Question about grass going dormant in summer......?

Question

We have had almost no rain this summer and we have not watered our lawn because it is just too costly and a waste of water. Our grass has been dormant for a few weeks now. So now we are getting the remnants of hurricane Gustav and looks like we will have 3 days of rain. Is that enough to bring it back? Is it good for the grass to come back from being dormant just to become dormant again in a month or so? We live in Wisconsin.

Answer 1

The rain will not immediately bring your lawn out of dormancy, the lawn is dormant due to soil temps not just lack of water this year has been very warm an humid which is causing dormancy, and disease for those who can water. Fertilizing a dormant lawn would be a waste of money. If your lawn feels hard like concrete you may need to aerate it to help expand root growth to strengthen your established lawn and get moisture and nutrients to the root zone , As long as its brown and not white your good but if it starts to lay down you need to lightly rake it to allow air flow. Wait till it cools down and then fertilize with a slow release nitrogen this will help your lawn have an early green up next spring also try next year doing a 1/2 pound per thousand of potassium during hot summer months to help hold in moisture and prevent dormancy. Good Luck

Answer 2

I'm in Florida where grass slows down but never stops growing.  However I don't see how a final growth spurt could hurt it.  I mean how could it do harm? As a matter of fact if it were me I would fertilize (just lightly- not too much) just before all that rain hits.  Then the roots will be improved during the "spurt" and your grass will store energy to come back better and stronger next spring.    

Answer 3

I live in Wisconsin, too and we have the same problem. This happens every single year to us. The grass will come back IF we get the predicted rain. Here in NE Wisconsin, I have my doubts. Don't fertilize just yet. Wait until October or even early November to do that. The upcoming snow will take care of the moisture you need. Don't worry about the grass "greening" up then going dormant soon. It won't hurt anything and will actually help for a nice green lawn in the spring. And don't cut it when it starts to grow again. This cooler weather we're having now will also help and if the grass is a bit longer than usual when the cold stuff hits us, it has a better chance of staying moist until the snow covers it.