Global warming might or might not be the reason but there has been more and more extreme weather events happening than before. The drought periods get longer and so do the rainfall or the cold season and sometimes you just cannot be sure what to expect. For this reason, there needs to be a change in the way people garden and it could be the death of your lawn but not if you take good care of it.
Despite the fact that a bare, brown lawn is a terrible eyesore, lawn turf is resilient and most lawns recover even after drought when it starts to rain again. Still, you should give your lawn some help by following this tips that will take you through before, during and after drought or a dry period.
Prevention is always better than cure
If you want your lawn to recover from a dry spell then you best make sure that it is healthy beforehand. One of the best ways to do it is to make sure it is well taken care of and that you have a maintenance schedule before the dry season like feeding, removing moss and weeds as well as aerating. In case it is your first lawn then be sure to get one that is drought resistant than the other traditional grass. You could get a mixed one with plants like micro clover, which seem to be more drought resistant than plain grass.
You can also consider having a meadow instead of a lawn because it contains annual and perennial flowers and grass and needs less mowing. This type will be more drought resistant compared to a traditional lawn because grass grows longer. You also have the option of a semi-succulent lawn, which retains its own water and won’t need watering as often.
Water thoroughly
You lawn definitely has a chance of surviving without water but if the dry period is a bit extended, you should probably water it after a week to ten days. Do not water it often to avoid shallow root growth resulting to a less drought resistant grass in the end. The secret is watering it thoroughly but not excessively, 10 to 15 minutes to a 10cm depth will do just fine in saving your lawn turf. This should be done early morning or late afternoon to avoid evaporation.
Cut short
You should mow the lawn, just not as short as you normally do and it would be much better if you would not remove the clippings as they prevent water loss. Still, the clippings should be short enough not to block light, which would result to damaged grass.

If your lawn suffers and does not recover after the dry season, it would be a good idea to do repair where needed. You can sow some seeds in the patches or you can replace with quality turf. At this point, it is not wise to apply a weed killer, this will be better during spring.
With these tips, you need not panic about having a brown lawn because you won’t, all you have to do if follow the tips and your lawn will be safe.