The most recent New Jersey drought of 2022 has devastated lawns throughout the state. Millions of brown spots stare back at us, longing for a touch of green.
Can these brown lawns come back to life?
Since there are all kinds of grass and turf, some grass species are more resilient than others. According to some experts, the cool-season grasses have a hard time surviving severe droughts as opposed to warm,-season grasses. Without green tissue or healthy white roots, most likely that grass is shot.
What to do if there is some life left in the turf.
The first thing is to water heavily, but this may be problematic should the restrictions on watering continue. Usually watering three times a week in the early morning is the best time to water a lawn, since that is when evaporation will not be as severe. This is called rehydrating the root systems.
Use a Wetting Agent
Most non-professionals may not have even known about such things, but they do exist, and what they do is draw water into the soil and help the turf retain the moisture for the root system.
Avoid Walking on the Turf
When the grass is brown, don’t step on it. That’s like beating the grass when it’s down. You also want to avoid mowing the grass in the heat of the day. Wait till the grass and the turf get a bit cooler before mowing it.
If, after all of this, the grass is still shot, you may want to try raking the grass heavily in the fall and then seeding it to see if this will produce the turf that you’re looking for in the spring. In New Jersey I have found that Kentucky bluegrass is one of the better types of grass, since it is so resilient, and its roots go down deep. When all else fails, you may have to shoot over to Lowe’s or to Home Depot in the spring for some sod for those areas that fail to return back to the green state you wanted.
If you have any questions about this information or title insurance, please contact Ralph Aponte: 732.914.1400.
Counsellors Title Agency, www.counsellorstitle.net, founded in 1996, is one of New Jersey’s most respected title agencies, serving all 21 New Jersey counties with title insurance, clearing title, escrow, tidelands searches, and closing and settlement services for commercial or industrial properties, waterfront properties and marinas, condominiums, townhouses or residential single-family homes. Counsellors Title also features its own Attorney Settlement Assistance Program™ [ASAP], which is an individual resource customized to fit the needs specifically of real estate attorneys, including, Documentation, Preparation, Disbursement of Funds, Attendance at Closing, HUD Preparation or Post-Closing Matters.