With triple digit temperatures starting in May and very little rain, we are sure to have a long, hot summer. After all the hard work you've put into your yard, not to mention the money, how do you keep things alive in this drought?
- Mulch, Mulch, Mulch - This helps to conserve water and keep soil temperature down. Use 2 to 6 inches. You can use pine or cypress bark, pine needles or straw. Grass clippings can be used after they have dried.
- Water Wisely - Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation in flower and shrub beds to put water at the roots. They can reduce the amount of water used for irrigation by 20 to 50 percent. Water in the early morning hours.
- Lawn Care - Cut grass on a slightly higher setting (but just as frequently) and leave the clippings on the lawn to help mulch and fertilize the lawn. Water when grass shows signs of wilt. Water early morning or late evening and on non-windy days. Adjust sprinklers so they don't water streets and sidewalks.
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