The Northfield area has entered into a severe drought condition. The last several rains have largely missed Northfield, causing landscape plants that do not receive regular irrigation to become quite stressed.
If you are able to water areas of your landscape where plant materials are in a stressed condition, now is the time to give them a drink. The best way is to place a sprinkler and let it run for two hours in each area, moving the sprinkler around until you have covered all areas where stressed plants are located.
You may save plants that would otherwise die by doing this watering, which could preserve the investment you have made in creating a beautiful landscape. If rains that do come are light, continue to give a good thorough watering every 7-10 days, until significant rains arrive.