Why Your Lawn Looks Dead (But Isn’t): Surviving the Summer Sizzle in Georgina

August 4, 2025

When Grass Goes Crispy: What’s Actually Happening to Your Summer Lawn

Let’s be real—your lawn might look like it just lost a battle with the sun. Brown patches, crunchy turf, zero growth… it's not exactly lush and green. But before you start planning a backyard funeral for your lawn, take a deep breath. If your lawn isn’t irrigated (which applies to a lot of properties in Georgina’s growing zone 5), what you’re seeing is dormancy, not death.

What is Lawn Dormancy?

Dormancy is your lawn’s natural survival mode during periods of extreme heat, drought, and stress. It’s basically a plant nap. The grass shuts down above-ground growth, turns brown, and shifts energy to its root system to preserve moisture. This pause in growth helps turf survive until more favourable conditions—like cooler temperatures and consistent rainfall—return.

Dormancy can last for weeks (even months!) without permanent damage, especially if the grass was healthy going into the dry spell. So unless your lawn was already struggling, it will likely bounce back once Mother Nature stops being a drama queen.

Dormant ≠ Dead: Know the Difference

Repeat after us: Dormant grass is not dead grass.

Yes, it’s brown.

Yes, it’s crunchy.

No, it doesn’t mean you need to rip it up and start over.

Dormant lawns can look pretty dire, but as soon as the heat breaks and the rain shows up, your grass will perk up, green up, and get back to business. In most cases, cool-season grasses common in zone 5 (like Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fescue) are well-adapted to this cycle.

If you’re unsure whether your lawn is dead or just dormant, here’s a quick test: Pull on a patch of grass. If it resists and doesn’t pull up easily, the roots are still intact—it’s just sleeping. If it lifts like a cheap rug, the roots may have died off.

Why You Shouldn't Be Mowing Dormant Grass

Here’s the deal: Mowing dormant grass is like poking a sleeping bear. It’s not going to end well.

Cutting dormant turf adds unnecessary stress. The plant doesn’t have the energy to heal from mowing wounds, and you could end up scalping the crown (aka the growing point), leading to long-term damage. That’s why we—and many other lawn care professionals—pause mowing services during dormancy.

So if your lawn looks more Sahara than savannah, put down the mower. Letting your lawn rest now sets it up for a better, faster recovery when the rain does come.

What Can You Do While Your Lawn is Crispy?

Even if your grass is taking a siesta, your yard doesn’t have to look abandoned. Here’s what you can do while your turf naps:

Spot Trimming

Some areas (especially around downspouts, shady zones, or low spots that retain moisture) might still be growing. Go ahead and give those spots a tidy trim—but leave the crispy parts alone.

Edging, Pruning & Property Clean-Up

Keeping garden beds, walkways, hedges, and trees looking sharp can make a big difference in your overall curb appeal. When the lawn is down for the count, your borders, beds, and hardscapes take centre stage. 👀

Monitor Turf Conditions

Keep an eye on your lawn’s colour and texture. As soon as the weather shifts—cooler nights, less intense sun, some rain—you can prep for recovery mode.

Plan for Fall Recovery

Fall is the ideal time to rehab your lawn, especially in zone 5. Now’s the time to line up services like:

Core aeration to relieve soil compaction
Overseeding to fill in thin or bare spots
Topdressing with compost or triple mix
Fertilizing with a slow-release organic blend

We call it the post-drought spa treatment your lawn deserves.

What You Can Do Right Now to Help Your Lawn

Water Wisely

If you’re able to water, go for deep and infrequent watering (about 1 inch per week). Early morning is best to minimize evaporation and disease risk. Avoid watering at high noon—that’s basically sun-steaming your lawn.

Hold Off on Fertilizing

Adding fertilizer to a dormant lawn is like handing a latte to someone in a coma. They’re not waking up until it’s time. Save your fertilizer for the fall, when temperatures cool and your turf is ready to grow again.

Stay Off the Grass

The less foot traffic, the better. Walking, mowing, or parking on dormant turf can crush the crown, compact the soil, and delay recovery. If you can, keep pets and kids off the crispy grass for now.

Bonus Tips You Might Not Have Considered

Watch for Weeds & Pests

Drought-stressed turf is more vulnerable to opportunistic weeds like crabgrass and dandelions, as well as pests like chinch bugs. Keep a lookout—especially around sidewalks, driveways, and sun-baked slopes.

Consider a Drought-Tolerant Lawn Mix

If this summer has you rethinking your entire lawn strategy, fall is a great time to introduce drought-tolerant grass species. Fescues (especially fine fescue blends) and turf-type tall fescue are much more heat-tolerant than bluegrass.

You don’t have to reseed the whole lawn—just overseed with a mix to start transitioning.

Let Nature Help

Brown grass isn’t the end of the world. In fact, dormant lawns use 95% less water than green lawns and still provide habitat for pollinators and soil organisms. So while it might not win yard-of-the-week, your dormant lawn still plays a role in the ecosystem.

Looking Ahead: The Fall Comeback Tour

Here’s what your lawn will need when the weather finally cooperates:

Step 1: Aerate Open up compacted soil so water, nutrients, and oxygen can reach the roots.

Step 2: Overseed Reintroduce new grass seed to thicken your turf and out-compete weeds.

Step 3: Feed Use a low-nitrogen, slow-release organic fertilizer to support root growth and overall health going into winter.

Step 4: Water & Watch Keep the seedbed moist (but not soaked) until germination, then gradually reduce watering frequency.

Final Thoughts: Don't Panic, Just Plan

Mother Nature has been a bit ruthless this summer, but that doesn’t mean your lawn is doomed. Dormancy is normal. Your lawn is just pressing pause—not giving up.

So there you have it, with a bit of patience and the right fall recovery plan, your grass can (and will) come back greener, thicker, and tougher than before.

Item added to your cart