On these areas it is important not to apply water faster than it can be absorbed. One possible method is to irrigate a slope for a period of time until the water just begins to run off and then stop. Allow the water to infiltrate into the soil and then water the area again until runoff just begins. Repeat this cycle several times until the soil is wet to a depth of six inches. In extended droughts where a lawn is not watered, the lawn will wilt and the leaves will turn brown.
Dormancy is a natural survival mechanism of the turf plants.
A turfgrass plant loses water through the leaves. When the leaves are dead, little water is lost which conserves water and allows the crown and root system to remain alive. Turf can survive four to six weeks in a dormant condition without a significant thinning of the turf upon the return of favorable moisture conditions. This irrigation will not cause the turf to green up but will provide moisture to help the crown and root system survive. Following the onset of favorable moisture conditions, either through rainfall or irrigation, the turf will develop new leaves and begin to grow actively.