Can West Michigan Residents Save Their Dead and Dying Grass With Gatorade?

My yard is THIRSTY after the lack of rain we've received in the last two months.

May 2023 here in West Michigan was our second driest on record, and June is shaping up to be about the same. So if you're like me, you've probably started to wonder what you can do to try to save your yard before it's too late.

And if you've seen the movie Idiocracy, you may remember the characters of the movie using a fictional sports drink called Brawndo to water their plants instead of water because "It's got what plants crave"

But just like in the movie, while sports drinks are great at rehydrating you, they're pretty awful at helping to fix the dead spots in your yard. So no, this isn't a great idea.

Instead, I've found tips from experts on what you can do to save / protect your yard as this long, rainless summer carries on.

1. Water your grass if it’s not raining

This may seem like the most obvious tip, but of course grass needs water just like any living plant.

And during a summer like this where we aren't getting an occasional rainfall, your grass will need regular waterings. So give her a sip when you can to make up for the lack of rain

2. Water your grass early in the morning, or after the sun goes down

You may think watering your grass during the heat of the day will keep it cool, but that's actually the worst thing you can do. The heat just sucks the water right back out of your soil, making it almost pointless in the first place

instead if you can, set a timer to have your grass watered before 8am or after 8pm so that way it has a chance to absorb the water it desperately needs without the hot summer sun interfering.

3. Mow your yard

In some cases, “dead” grass can benefit from a fresh cut, just like your dried out hair does.

You can try mowing the whole lawn and leaving a thin layer of the grass clippings behind. Grass can act as its own fertilizer since the blades already contain the nitrogen the roots need, just make sure not to cut it too short in the process.

4. Poke some holes in your yard

You can aerate your lawn to allow air to reach the roots and boost your grass’s growth.

Grass roots also need oxygen to grow properly, and lawn aeration is a great way to help revive brown “dead” grass. You can buy shoes or shoe attachments to do this, or you can pay a lawn service to help you if you're unsure.

5. Try some composting

Spreading a thin layer of compost on a lawn is a powerful way to immediately boost the overall soil content and nutrient density.

While you'll still need to water your lawn, this is a great way to help fix any damage already caused by sun spots.

And maybe you need to cool off just like your yard...