Water, Water, Water Your Lawn During Extreme Heat in Chester, Mendham & Bedminster, NJ Areas

If you've stepped outside lately in Chester, Mendham, or Bedminster, you already know — this summer is no joke. Extreme heat combined with New Jersey's ongoing drought conditions is putting serious stress on lawns and landscapes throughout Morris and Somerset Counties.

At Environmental Landscape Services, we get calls every summer from homeowners wondering why their lawn is turning brown, struggling despite watering, or not bouncing back after a heat wave. The answer is almost always the same: it's not just how much you water — it's when, how often, and how smart you water.

Here's what you need to know to protect your lawn and landscape this summer — and stay on the right side of your town's water rules!

New Jersey Is Currently Under a Drought Warning — What That Means for You

This is not a typical summer. New Jersey has been under a statewide Drought Warning since December 5, 2025, declared by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The state has recorded below-normal precipitation in 20 of the last 24 months — conditions the State Geologist has described as the worst in more than 20 years.

Under a Drought Warning, the NJDEP is strongly urging all New Jersey residents to:

• Limit lawn watering to no more than two days per week

• Water before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. to reduce evaporation

• Hand water shrubs, flowers, and gardens instead of running automatic systems

Right now, these are voluntary guidelines — there are no fines. But if conditions don't improve, the Governor can declare a Drought Emergency, which would bring mandatory restrictions and fines. Don't wait until that happens.

For the most current statewide drought status, visit: nj.gov/dep/drought

Water Restrictions by Town: Chester, Mendham & Bedminster

Beyond state guidance, each town has its own rules. Here's what residents in our service area need to know:

Chester Borough

Chester Borough has permanent lawn watering rules for all properties connected to the Chester Water System:

• Watering hours: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. only

• Odd/Even schedule: Even house numbers may water on even calendar days; odd house numbers on odd calendar days

• New sod exception: Newly installed sod may be watered more frequently only with written permission from the Borough's licensed water operator

• During a declared water emergency, an emergency ban overrides all standard rules

  
  

Action: Check your house number and stick to your assigned days. If we recently installed sod or seed on your property, contact Chester Borough for written authorization before watering outside of normal restrictions.

Mendham Borough & Mendham Township

Mendham residents are served by NJ American Water and are subject to both the statewide Drought Warning guidance and any additional restrictions NJ American Water may impose locally. NJ American Water has been investing heavily in infrastructure upgrades in Mendham in 2025–2026, so it's worth staying current on any service or restriction notices they issue.

Action: Follow the statewide two-days-per-week recommendation as a baseline. Check your NJ American Water account or call them directly for any Mendham-specific restrictions during drought conditions.

Bedminster Township

Bedminster Township's water ordinance gives the Township Committee authority to declare a water emergency and impose a range of restrictions, including:

• Alternate-day watering: Odd house numbers water on odd calendar days; even house numbers on even days

• Complete outdoor water bans during declared emergencies, including lawns, plants, pool filling, and car washing

  
  

Action: Monitor notices from Bedminster Township, especially during periods of extreme heat. Sign up for township alerts at bedminster.us so you're notified immediately if emergency restrictions are declared.

7 Smart Watering Tips for Extreme Heat in North Jersey

Following the rules is step one. Watering smarter is what will actually keep your lawn and plants alive when temperatures are in the 90s. Here's what our landscaping team recommends:

1. Water Deep, Not Often

Shallow, frequent watering trains grass roots to stay near the surface — where they're most vulnerable to heat. Instead, water deeply 1–2 times per week to encourage roots to grow deeper into cooler soil. Aim for about 1 inch of water per session, including rainfall.

2. Always Water Early Morning or Evening

This is non-negotiable in summer. Watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. during a heat wave loses a significant portion of water to evaporation before it ever reaches the roots. Early morning (before 10 a.m.) is ideal — the lawn has time to dry before nightfall, reducing fungal disease risk.

3. Let Your Lawn Go Dormant If Needed

Cool-season grasses like tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass — common throughout Chester, Mendham, and Bedminster — naturally go dormant during extreme heat and drought. A dormant lawn looks brown but is not dead. Do not overwater a dormant lawn trying to green it up. You'll waste water and won't revive it until temperatures drop. One deep watering every two to three weeks is enough to keep dormant grass alive.

4. Raise Your Mowing Height

Mow at 3.5 to 4 inches during summer heat. Taller grass shades the soil, retains moisture, and needs significantly less water than a closely-cut lawn. Stop scalping your lawn in the summer — it's one of the fastest ways to kill it in a drought.

5. Mulch Your Beds

A 2–3 inch layer of fresh mulch around trees, shrubs, and flower beds reduces soil moisture evaporation by up to 50%. It also keeps roots cooler. If your mulch is thin or breaking down from last season, now is the right time for a refresh.

6. Check Your Irrigation System for Leaks

A single broken sprinkler head can waste hundreds of gallons per week — and may be watering your driveway instead of your lawn. Before you run your system, do a quick visual check of every zone. In drought conditions, wasted water is money gone and potentially a code violation.

7. Skip Watering After Rain

This sounds obvious, but automatic irrigation systems don't always know it rained. Install a rain sensor if you don't have one — it's a small investment that prevents your system from running the day after a storm. NJDEP specifically points out that this kind of unnecessary watering wastes millions of gallons across NJ each summer.

Signs Your Lawn Is Stressed vs. Dead

Knowing the difference can save you from unnecessary watering — or from giving up on a lawn that can be saved.

Heat/drought stress signs (lawn is alive, just dormant):

• Grass turns blue-gray or straw-colored uniformly

• Footprints remain visible in the lawn long after walking on it

• Grass blades fold lengthwise

Signs your lawn may need professional attention:

• Patchy areas that don't respond after cooler temps or rainfall

• Bare spots with no growth at all after several weeks

• Grub damage (pull up a patch — if roots pull away easily, grubs may be feeding underneath)

If you're unsure, give us a call — we're happy to walk your property and give you an honest assessment.

Planning Ahead: Drought-Smart Landscaping for NJ Homeowners

Summers like this one are a reminder that a lawn designed only for average conditions is a liability in extreme heat. If you're tired of fighting your landscape every July, there are better long-term solutions:

• Native plant landscaping — native species are adapted to NJ's climate, require far less water, and thrive in drought conditions

• Xeriscape design — strategically replacing high-water-use turf areas with drought-tolerant plants and groundcovers

• Smart irrigation systems — weather-based controllers that automatically adjust for rainfall and temperature

• Soil health improvements — aeration, overseeding with drought-tolerant varieties, and compost topdressing all improve your soil's ability to hold moisture

  
  

Stay Informed This Summer

Water restrictions can change quickly during a drought. Here's how to stay current in our area:

• NJ Statewide Drought Status: nj.gov/dep/drought/current-conditions

• Chester Borough: chesterboroughnj.com

• Mendham Borough: mendhamborough.org

• Bedminster Township: bedminster.us

• NJ American Water: njamwater.com

  
  

Need Help With Your Lawn or Landscape This Summer?

If the heat has taken a toll on your property — or you want to get ahead of it with smarter landscaping — our team is here to help. Environmental Landscape Services has been serving homeowners throughout Chester, Mendham, Bedminster, Far Hills, Tewksbury, and the surrounding area with 5-star rated landscaping, lawn care, and hardscaping services.