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Recent hot weather has been persistent in southeast Iowa causing many lawns to become dry.

Horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach advise homeowners can either water lawns or allow them to go dormant. Cool-season grasses can survive long periods in dry weather, for example Kentucky bluegrass can remain dormant for four to six weeks without significant damage. About one to one and a half inches of water per week is needed for most lawns in Iowa. If you decide to water your lawn, it’s advised to apply it in one application or two applications three to four days apart. Also, the best time to water a lawn is between 5 and 9 a.m. which allows the water to soak deeply into the soil with little lost to evaporation.