With no rain in Indiana last week (5/17-23) followed by extremely erratic and spotty rain this week (5/24-30), drought symptoms are starting to show up near sidewalks and driveways and in other hotspots like south-facing slopes, compacted soils, and fairly new sod laid over compacted soils. Symptoms are typical drought stress starting out with a bluish gray hue and eventually browning of leaf blades as the plant goes dormant. It can start in small softball size patches and eventually affect large areas. Symptoms are more erratic this year than in the past because of this week’s spotty rains. Lawns in one part of a neighbor may be lush and green while drought symptoms are seen two doors down. Thankfully, a thorough watering or two should return the droughty areas back to fully green in the next week or so.
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Drought symptoms are now being seen in hotspots next to sidewalks and drives. Symptoms may start out in small patches and then coalesce into larger areas. A thorough watering now should alleviate the symptoms in a week or so. |