As of May 14, the entire state of South Dakota remained under a drought, with levels ranging from abnormally dry to exceptionally dry. The entire state of Nebraska also remains under a drought.

Officials at South Dakota State University Extension are offering tips to area residents on how they can maintain their lawns and gardens during a drought and in preparation for the hotter summer temperatures.

Some lawns in the area are already showing stress from the drought and are needing to be reseeded.

“One of the most important things people can do is to decide, at the start (of a drought), how much they are willing to water and what lawn and garden conditions they are willing to accept,” said Amanda Bachmann, consumer horticulture field specialist at SDSU. “If your area is under a water restriction, you might not have much choice about the watering part of the equation. It really helps to go into the summer with a realistic expectation of how your yard can look.”

David Chalmers, professor and turfgrass SDSU extension associate, wrote in an article on iGrow.org explaining that any type of seeding, including overseeding an existing lawn or just starting a new lawn, needs moist soil and irrigation for seeds to germinate and seedlings to develop.

“Water availability in South Dakota is an annual challenge in growing cool season grass lawns like Kentucky bluegrass, fine-leaf fescue and turf-type tall fescue,” the article states. “Chances are it will be difficult to maintain good quality turf all summer without supplemental irrigation.”

The article recommended that if your lawn came out well this spring, then fertilizer, irrigation and weed management will be needed because it will help the lawn recover more before summer.

However, if your lawn is thin, or with patches or large areas that have not, or are not, recovering, now is a good time to seed, if you can count on water being available. The best time to seed a new lawn is from Aug. 15 to Sept. 1.

Bachmann said that if there is a major rain event or storm forecasted for the area, gardeners and lawn owners can take a number of steps to prepare their area.

“In vegetable gardens, a sudden influx of water can cause nearly-ripe fruits and vegetables to split,” she said. “I’ve had this happen with tomatoes and melons, so if you have things on the vine that are almost ready to go, you may want to pick them before the storm.”

Bachmann added that newly planted grass seed or vegetable seed planted in gardens can get washed away and moved around by heavy rain.

David Graper, SDSU professor of horticulture and director of McCrory Gardens, said gardeners should increase their mowing height and not to remove more than 1/3 of grass blade height at a mowing during a drought.

“If possible, water a little bit, but only about 1/4-inch once a month, if there is no rain,” he said. “That will help to keep the grass plants alive, but they will remain dormant. Gardeners should also try to use a drip irrigation system in their vegetable and flower gardens.”

The drip irrigation system allows gardeners to get the water directly at the plants in the row, and avoid watering weeds. It also can be more efficient with the water supply, rather than using an overhead sprinkler.

Graper said one of the best ways to deal with drought is to use mulch.

“Mulches cover the soil, reduce weed competition and conserve moisture, as well as using a drip irrigation system to water,” he said. “Although soaker hoses are OK for watering, they can easily clog up and only cover a limited area. So if you hook too many hoses together, you will run out of water at the end of the line.”

Bachmann agreed, adding that updating your water delivery systems during a drought can go a long way towards making gardening during the dry times more bearable.

“It is also important to not water during the heat of the day, when most of the water will be lost to evaporation,” she said. “If you are still thinking about what to plant, look for plants that are known for their drought tolerance. There are some tree cultivars and native perennials that can handle hot and dry conditions once they are established.”

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