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Sugar is good for plants, despite limiting nitrogen absorption. However, the sugar that is healthy for plants is typically the same sugar created by plants as part of photosynthesis. In other words, table sugar is not good or bad for plants on its own, just keep track of nitrogen levels in the soil. But don’t worry, sugar won’t kill your grass.

First, make sure you’re watering your grass early in the morning (and keep in mind you don’t have to water every day). Doing this helps ensure the water is able to soak in before the hot temps evaporate all of the water. Also, when you mow, don’t mow your grass as short as you would in non-drought conditions. Taller grass can help slow down the rate at which soil dries out. Finally, take your leftover lawn clippings and spread them out across the lawn to give it a little extra shade and nutrients.

You can fertilize right after mowing as long as you've collected the clippings. If you leave grass clipping, they can form a mat that prevents the fertilizer from reaching the soil. Plus, grass clippings are rich in nitrogen, so if you leave them and then apply fertilizer, you can end up with too much nitrogen in the soil.

Sugar water helps the microorganisms in the soil break down nutrients, thus helping certain plants grow. In other words, it is okay to water plants with sugar water, but exercise caution and never rely on sugar when fertilizing your grass. Sugar is not plant food and, if applied too liberally, kills the plants you intend to help.