Brown grass
Ciscoe Morris says it's fine to let grass get brown, but suggests a good watering once a month. (AP Photo File)

Ciscoe Morris: It's OK to let your lawn get brown

BY Jillian Raftery  on August 17, 2012 @ 2:16 pm (Updated: 4:33 pm - 8/17/12 )

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Many people this summer question how much they need to water their lawns. While some people like to keep the lawn as green as it is in spring, master gardener Ciscoe Morris says that it won't do any harm to let the lawn get a little brown.

"Generally, it's fine to let a lawn go dormant. However, it's usually recommended at least once a month, give it one good watering," says Ciscoe.

Grass is very hardy but if left to go too dormant, grasses have a hard time coming back. Lawns that stay dormant too long won't grow as well and may suffer in the fall and winter, leaving bare spots.

"The lawn does thin out, and you're going to find that you'll have more problems with weeds and moss," says Ciscoe.

You may also notice that bugs are out in full force now that it's August. Watch out, especially for fleas and mosquitoes that breed in any standing water in the garden.

"Sometimes fleas get in lawns, and if you have pets, the fleas jump off the pets, hang out, get a suntan during the day on the lawn," says Ciscoe. "And then later on in the day - that night or something - they jump back on the pets, so that can be a problem."

To make sure mosquitoes aren't growing in fountains or ponds, Ciscoe recommends a safe mosquito killer with an ingredient called "BT" (Bacillus thuringiensis) that specifically targets mosquito larvae.

"You might drop a few of these BTs in there, and it's totally safe for birds, pets, humans, nature and it's a bacteria that occurs naturally in nature," says Ciscoe.

Gardening with Ciscoe can be heard on 97.3 KIRO FM Weekends Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. and anytime at KIRO Radio. Get more tips from Ciscoe and learn about his plant of the week at MyNorthwest.com/Ciscoe

Jillian Raftery, Social Media Captain
Jillian Raftery is a social media captain for the Dori Monson Show. She loves the neighborly vibe of the Pacific Northwest and spends as much time as possible outdoors.
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