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Some like it hot. But no one in their right mind would prefer relentless temperatures in the triple digits. Especially if they take care of the lawn.
Severe weather, like the kind now afflicting much of the South, can be hard on the overseers and their lands—and on the homeowners and their yards.
Matt Guilfoyle, longtime member of the Golf Course Supervisors Association and co-host of the lawn care podcast, from jingweedsis the head of the Desert Canyon Golf Club, in the Phoenix area, where daily highs this week were rising to 115.
We asked Guilfoil what it does to prevent agricultural-type burnout, and whether these tips might also work at home.
1. Avoid evaporation
You know how confidence in a hammock can vanish in an instant? Water droplets on hot days are also like this. Faster than you can tell evaporation, they dissipate into the air. Takeaway? Don’t water in the middle of the afternoon or any other hour when the sun is out. You are mostly wasting a valuable resource. Before sunrise or after sunset are preferred windows, Guilfoyle says, when temperatures are cooler.
You may have heard that water is bad at night, because it leaves the lawn vulnerable to fungus and other problems. There’s some truth to that, Guilfoil acknowledges, but it’s problematic in areas with cool-season grasses. Warm-season grasses are hardier this way; They can withstand an overnight soak. “They pretty much want all the water and moisture they can get,” says Guilfoyle. And they’ll be happier the next day when the heat starts up again. If you have Bermuda grass in your garden, feel free to give it a drink in the evening.
2. Targeting trouble spots
When grass becomes seriously dehydrated, it begins to change color. With cool-season grasses, the color appears almost blue, Guilfoyle says. But with warm-season grasses, the color is much blacker. If you see a disturbed patch starting to form, hand watering, or spot watering, is the way to go. Flip your hose directly over the dry grass, and continue watering until the soil is moist (a simple home test is to stick a screwdriver in the ground and pull it out, to check for moisture).
Topical irrigation is a common practice on the course. But just as not all supermarkets have similar maintenance budgets, not all homeowners have an equal appetite for yard care. A lot depends not only on your schedule, but also on your expectations.
“On some of the special courses around here, they won’t tolerate any discoloration and they have the resources to keep things that way,” says Guilfoyle. “I don’t have that luxury.” Something similar applies at home. “If you’re one of those people who insist on having the prettiest lawn on the block, you’re probably in for a hand watering. Otherwise, don’t sweat it. Is your lawn not quite perfect? There are worse things in life.”
3. Throw shade
During the summer, Augusta National pitches tents around its green areas to protect them from the sun. You could do the same thing at home, though you might lash out at the neighbors for being excessive, or attract unwanted guests who mistake you for Jay Gatsby throwing a garden party. Just be sure to allow airflow underneath.
A lesser-appreciated option is the black net, like the things managers sometimes span over newly-ranked ground or the tee box they save for a tournament. Usually, the purpose of the net is to deter birds or golfers. “But it can work as a shade, too,” says Guilfoyle.
4. Raising mowing heights
The more tightly you mow the grass, the more delicate it will be. During long heat bouts, do yourself — and your lawn — a favor by letting it grow a little longer. More flexibility for the blades. Less work for you.