Now that signs of drought are back in Greene County and the Raccoon River Valley area overall, most lawns are starting to die out.

Extension Coordinator Michael Cooley says most lawns throughout the state are Kentucky bluegrass which is a hearty, durable type of grass.  However, he points out that this type of grass can go into dormancy four to six weeks without any rainfall and after that period, Cooley explains is when real damage can occur.

“Depending on how much longer we go without rain, we might start to see 25-50% of the lawn may have been killed and that’s going to vary around the county but particularly here in Greene County, we’ve actually been on the short end of the stick for a lot of rains.”

He recommends that you should start thinking about seeding your lawn because the ideal time to do that is between now and the end of September because that’s the best chance for grass seed to germinate and be stronger and more vibrant in the spring.

Cooley notes that you can stop by the extension office at 104 West Washington Street in Jefferson where there are handouts and more information about lawn care and what to do during drought conditions.