Just a few short weeks ago we were wondering when the rains were going to stop. Currently in central Iowa, many lawns are dormant because of lack of rain. Homeowners have two options for lawn care when it comes to hot, dry weather. One is to simply allow the turf to go dormant. The other alternative is to properly water the lawn to maintain green turf throughout the dry spell.
Dormancy is a natural survival mechanism for cool season turfgrasses.
The foliage ceases growth, wilts, and turns brown as the turfgrass plant enters dormancy. While the foliage is dead, the crowns and roots remain alive. The maximum length of this dormant period varies from lawn to lawn and is largely dependent upon the condition of the turf. Most healthy lawns can survive in a dormant state for 4 to 6 weeks without rainfall or irrigation. However, lawns that have been damaged by insects or have excessive amounts of thatch my be killed by several weeks of hot, dry weather.