How to protect your lawn during a heat wave [Video]

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Turf experts at the University of Maryland say the extreme heat wave the DMV is currently experiencing is likely to accelerate early drought stress in lawns and landscapes. This weekend may be the time to take action, depending on the condition of your grass, according to Geoff Rinehart, senior lecturer in Turf Management at UMD. 

Rinehart offers three key basics for lawn survival in extreme heat:

“Ninety percent of the grass plant is water,” Rinehart said, emphasizing the importance of preserving the leafy part of lawns by not cutting them too short with a mower at any time in the season. “The taller you mow it, the more it will keep weeds out, but also the roots will go down deep as well. Now that we’re into the summertime, and we haven’t had …