European mountainash, paper birch and European birch should be watered during dry periods to prevent major problems in the future. Other trees and shrubs in the landscape that would probably benefit from watering include pagoda dogwood, redbud, beech, tuliptree, rhododendrons and azaleas. If the drought persists, even the large, well-established trees and shrubs would welcome watering by mid to late summer. Cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, can survive extended periods of dry weather. The turfgrass plants stop shoot growth and go dormant.
Dormancy is a natural survival mechanism for turfgrasses.
While the leaves have died and turned brown, the turfgrass roots and crowns remain alive. Generally, turfgrass can remain dormant for four to six weeks without significant damage to the plants. The appearance of the turfgrass is the best way to determine when to water the lawn. The ideal time to water a lawn is at the first signs of water stress. Turfgrasses that have adequate supplies of water are normally dark green in color.