How you can keep your grass and garden alive during Sacramento’s heat wave and drought

Record-setting heat is here in Sacramento this week, which means gardens and plants are going to be under a huge amount of stress.

But there are simple and easy ways to save them from the sizzle now and all summer long:

Be wary of the watering schedule

With consecutive days of 100-degree-plus temperatures, the Sacramento city Department of Utilities said in a news release that residents will get a break from their normal watering schedule. People can water outside of their watering window — after 10 a.m. and before 7 p.m. — and they can water on no-water days, said William Granger, Sacramento’s water conservation coordinator.

Residents can also water anytime Friday, Granger added, due to the hot weather.

Water deeply

According to the University of California Cooperative Extension, it’s important to dig down a few inches to see if the soil is drying, and check out signs of too little water — such as when your lawn retains a footprint for several minutes. Make sure to water deep, write Janet Hartin and Ben Faber from the Cooperative Extension.

According to TruGreen, a lawn care provider, you want to ensure your grass is getting at least one inch of water per week. They also add it’s better to water your lawn thoroughly once or twice a week than frequent light sprinkling.

Mow high

Scotts, a company that sells products for lawn and garden care, says it’s important to mow high starting in the early summer. Taller blades help grass develop deeper roots that are better at seeking out water underground. The company says tall grass also helps to shade the soil and cool it, which means you’ll need to water less.

Maintain watering systems

Keep clean filters and flush out drip irrigation systems to prevent clogging, Harlin and Faber say. They also suggest checking spray irrigation for even distribution.

Make sure your irrigation or watering system is good too, TruGreen says The lawn provider adds that unless you have built-in sprinklers, you’ll need at least one high-quality sprinkler that can water your lawn evenly. For larger yards, TruGreen says to invest in several sprinklers to save time and prevent having to move the sprinkler.

This story was originally published June 17, 2021 at 3:09 PM.