How to Care for Your Lawn during Drought

It might be hard to believe right now, but the sporadic nature of the British weather means that in a matter of weeks we could be faced with spells of harsh, drying heat. Although we fully embrace these warm spells, we need to make sure that we look after our gardens during the changing weather.

There are a few things to take into account when it comes to looking after your lawn when it is dried out by the sun. We have put together this post to aid you as spring turns to summer, and help you keep your lawn looking great throughout the season.

Mowing

Be sure to raise the height of your cutting during drought, this avoids weakening the structure of the grass. Also, be sure to let your grass clippings fall back onto the grass rather than collecting them. They act as a mulch and slow down the evaporation of water from the soil surface. Make sure the clippings are small, or they will smother the grass and cause damage.

Watering

If you have a newly created lawn then be sure to water it thoroughly, although always take into consideration hosepipe bans.

For more established lawns, water once the soil has become dry but before the colour of your grass changes. If the ground is very hard, aerate it by spiking it with a garden fork before you water it, as this aids water penetration. To reduce water wastage, be sure to water your lawn early in the morning, evening or even night time, as this reduces the amount of moisture being evaporated off.

Watering once every seven to ten days tends to be sufficient. Try not to over water your lawn, as this encourages shallow rooting and is wasteful. It can also promote the growth of moss and turf diseases.

After the summer

The autumn is often a great time to care for your lawn after a dry summer. This will help your lawn to recover from recent drought but will also make it more drought resistant the following year. Do not use lawn weed killers on drought-affected turf in the autumn. Delay the treatments until the following spring, when the grass and weeds are growing vigorously.