Live grass or dead grass?

[silverlib]

My grass is dying. I feel like I'm wasting valuable water by watering my yard, yet feel like a horrible neighbor if I don't. Guilty- no matter what.

What do you think?

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. It's late in the year - let it go dormant.

Especially if you are in a drought, it's the logical and environmental thing to do.

The grass will go dormant instead of just dying, which it might do if you keep trying to keep it alive with watering.

Of course, if you are in hawaii or San Diego or Pheonix, etc., my advice is moot.

[silverlib]

6. Thank you Rabrrrrr!

I no longer feel guilty-

I was looking for the sprinkler today - My husband said he thought the neighbors stole it. I replied that if they did, it was at least being used.

We are in somewhat of a drought, although not as bad as in some places.

I am trying to do the environmentally correct thing. My daughter blew me away tonight when she said our brown grass was embarrassing. She's seventeen - I thought I was past the guilt trips.
I tried to explain that not watering was the environmentally correct thing to do and she interjected that letting plant life die was not necessarily environmentally correct.

[hickman]

2. Ask your neighbors.

If they prefer it green then use their hose.

[reyd reid reed]

4. And then give them the bill.

That's what neighbors are for, after all. Well, that and...sugar.

And...welcome to DU!!!

[hickman]

9. Thank you. n/t

[silverlib]

5. Welcome to DU...

I will forever remember your first post!

[hickman]

7. Thank You so much but I feel like a poser.

I crashed my computer in Feb. and just took it in and had it wiped. I lost my DU password and the password to my old e-mail account so I just re-registered. I have to fix this because I have a star! I was hickman1937. And yes, I am that compustupid.:hi:

[silverlib]

10. I can understand that...

I originally registered as greylib or graylib - My computer crashed and I could remember my password but not my screen name. That was way back in the beginning.

So, I'll just always remember you second first post.

[lost-in-nj]

3. I don't water

it always comes back.
The shades of brown my lawn has been haven't been discovered yet!
:)

lost

[silverlib]

12. Thanks -

I actually love shades of brown.

I do hope it comes back in better times. I don't fertilize.

[lost-in-nj]

13. I don't fertilize either

my yard was the one the kids played on because everyone else was so worried about how perfect
theirs could be. Not me. let them play!!!!!
What the hell else was it there for?
In the fall we used to rake the leaves in piles all over the yard and then we would hollow out the middles and play space ship!
each leaf pile was a spaceship and we went to the moon......


let nature take her course

:)

lost

[knowbody0]

8. it's the natural circle of life

learn to see the beauty in that, knowing that the fall rains will green you back to what you've been conditioned to love.

Thinking about lawns, by me:

fertilize, water, mow! fertilize, water mow! Kill those weeds! I just don't get it, especially when you realize what damage to the environment is done in the name of perfect manicured grass.

[silverlib]

11. Thank you...

you are all making me feel better.

[hedgehog]

14. Where are you and how bad is the drought?

Depending where you are, you may have to water the ground to keep your foundation from cracking.

[silverlib]

15. Austin

We are on watering schedules. I guess I'd call this a mild drought if there is such a thing. I've been told that our builder was good at cabling, so the foundation cracking shouldn't be a problem. Does that make sense? I sure hope so.

[texanwitch]

16. I wish I could give some of my green grass, it needs cutting again.

:hug:

[silverlib]

17. Me too...

but if you could send rain, that would help.

I think my real problem began when I hired a young man to cut mine the last time. He used his own mower and he scalped it. I think I would be in much better shape had this not happened.

[hedgehog]

18. I would check with some local people.

I know my sister in Dallas was warned to water her lawn to keep the clay soil around her foundation from shifting. The situation might be completely different in Austin. I wouldn't know since I'm up here near Lake Ontario. When you mentioned your neighbors, it occured to me that if you don't water your lawn, it may effect their foundations.It just sounds like the kind of thing local people would know all about but that would never occur to someone new to the area. Like I said, check around and maybe talk to someone in the local building codes office.

[Kali]

19. What is the average annual rainfall in Austin?

[silverlib]

20. Average is 21.56

for this time of year. We are now at 15.91 with no rain in site for the next couple of weeks and hotter than average temps.

Lake Travis is normally at 1064.2 ft. It is now at 1035.40.

[Kali]

21. Haven't ever been there. Tell your daughter the grass will come back fine

either when you get some moisture this fall, or next spring. No need to worry about it at all. It is NOT dead, just dormant - as sombody upthread mentioned letting it struggle by barely watering it puts more stress on it than just letting it go dormant. Is this bermuda? Hell you can't kill it if you try.

[Broken_Hero]

22. I'd let it go

fall is almost upon us anyways......:) :hi: Besides, it saves you some grass mowing time...:)

[silverlib]

23. I think that pretty well sums it up!

Thanks! I think there is consensus, which takes away my guilt.