How to prepare your lawn and plants for the extreme heat next week
If you're looking at the forecast next week and you're worried about your lawn and plants, here are some things you can do to prepare for it.
CHASKA, Minn. — The new drought report is out, and it shows several areas in Minnesota are now experiencing an extreme drought.
For many Minnesotans that means your lawn is drying out.
If you're looking at the forecast next week and see 90's and you're worried about your lawn and your plants at home, there are some things you can do right now to prepare for it.
Experts say a good deep watering is a good place to start.
"Make sure you are watering your lawn early in the morning, the earlier the better, before we get those hot temperatures,” Annie Klodd at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum says.
Klodd says now is also a good time to mow your lawn so you can let it go during the heat wave next week, but don't cut it too short, because leaving it longer will help shade the roots from the sun.
"Another thing is you can prepare by putting mulch down around your plant if you haven't already. Woodchip mulch really helps keep that moisture in even during a drought.”
Klodd says you should also avoid fertilizing your lawn and transplanting your plants during the heat wave.
She also recommends watering your trees this week before the heat comes.
"Young trees especially. If you just planted some trees in the last couple of years you want to go in and at least put a couple of gallons of water on those trees every week or so to give them about an inch of water,” Klodd says.
Minnesota Climatologist Luigi Romolo with the Minnesota DNR says Minnesotans should also keep an eye out for any new watering restrictions in the coming days.
He says the latest drought monitor shows the drought is getting worse in many areas and it will likely get even worse in the coming days.
"The forecast right now is not showing a lot of precipitation over the state of Minnesota over the next week, so we can expect that the drought conditions will worsen by this time next week,” Klodd explains.
Romolo says most major water basins in Minnesota are in the “Watch” stage right now.
He says once a water basin reaches the “Warning” stage it’s more common to see surrounding communities issuing watering restrictions and watering bans.
Both Minneapolis and St. Paul are weighing outdoor watering restrictions if conditions worsen.
Source: KARE11.com
