shallowly every day. Deep watering encourages roots to grow deeper, making your lawn more drought-resistant. Aim for about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation.
- Water in the early morning: Watering in the morning helps reduce water loss from evaporation. Watering in the evening leaves grass blades wet overnight, promoting fungal growth.
- Ensure even coverage: Make sure your irrigation system or sprinklers cover the entire lawn evenly to avoid dry patches. Consider adjusting your sprinklers to account for different zones with varying sun exposure or drainage issues.
Conclusion
In conclusion, with temperatures finally cooling down, now is the perfect time to fix heat-stressed lawns. Whether the cause is soil compaction or a lack of water, the solution requires proper treatment to restore your grass’s health. A professional lawn care company will assess the soil conditions and apply solutions like Hydretain to address the root cause. By implementing good irrigation practices moving forward, your lawn stays healthy.
References:
Auer, E. (2022, August 31). What are signs of a heat stressed lawn and what you can do about it. https://www.bobvila.com/articles/heat-stressed-lawn/
Hydretain. (2019, August 15). The heat is on. Hydretain. https://www.hydretain.com/the-heat-is-on/
