What happens if you don’t water the lawn

Published 4:04 pm Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Homeowners are regularly encouraged to let their lawns go dormant during the height of the summer to save water. Olympia comes to mind most readily, with the many “This Lawn Isn’t Dead, It’s Just Sleeping” signs.

We know it’s the right thing for the environment but is it good for your lawn?

No, said Tom Cook, a turf expert at Oregon State University I spoke with recently.

Most lawns survive the first year. In subsequent years, the lawn becomes increasingly stressed and gets thin and spotty. Without summer irrigation, the desirable perennial grasses die and opportunistic weeds and winter annual grasses such as rattail fescue move in.

Let your lawn sleep too many summers and it will be sleeping with the fishes.