Merriam-Webster defines “xeric” as characterized by, relating to, or requiring only a small amount of moisture. Turfgrass, when properly cared for, works well in xeric landscapes. It is important to always consider how you can conserve water while meeting your landscaping needs.
To maintain Turfgrass in a xeric landscape, practice the following:
Find out how much water you are actually putting on your grass. Over-watering is common. If you have an automatic system, it may require adjustments. If you are hand-watering, you need to know how much is enough and how much is too much. Refer to our watering section for more information.
Water early in the morning, or late in the evening. Optimum water usage can be obtained by watering to near run-off conditions, allowing it to soak in and then re-applying within 1 — 2 hours. This ensures that all of the water is reaching the roots of the plant. It also encourages deep rooting. In this manner, no water is lost to run-off. It is now safe to skip several days before watering again.
During times of drought, it’s okay to let your grass go “dormant” during the summer. Consult with one of our expert members to learn how to treat your specific type of grass.
Simply reduce the amount of time you spend watering. A 10% reduction will have little impact upon your lawn, but will greatly assist in your efforts to conserve water.
Hand water areas that may be under stress. Lawns are very drought resilient and will bounce back.
Source: Rocky Mountain Sod Growers Association
