Water-smart lawn care

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Across Canada, the state of one’s lawn is fast becoming tantamount to a public political treatise on one’s stance on “Issues Environmental.” We’ve all seen grass that looks suspiciously lush, low-cropped and weed-free—and I hope that we all shudder, wag our fingers and shake our heads; but by the same token, the opposite extreme—a neglected, weedy, disease-ridden lawn is equally wince-inducing. Surely there has to be a happy medium.

Here are ways to reduce water use yet keep your lawn lush.

Dethatch and aerate your lawn every year to make it easier for water to reach the turfgrass root zone.
To hell with Kentucky bluegrass! Overseed with one of the new drought-tolerant fescue turf mixes, such as Enviro-Turf or Eco-lawn.
Turfgrass only needs 2.5 centimetres of water per week to remain green and healthy; overwatering can lead to disease. For heavy soil, irrigate only once per week; sandy soil, twice.
Buy an inexpensive rain gauge (available at most garden centres and hardware stores) and remember to include rainfall when you calculate your 2.5-centimetre maximum per week.
Purchase rain barrels for all your downspouts; what you don’t use for your containers and beds can be used on the lawn.
Always irrigate early (between 4 and 9 a.m.) so water isn’t lost to evaporation. Avoid fan sprinklers that shoot water high into the air (where it’s subject to wind and evaporation); impulse sprinklers that deliver water close to ground level are more efficient.
Set your mower blades to 7.5 centimetres high. Taller grass yields deeper, more drought-tolerant roots, and longer shoots provide shade at ground level, helping to retain soil moisture.
For large lawns, use a mulch mower, and leave the finely chopped grass clippings where they lie to add nitrogen to the soil as they decompose, shade out weeds and conserve moisture.
For smaller lawns, use a reel, or push, mower. Make sure to roll over each row twice—a double pass—to further chop up clippings. (Added benefit: no loud noise or air pollution.)
Whether your region experiences a wet or dry summer will be the ultimate arbiter of your lawn’s appearance. Keep in mind that during times of drought, having straw-coloured turfgrass is a badge of honour.