Save Water by Cultivating a Rain-Only Lawn

Non-essential water use in Sharon – mostly lawn irrigation – increases dramatically in the summer when our local environment tends to be most stressed by hot, dry weather.

You can do your part to address this problem by cultivating a rain-only lawn. The key is to build up the organic content of the soil. Soil that is rich in organic matter retains more moisture, keeping roots alive even when grass goes dormant in the “dog days” of August. Fertilizing with weak, organic fertilizer in early spring and early fall and allowing grass clippings to decompose on the lawn help increase the organic content of the soil over time. Worms also help by leaving their castings in the soil, which is a good reason to avoid pesticides.

The second page of the attached flyer provides more specific guidelines for cultivating a rain-only lawn. Note that in Sharon, the more water you use, the higher the rate you pay, so reducing or eliminating non-essential water use will lower your water bills.