Over the last few weeks, Britain has seen quite the rise in temperatures. Whilst this might be nice for us (depending on how much you like the sun), the warm weather can put extra stress on your lawn.
The result could mean your garden's grass turning brown, brittle and patchy in areas. The warmer weather makes it easier for lawn pests to thrive, leading to further potential deterioration.
That's why it's so important to take extra care of your lawn in the hot weather. Just like you need lots of water and plenty of SPF, your garden grass needs a good bit of extra attention too.
But there are some key easy-to-make mistakes that you'll want to avoid. We've asked experts to share what the biggest errors are and what gardeners should be doing instead to help their lawn thrive.
1) Overwatering – or underwatering
'If you overwater a lawn during summer, this can create the ideal environment for fungal growth and cause root rot. It can also wash nutrients away or allow certain weeds to thrive,' says Richard Barker, horticultural expert from LBS Horticulture. 'Underwatering can cause your lawn to turn brown, and stressed grass can provide the ideal opportunity for weeds to outcompete the grass for resources.'
What to do instead
Richard recommends giving your lawn a deep water on a regular basis: 'Water your lawn deeply two to three times a week to encourage the roots to grow stronger and deeper. Watering early in the morning or later in the evening will help to reduce evaporation so that moisture soaks into the soil more effectively.'
2) Cutting your grass too short
'One of the biggest mistakes people make during hot weather is cutting their grass too short. While it might seem like a good way to reduce how often you need to mow, shorter grass is more vulnerable to heat and dries out much faster,' warns Nigel Lawton, Dobbies’ plant buyer.
What to do instead
'Instead, raise the cutting height of your lawn mower blades during warm weather to help the grass retain moisture and stay healthier for longer,' Nigel says.
3) Adding fertiliser during a heatwave
'It’s natural instinct to want to feed a struggling lawn, but applying fertiliser during a drought or heatwave is one of the most counterproductive things that you can do. Fertiliser requires moisture to break down and be absorbed safely,' says Ashleigh Bradshaw, lawn and garden expert at Hayter. 'Without it, the nutrients sit on or near the surface and can alter the soil’s pH to a point where it actively burns the soil.'
What to do instead
'The right moment to fertilise is after the first proper rainfall following a hot spell, when the ground is moist and the grass is ready to benefit,' Ashleigh says.
4) Cutting your lawn at the wrong time of day
'If you're mowing during warmer weather, it's also best to avoid cutting your lawn during the hottest part of the day,' says Nigel. Cutting grass during the heat can actually end up putting more stress on the blades, making them more susceptible to diseases.
What to do instead
'Mowing in the cooler morning or evening helps reduce stress on the grass and gives it the best chance to stay healthy throughout the summer,' Nigel explains.
5) Panicking over brown grass
'Grass going brown during a prolonged dry spell is one of the most misunderstood things in lawn care. What you’re actually seeing is dormancy: the grass basically going into survival mode, which to the eye looks like putting all its energy into protecting the root, not a shiny green grass blade,' says Ashleigh.
Read more: Heatwave leaving brown patches on your lawn? Here's what’s causing them — and how to fix them fast
What to do instead
'The lawn will very likely recover once regular rainfall returns, often within a few weeks. The danger is overreacting. Heavy watering, feeding and scarifying during active dormancy tends to do more damage than the drought itself,' Ashleigh says. So instead of panicking, have some faith in the recovery power of your lawn.
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