With El Nino on the horizon, Californians hope to see substantial rainfall in the upcoming months. But for now, Sacramento residents must deal with the drought at hand. It’s necessary to conserve water during a drought, and often that means nurturing the lawn less than usual. But some landscaping practices actually compound the negative effects of drought. Are you making one of these California lawn care mistakes?
Top 5 Lawn Care Mistakes During a Drought
- Installing the wrong sod. California grass health varies drastically depending on the variety planted. Although folks on the East Coast sing the praises of bermudagrass, it’s not suited to a Northern California climate. Bell Sod and Hydroseed recommends a fescue turfgrass blend. The expansive root system (up to 5 feet deep) gives sod staying power, allowing the grass to pull moisture from deep in the earth during a drought.
- Mowing too low. Mowing too low (or with dull mower blades) damages grass, shocking its system and creating a need for more water to keep a landscape healthy. Limit mowing to a third of the blade at a time.
- Bagging grass clippings. Mulching cut grass recycles the water in the blades back into the soil. It also naturally fertilizes the lawn, reducing the need for additional fertilizers.
- Fertilizing too much. The more you fertilize your lawn, the faster it will grow. Not only does over-fertilizing increase a lawn’s need for moisture, it can also burn or damage grass during a drought. Limit nitrogen intake to decrease a lawn’s need for water.
- Ignoring good irrigation. There are dozens of tricks landscapers use to increase water efficiency during a drought. Familiarize yourself with the simplest methods of water conservation to save your yard this summer.
Call Bell Sod and Hydroseed to buy high quality, drought-tolerant Sacramento sod.