[Green]

Who else has any level of heat stress or actual dormancy going on? And what are your dormancy management strategies for this year?

My main lawn has some dormant blades despite regular irrigation, because it's been so dry here, and also the heat stress.

Part of the low-input area, which I don't irrigate unless I really have to, is about half dormant already. I've only watered it once so far, whereas the front has been watered a bunch of times (probably 10 or so) this year.

My grandfather's lawn, which receives essentially zero irrigation, is more than half brown in the front, and losing color in the back.

How about your heat stress or dormant areas by choice or necessity? How do they look? How are they doing?

 

[social port]

I don't know what is in dormancy and what is dead, but my fescue is really struggling right now. Only two more months of 85+ days. Ready for fall. Ready for fertilizer. Ready for green.

But more seriously, I think the bulk of my brown areas is dormant grass. I've been watering some, and a recent round of rain has helped, I believe. I've used baby shampoo to help with water penetration. I've also used kelp and humic acid. I'm watching for the right moment to put down a healthy dose of K as well.

 

[Green]

I don't know what is in dormancy and what is dead, but my fescue is really struggling right now. Only two more months of 85+ days. Ready for fall. Ready for fertilizer. Ready for green.

But more seriously, I think the bulk of my brown areas is dormant grass. I've been watering some, and a recent round of rain has helped, I believe. I've used baby shampoo to help with water penetration. I've also used kelp and humic acid. I'm watching for the right moment to put down a healthy dose of K as well.

I read your post on that right before you posted here! If it gets some water regularly, a lot of it should stay alive.

A lot of the dormant grass I'm managing in the two yards is FF. I've heard various things about the dormancy of fescue, but I'm not certain how FF and TTTF compare in that way, even though I have both. I do know last year, my neighbor's lawn (FF) was brown for 1-2 months while they were away. It received little water. It came back well in October, and nearly prefectly this Spring.

 

[LIgrass]

I only have 1 small section going dormant and it's because it's mostly Prosperity. I have a driveway strip that receives no irrigation. The Bewitched in the same strip is unfazed.. It's amazing how drought tolerant BW is.

 

[Green]

I only have 1 small section going dormant and it's because it's mostly Prosperity. I have a driveway strip that receives no irrigation. The Bewitched in the same strip is unfazed.. It's amazing how drought tolerant BW is.

Wow, really? What has your rainfall been like?

 

[LIgrass]

I only have 1 small section going dormant and it's because it's mostly Prosperity. I have a driveway strip that receives no irrigation. The Bewitched in the same strip is unfazed.. It's amazing how drought tolerant BW is.

Wow, really? What has your rainfall been like?

I don't really keep precise track but the frequency of rain has been spaced out perfect this spring. I feel like we had a good rainfall at least once a week up until last week.

 

[Green]

I don't really keep precise track but the frequency of rain has been spaced out perfect this spring. I feel like we had a good rainfall at least once a week up until last week.

Ok, because we finally had measureable rain a few days ago. Before that, we went almost 3 weeks with nothing really measureable. Even before that, we had a deficit of 2-3 inches starting before June. June has been really dry this year, and a lot of the rain passed just a little to our South, so it makes sense that you got it.

 

[jessehurlburt]

I have some dormant spots in my lawn. I've hit them with water a few times these past three weeks, but I am fine letting them go dormant. My focus has been on keeping my new grass happy in my backyard low input area and so far so good. Woke up this morning to a crazy thunderstorm and downpours which is nice for a change. I assume you're getting all this glorious rain this morning too, Green? We must have already gotten an inch and a half or more.

Edit: I looked on Wundermap and the closest station is reporting 2 inches of rain today in Plymouth, CT. :banana:

 

[j4c11]

I let my Midnight driveway strip go dormant (or dead, who knows). Looking very splotchy right now. We'll see how much of it comes back in the fall.

 

[ForsheeMS]

With nearly a half acre lawn I don't have a lot of choice but to let it go dormant, die, or whatever else happens during the hot, dry weather. Can't afford to irrigate as it would be far too expensive. So far this year my lawn has done really well through the first hot spell we had. Temps in the 90's and no rain for two weeks. Most of it is still green and growing very slowly. I had a couple sections that were killed off last fall and reseeded due to a bermuda infestation and those are taking a beating. Finally got rain this week and those spots are greening back up.

Basically my summer plan is to stop mowing just before the drought hits. The last cut about 2 weeks ago was at 4.25" and currently it's between 5" to 6" and looking a little shaggy but it helps it survive. Now that we have had some rain I'll probably cut it to 4.5" or a little taller today and won't mow again until we get another good rain. I really don't like to let it go shaggy but continued mowing when dry does it no good.

 

[pennstater2005]

My Dad has a lawn that is almost entirely clover and it actually looks really good from the road. All green. Sometimes I wonder...........

 

[dacoyne]

My lawn has not shown any signs of dormancy just yet, it's actually looking pretty good. We have a stretch of 90+ temps starting tomorrow. I have sprayed down humic acid twice in the last 30 days. I'm mowing at around 3" anything higher than that and the grass lays over and gets fungus.

Is there anything else I can put down to help ward off dormancy and heat stress?

 

[Green]

I assume you're getting all this glorious rain this morning too, Green? We must have already gotten an inch and a half or more.

Edit: I looked on Wundermap and the closest station is reporting 2 inches of rain today in Plymouth, CT. :banana:

Yup. 1.37 in my gauge. Dried out enough a little bit ago to mow, and now another downpour. Finally, rain. I was wondering what that was a week ago. Well, the grass won't die in the heat, at least.

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

Nope, just disease. We've had an awesome spring/summer so far here in Oregon...no rain but constantly 65-80F for weeks on end with no change in the next week at least.

 

[rockinmylawn]

I have some 'spots' that look like disease - but upon inspection just went yellow & died.
No mounds to signal any animal infestation.
Irrigation is not missing any areas.
We've been getting some 90+° days here & but it rains 1/2"to 2 inches @ least weekly.
Really odd since the rest of the grass is still green & lush.

 

[Delmarva Keith]

Who else has any level of heat stress or actual dormancy going on? And what are your dormancy management strategies for this year?

My main lawn has some dormant blades despite regular irrigation, because it's been so dry here, and also the heat stress.

Part of the low-input area, which I don't irrigate unless I really have to, is about half dormant already. I've only watered it once so far, whereas the front has been watered a bunch of times (probably 10 or so) this year.

My grandfather's lawn, which receives essentially zero irrigation, is more than half brown in the front, and losing color in the back.

How about your heat stress or dormant areas by choice or necessity? How do they look? How are they doing?

Yes, it's started here also. No significant rain for about 3 weeks and it suddenly got hot. Even well irrigated turf has some spots of heat stress. No way to really manage heat other than stay off it and don't cut it. For drought stress, of course up the irrigation and check for coverage problems.

On my own lawn, it was looking great up until yesterday and then by this afternoon, I could see some small areas starting to needle. I believe it's a soil issue in those spots that will have to wait for Fall to deal with. For now, I broke down and yup, bought a bottle of baby shampoo and gave 'er the gundy plus another half inch of water on that zone. I doubt the shampoo will help anything long term, but I have July 4 company coming and they expect to see some awesome turf. It was an admittedly desperate move but it can't hurt so what the hell. Also smells nice .

 

[social port]

@rockinmylawn have you checked for grubs?

 

[rockinmylawn]

@rockinmylawn have you checked for grubs?

Appears to be no roots but no white grubs either....

 

[Delmarva Keith]

@rockinmylawn have you checked for grubs?

Appears to be no roots but no white grubs either....

If it was grubs, the grubs are already gone and flying around as beetles. No roots in a dry / hot spell = dead turf. I think social port is probably right.

 

[rockinmylawn]

@rockinmylawn have you checked for grubs?

Appears to be no roots but no white grubs either....

If it was grubs, the grubs are already gone and flying around as beetles. No roots in a dry / hot spell = dead turf. I think social port is probably right.

Yeah he's usually right. LOL!

Anything to do now to prevent this from reoccurring?