How to Establish a Drought-Friendly Lawn

CONCORD — Due to the recent drought, many California residents are opting to replace their lawns with more drought-tolerant alternatives like rock gardens and synthetic turf. However, some homeowners aren’t as enthusiastic about the prospect of giving up the soft, lush lawns to which they’ve grown accustomed. If this is the case for you, there’s good news: By following a few simple guidelines, you can install a lawn that consumes far less water than the average.

1. Get the lawn area as level as possible, maintaining a slope of no more than 2 percent to minimize water run-off.

2. Before installing your turf, make sure the soil is properly prepared. Add compost and till the soil to a minimum depth of four to six inches.

3. Install sprinklers around the entire area of the lawn to avoid any dry spots. Rotary sprinkler heads are a better choice than static heads: they have more flexibility for adjustments and emit water more slowly, which reduces water loss by giving the soil a better chance to absorb it.

4. Once installed, give your lawn three to four weeks to become fully established. It typically takes about 28 days for the turf roots to grow to a mature length. This is crucial, because the deeper the roots, the less water your lawn will require.

5. Once your lawn is established, keep it on a tight irrigation schedule—in most cases, three to four watering sessions per week is adequate. To avoid overwatering, establish a clear idea of how much your lawn really needs.

6. Fertilize your lawn three to four times a year, and patch and aerate it at regular intervals. By taking proactive measures before, during and after installing your lawn, you’ll be able to minimize its water consumption without diminishing its aesthetic qualities.