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Tips for saving your heat-stressed lawn

A string of days pushing or exceeding 90 degrees, plus a lack of timely rains have taken a toll.

HOPKINS, Minn. – After two weeks vacationing in Hawaii, Micky Dunkelberger's yard let her know she was missed.

“I didn't feel concerned about having someone come over to water my lawn, but now I see the error of my ways,” Dunkelberger said laughing. “It’s fried.”

Like a lot of people in the Twin Cities, Dunkelberger is on a rescue mission with her sprinkler.

“Our grass is extremely stressed right now,” said Ben Cooper, general manager of Rainbow Lawncare.

A string of days pushing or exceeding 90 degrees, plus a lack of timely rains have taken a toll.

“What you're seeing is grass going dormant, it doesn't have enough moisture, it's trying to save itself from all the heat,” Cooper said.

We’ve reached decision time. Either let your grass continue to go dormant (in most cases it will come back with consistent moisture) or begin watering now.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture recommends an inch of water a week – including rain - applied in one or two applications. Watering should be more frequent on sandy soils because they don’t hold moisture as well.

Cooper says tuna cans placed near sprinklers make good gauges for a week’s worth of water. When the cans are full, your watering is done.

But timing is important too.

“You don't want to just turn on your sprinkler, especially in the middle of the day. It's evaporating faster than it's absorbing into the ground,” Cooper says.

Early morning water is best, according to Cooper. Evening watering also helps lawns retain moisture but can lead to certain lawn diseases, since grass stays wet overnight.

Cooper also recommends sharpening dull lawnmower blades, since ragged cuts can further stress blades of grass.

Mowing too short also stresses dry lawns. Cooper says grass should be left at least three inches long, and possibly longer, so roots remain shaded.

Longer grass also helps crowd out deep-rooted and more drought resistant weeds.

And remember, Hawaii is nice, but Minnesota has its own qualities.

“Yeah, unpredictable,” Dunkelberger says.

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