Many simple gardening practices can greatly impact the drought preparedness of your lawn and garden the rest of the year. Here are 6 quick tips for preparing your garden this spring for drought:
Core Aerate Your Lawn: this will help improve soil health and allow moisture to reach deeper into the soil
Prevent Weeds: weeding and applying pre-emergents can prevent summer weeds which will compete for water with desirable plants in the lawn & garden
Apply Mulch: this will help conserve soil moisture & reduce weed competition
Apply Minimal Irrigation: minimal watering practices in the spring help to develop deep root growth. Do NOT overwater in the spring. Most lawns and gardens will thrive on watering just once a week or less. More frequent irrigation can limit deep root growth in the spring, making plants more sensitive to drought when temperatures increase. Inspect Irrigation Systems For Leaks: when turning on irrigation systems for the growing season, inspect all zones for leaks, overspray, or wasted water
Water Deeply When Irrigating: begin your year using best watering practices. Water deeply, and infrequently, soaking the ground 6-12 inches deep with each watering, and providing “mini droughts” in between watering to increase the depth of plant roots.
For more tips and water conservation techniques, visit our drought resources website: https://sedgwick.ksu.edu/
