Surviving summer drought

By Staff
Keeping a lawn lush and healthy through summer drought involves taking some preemptive steps in the spring season
Special to the Enquirer
To farmers and landscape enthusiasts alike, 2007 was a year most likely to be remembered for drought. Many waited for rainfall that refused to come. For example, the U.S. Drought Monitor showed the entire state of Alabama was under drought in June 2007, with better than 20 percent of the state experiencing exceptional drought.
Such circumstances often make landscape enthusiasts cringe. While many spend spring bringing their lawns back to life after a long winter, their fears for another summer of drought are certainly looming in the back of their collective minds. Since drought is an almost inevitable foe each summer, taking a few preemptive measures before the season starts is a smart move.
When removing the grass, replacing it with mulch can do even more than reduce the competition for water. Mulch improves soil structure while also retaining moisture for longer periods of time, making it especially valuable through long periods of drought.