Utah water officials are asking people to conserve water after Governor Herbert issued a drought executive order this week. Varieties of grass are being tested at Utah State University to see what types last longer with less water.
Officials say watering lawns this late wastes water and that conserving one of the most important Cache Valley resources now, will pay off next year.
Paul Johnson is the department head of plants, soils and climate at USU. He said people and business owners are worried about having their lawns turn brown. The turfgrass varieties he and other USU researchers are testing will stay green and don’t need water this late in the year.
“They might be able to tolerate the most heat, the most drought, go the longest without water,” Johnson said. “Essentially the lowest inputs, but still provide the kinds of conditions we want to have.”
One of their goals is to help people and business owners understand how turfgrass research can help save money and resources.
“Almost everybody can relate to the things we do because they have a lawn or their kids are playing on a soccer field,” Johnson said.
Kentucky bluegrass is the most popular grass variety grown in Utah and in most other states according to Johnson. He said Utah’s arid climate is the perfect place to test popular turfgrass varieties that could be used all around the country.
