Restoring Dead Grass

Restoring Dead Grass

TOM: With summer’s searing heat, many lawns look more like a dying hayfield than a field of green. But with a few careful steps, you can bring it back to life. Hi, I’m Tom Kraeutler.

LESLIE: And I’m Leslie Segrete with today’s Money Pit home improvement minute.

TOM: Summer heat can quickly turn a blanket of green grass into a browning backyard wasteland. But your lawn can survive and thrive once again with a few precautions.

LESLIE: First, cut back on your mowing. In hot, dry weather, grass goes into a semi-dormant state and looks dead, but it will green back up again when the weather improves. Mowing your lawn once a week is plenty.

TOM: Also, let your lawn grow between two-and-a-half and three inches long. Otherwise, grass loses moisture through the cut tips, and the mower wheels can leave brown stripes on stressed-out lawns.

LESLIE: Finally, do a heavy lawn watering two or three times a week rather than light watering every day. You’re going to encourage deeper root growth and keep your lawn greener. I’m Leslie Segrete.

TOM: And I’m Tom Kraeutler. For more Money Pit home improvement tips, visit moneypit.com.