Horticulture expert explains dead vs. dormant grass and what to do with your yard.

SAN ANTONIO – After two years of brutal warmth and below-average rainfall, the grass in your backyard could be having a look extra brown and crunchy than lush and inexperienced.

Now that we’ve had a bit of of rain and it seems that the 100-degree days are at the back of us for the yr, you could be questioning what to do with your backyard.

reached out to David Rodriguez, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent who focuses on horticulture, to ask what folks’s choices are when it comes to their grass.

Here are the questions we requested, adopted through Rodriguez’s solutions:

How do you understand if your grass is dead vs. dormant after the closing two summers of dismal rainfall and excessive warmth?

We develop 3 major warm-season turf grasses. St. Augustine, Bermuda and Zoysia. Bermuda is the one of the 3 that may soar again from a summer time pseudo dormancy if it used to be correctly maintained and established all over the yr and for a minimum of 3 years. Unfortunately, the one factor coming again for many people who let those lawns move down that will likely be returning with rains is weeds. Folks who adopted SAWS watering suggestions and our every year repairs ideas will have to have their lawns soar again with time and some enter.

What will have to you do if you wish to have to convey your garden again to lifestyles if it’s brown and crunchy?

If inexperienced is visual, fertilize with a herbal organic-based garden fertilizer with a 4-2-3 research at a fee of 20 kilos consistent with 1000 sq. ft or a standard/typical 18-6-12 ‘Winterizer’ system. A preemergent broad-spectrum granulated herbicide both containing ‘Barricade’ or ‘Dimension’ will have to even be carried out at the moment to reduce the germination of iciness weeds. Always learn and practice label directions.

Are there any choices to xeriscaping like a excellent flooring duvet that could be more straightforward to handle than grass?

Rodriguez shared this video he prior to now recorded, which covers this matter in nice element:

What are a few things folks will have to NOT do on the subject of attempting to convey again their garden?

Don’t be watering or fertilizing a dead garden. Unfortunately, many of us are doing this. Consider lowering the dimensions of your garden and benefiting from one of the most SAWS Conservation rebate programs.

Anything else you wish to have to upload?

Lawns do have their position, however want to be maintained correctly all over the yr as we care for our indoor carpet, flooring, and so forth. Having a garden is extra than simply mowing. People waste water, now not vegetation. Kids want to play; canine want their out of doors house, and we love to entertain outdoor.