Lawns In North Bay - Due to "HIGH" Water Bills

Let your grass "sleep it off".   Is your lawn a little yellowish

 or brown during the Summer?  Don't worry ...  this is called

 'dormancy' and it's how your lawn protects itself against

 the heat.  It's true ...  so, when the weather turns hot and 

dry, let your lawn sleep.  This means no watering, no

 mowing and no foot traffic.  And don't worry ...  your lawn

will awaken soon enough.

Water early! Watering in the morning means less water is

 lost to evaporation.Water 2.5 cm a week, including rainfall. 

 Most people overwater, yet experts say you only need 

2.5 cm (1 inch) of water, a week, including rainfall, 

maintain a vibrant healthy lawn.

Use a rain barrel ...  Don't let storm water go to waste. 

 Make sure the downspouts from your home's eaves

 troughs are disconnected from the sewer system and

 instead drain into a rain barrel, where you can use

 the water when needed.  

Mow High.  Raise your lawn mower blades to a height

 of 7.5 cm (3 inches).  Longer grass has deeper roots,

 can crowd out weeds and above all, retains the lawn 

soil's moisture.

Leave the grass clippings.  Stop bagging or racking up

 your lawn clippings.  Clippings provide valuable nutrients

 (nitrogen), help retain moisture and make it difficult for

 weeds to grow.  Clippings break down quickly and

 disappear within a day or twoMow when grass is dry.

  For an even 3" inch lawn, cut your grass when it's dry.

  This also helps prevent clippings from clogging your

 mower.  Mow late in the day to avoid morning dew.

Fertilize only in Spring and Fall.  Avoid fertilizing your

 lawn during the Summer months or you'll get burned 

in more ways than one.  Fertilizing during hot and humid

 days will burn your grass, stress your lawn's soil and

 hike up your water bill as you try to revive your lawn. 

 All a healthy lawn needs during the Summer is the use

 of proper mowing techniques and 2.5 cm (1 "inch) a

 week of water ...  including rainfall.