CROQUET LAWN MATTERS
DUNCAN HECTOR duncanhectorturfcare.co.uk WHAT FINE TURF GRASSES DO DURING DROUGHT
NATURE’S OWN SURVIVAL SYSTEM BENEATH OUR FEET If you don’t have an irrigation system, here is how fine grasses protect themselves against the ravages of drought. Periods of hot, dry weather place enormous stress on fine turf surfaces such as croquet lawns. Yet one of the remarkable features of fine turf grasses (particularly dwarf ryegrasses) is their ability to protect themselves during drought conditions. What may appear to be a lawn “dying” is often the grass entering a carefully controlled survival mode. The first response of the grass plant is to reduce water loss. Tiny pores in the leaves, known as stomata, begin to close. These pores normally allow the plant to breathe and photosynthesise, but they also allow moisture to escape. By
closing them, the grass conserves water — although growth slows dramatically as a result. At the same time, the leaves themselves often change shape. Fine turf grasses may roll or narrow their leaves to reduce the surface area exposed to the sun. This helps limit evaporation and is one reason drought-stressed turf often develops a wiry appearance and a dull blue-grey colour. As drought continues, the plant shifts its priorities from growth to survival. Energy is diverted away from producing fresh leaf growth and towards preserving the crown and root system. In healthy soils with good structure and biological activity, roots may continue exploring deeper layers of moisture even when the surface appears dry and lifeless. In prolonged dry periods, many fine turf grasses enter a state of semi-dormancy. Growth almost stops and the turf may
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