Which of the following is a drought-dormancy strategy?

• A. Don't mow unless absolutely necessary
• B. Increase irrigation
• C. Fertilize aggressively
• D. Mow frequently

Answer: (A)

Conserving water and protecting the turf during drought-dormancy means limiting mowing to only what’s absolutely necessary. When a lawn is drought-stressed or dormant, growth slows and the plant is already under water stress. Not mowing helps because it avoids triggering regrowth that would require additional water and energy. Leaving the existing leaf blades also helps keep some photosynthetic capacity and protects the soil with the canopy, reducing soil temperature and evaporation. In contrast, trying to irrigate more, fertilize aggressively, or mow frequently would push the grass to grow and use more water, making it harder for it to survive the drought.