x
Breaking News
More () »

I didn't water my grass over the winter. Will it come back?

Lawn care expert and arborist, Tony Hahn, with Swingle Save-a-Tree, says most of our lawns are hardy, just dormant, but we should have been watering our lawns over the winter.
Credit: KaraGrubis
Concrete sidewalk and snow

Denver hasn't had any measurable rain or snow in 20 days, and the streak could go to 21 days if these little showers today doesn't hit the weather station at Denver International Airport.

The entire winter has been very dry. With only 19.4 inches of snow, when Denver averages 46.5 inches by the end of March.

You may be wondering if your grass is dormant, or dead.

Lawn care expert and arborist, Tony Hahn, with Swingle Save-a-Tree, says most of our lawns are hardy, just dormant, but we should have been watering our lawns over the winter.

“It can go dormant for two, three, four, five weeks at a time. Oh, I’ve probably watered four times since Thanksgiving,” Hahn says.

Hahn says you can inspect an individual blade of grass to tell if your lawn has enough life to return this spring.

“You got to look at the growing point, we call it the crown," Hahn says. "The crown is that fleshy base right in here. And if that crown, you can peel back those leaves. Peel that back, and you can see it’s fleshy, and you can tell it’s got some life to it.”

But don’t worry, if you haven’t been watering like Tony, he does have some advice for you.

“People should be watering right now. I’m not suggesting they turn their irrigation systems on, but pull a hose,” said Hahn. “A hose-end sprinkler, I call it a frog eye, it throws the water up. Their great sprinklers, they cover a huge area in a short amount of time. 10, 12, 15 minutes in a spot, you’re done."

Hahn says it doesn't need much, especially if you get it where it counts.

“Water, first and for most, your south and west facing exposures,” he says.

The areas that get the most sunshine.

"And then water on top of steep slopes, and around trees, especially large pine trees," Hahn says.

He says the tree roots compete with your lawn for moisture.

As the drought is forecast to continue into the spring, Tony reminds us not to water during the day, and not to over water.

“It is my earnest belief that we water about 30 percent too much,” he says.

The Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado recommends aerating your lawns in March. It allows air to get to the base of the grass, and also allows water to seep further into the roots. The dry top layer forms a barrier over the winter.

For more lawn care tips, visit their website at www.alcc.com

Before You Leave, Check This Out