Acushnet Landscaper Offers Tips for Maintaining Your Lawn in a Drought

Did you know your lawn needs at least one inch of water per week to stay flourishing and lush?

"With the little amount of rain, especially over the past two weeks, most lawns are in drought stress," said Joe Marmelo, owner and operator of Marmelo Landscaping in Acushnet. "Unfortunately, if your lawn is really burnt, it's next to impossible to revive dead grass."

For disclosure's sake, the Marmelo family are our in-laws. We've depended on Marmelo's expertise for decades, and lately with the drought, we all can use some helpful things to remember about nurturing our lawns.

"You want to try to water every other day or so for about 30 minutes in zones. The best time is at dawn, just after the sun rises, because the water doesn't evaporate as much and the water has time to sink in the soil," Marmelo said. "But whatever you do, remember not to water the lawn in the bright sun, or in the afternoon, when it's 90 degrees."

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Marmelo recommended to keep your mower high in dry conditions.

"In weather like we've been having, don't cut your lawn low," he said. "Mowing your lawn while it's burnt and dry can cause permanent damage, so be careful, because it's easier to prevent damage than it is to reverse it."

Until now, we've always mowed our lawn, or should I say scalped our lawn as short as possible, in an attempt to not have to mow as often. Apparently, that's not such a smart thing to do.

"Cutting the grass too short is the biggest mistake most people make. You might save an hour or a little money, but your lawn suffers for it," Marmelo said.

A green lawn is a coveted prize for many homeowners, and nothing feels better than walking through the cool grass in your bare feet in the summertime.

"To have a nice-looking lawn shows that you care about your property, and you want others to see that pride," Marmelo said. "But a good looking lawn takes a lot of work for sure."