What’s going on with my natural grass? I can’t keep it alive.
In Dubai Abu Dhabi and the UAE people are often confused about what it is that will keep their lawn alive and looking green. The common misconception is that the more you water the grass the better it will grow, the other major misconception is that too much sunshine will also kill the grass. In fact the opposite is true, overwatering grass can lead to a plethora of issues that will inhibit the growth of the grass and likewise it is shade that will prevent the grass from growing not the sun.
How often should you water your natural grass?
There are hundreds of different types of grass and some can withstand much harsher condition than others. Some love the heat, some hate the heat, some love salt water, others die in salt water and so on. As we are in the middle of the desert in Dubai and the UAE grass will obviously need to be watered on a fairly regular basis but that does not mean overdoing it to the point the grass is drowning. In the winter the grass only needs to be watered once a day, sometimes you can get away with every other day but you will need to experiment with this. In the summer it definitely needs a couple of blasts a day. Aim for 5 minutes in the early morning and then a few more minutes in the early evening as the temperatures begin to come off and the direct glare of the sun has gone. Evaporation will also be at its lowest at this point. Water can act like a magnifying glass on the blades of the grass and focus the sun’s rays, which can actually burn the grass in 45 Degrees plus.
Roots and Soil
Your natural grass lawn must have a well-established root system to survive and flourish. Grass that has just been laid will need time for the roots to anchor properly so keep this in mind if your lawn is new. Every type of grass has a root system that is designed for its particular environment. Grass species that can tolerate very arid climates with very little water have roots that extend far into the earth. Grasses that aren’t used to dry climates will obviously struggle in Dubai as they have not developed and adapted to the local climate and the heat especially.
The roots absorb water and nutrients from the earth but as we know from our gardens here much of this earth is just sand so grass species that normally like dark brown nutrient full soil will struggle. Black dirt that is rich in peat moss will hold an abundance of water but this is only found in bags in garden centres, if you dig you won’t find it! Choosing a grass that will survive in sandy soil is very important.
Desert Conditions in Dubai and the UAE:
- High temperatures all year around
- little Rainfall
- Sandy soil
Grasses that like and can handle these conditions are:
Bermuda grass loves the sun, responds well to watering, good traffic tolerance however needs lots of mowing.
Zoysia is warm-season grass that holds up well to all of conditions presented in the Middle East and especially Dubai. These include high foot traffic, especially in a garden. With its tough blades, zoysia grass seems to repair itself unbelievably quickly when trodden on and disturbed. Although zoysia generally loves to be in the full sun, it can also tolerate shade, which is extremely important. Zoysia grass has the ability to remain alive in conditions that most other grasses would certainly not survive. The roots are amongst the deepest for grasses and adapts easily to numerous soil types, especially sand.
