Long Hot Summer. El Nino.
El Niño is a weather system that results in what Australians would consider a traditional hot and dry summer. It comes after three summers shaped by the La Niña system, which is characterised by milder temperatures and wetter conditions.
The BOM’s climate manager, Karl Braganza, says both El Niño and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole are the opposite of La Niña and tend to draw rain away from Australia.
What does that mean for your lawn?
You need to Adjust Your Lawn Care Routine
El Niño often means less rainfall and warmer temperatures. To adapt to these conditions, modify your lawn care routine as follows:
Mow higher:
Raise the cutting height on your mower by a notch to leave the grass taller. Taller grass provides more shade to the soil, reducing evaporation.
Use wetting agents – regularly: To ensure water penetrates deeply, apply a liquid wetting agent every eight weeks during Spring, Summer and Autumn. You’ll be amazed at the difference this makes in maintaining a drought-tolerant lawn.
Avoid over-fertilising: While regular applications of fertiliser are necessary, too much can stress your lawn during drought conditions. When using solid fertilisers, restrict applications to once every three months.
Implement Water-Saving Techniques
During El Niño, it’s essential to be mindful of water conservation. Here are some techniques to help you save water while maintaining your lawn:
Install a rain sensor: A rain sensor can automatically shut off your irrigation system when it detects rainfall, preventing overwatering.
Install water-saving nozzles on your lawn sprinklers
Water deeply and less frequently: This encourages the grass to develop deeper roots, which can access moisture deeper in the soil. During hot weather, once per week is a great target to aim for, but with enough water to penetrate down to 50mm below the surface.
Adjust the timing of your watering: Water in the early morning to minimise water loss due to evaporation.
To sum it all up….
El Niño may bring drought conditions, but it doesn’t have to spell the end of your lawn. By choosing drought-resistant grass varieties, adjusting your lawn care routine, and implementing water-saving techniques, you can enjoy a beautiful lawn even during the most challenging weather conditions.
We offer a solution to add not only color that acts as a sunscreen for your lawn but also provides fertisliser to give your grass a boost.