Question
Hello.

Admittedly, during the long midwest draught,
we didn't water the front lawn as religiously
as we should have...and it turned looking
like the Saraha desert...but it's coming back
bit by bit with good dousings every day or
two. --There are now patches of green here
and there, but some places are like hay and
straw. It's a struggle now. Continue to water?
Is there ever over-watering? How 'bout some Miracle Grow or something? Is it all too late for progress? Should we play the Cubs' anthem:
"Wait 'till next year"? Thanks in advance --Ben

Answer
The Cubs' anthem is great advice.

Most lawns in the northern part of USA will go dormant in response to draught as defence mechanism to survive. When lower temperatures and plenty of water return in the fall the lawn will start to pickup, but full recovery you wont see until next spring.

I recommend that you water reguarily during the next few weeks (to a month) if you have started watering. When watering, try to water deeply, e.g. don't just water 10 minutes daily. Water for 1-2 hours for each section of lawn and then water once or twice per week (e.g. wednesday morning water 2 hours, move sprinkler, 2 hours, move sprinkler, etc until lawn area covered. Repeat on saturday). In about 3-4 weeks you can just water once per week, or if it has started to rain again, then let nature do it.

In early fall (mid september, after the heat of summer retreats) fertilize using scott's turfbuilder, bayer advanced lawn fertilizer, or miracle grow lawn fertilizer. (use about 15 lbs fertilizer per 5,000 sq feet lawn area). Water in immediately.

Repeat above fertilizer in late fall (about 6 weeks before a heavy freeze). This would be late october/early november.

Then you can apply a light application (say 10 lbs per 5,000 sq feet) in late spring (late may) before the heat of the summer. No fertilizer during hot summer months, however.

Miracle Grow 29-3-4 fertilizer or Scott's Turfbuilder 29-3-4 are very good choices. Don't use the 15-30-15 plant fertilizer for your lawn. Go with the turf type (lawn) fertilizer. A garden center employee can help you pick the right one.