Like most plants, turfgrass requires proper hydration. The high temperatures and inconsistent rainfall in the summer can lead to lawn stress. The lack of water can lead to wilting, brown, and dying grass.
IDENTIFYING DROUGHT STRESS
Look For Early Signs
If your footprints remain visible on your grass after it has been walked on, if your lawn starts to look gray, if your grass losses its bright green color, or if your grass blades wilt or curl then your lawn could be in the early stages of drought stress.
CHECK YOUR ROOTS
Another way to check for drought stress is by pulling on the grass in the brown areas of the lawn. If the grass will not pull easily from the soil, it may be experiencing drought stress.
THE SCREWDRIVER TEST
To check the hydration level of your lawn, push a screwdriver or stiff rod into the soil in the brown and green areas of your lawn. If the screwdriver slips easily into the areas of your lawn that are green but does not penetrate the soil in the brown areas then your lawn could be experiencing uneven watering and drought stress.