How to Repair Your Lawn After a Heatwave
Is your lawn brown and crispy? With UK summers getting hotter for longer and less rain it has left our beautiful green lawns looking like they need some care. The good news is that your grass is most likely just dormant and not dead. In this blog, we share our recommendations on how to get your lawn back to looking great after the summer heatwaves.
Will my grass recover on its own?
Most likely yes, however there are a few things we recommend doing to help speed up the process.
How to help your lawn recover?
The best ways to help your lawn recover are:
Water your lawn deeply
Frequent, light watering can seem like a better solution than deep watering less frequently, however, when your grass has experienced a period of drought deep watering helps water get further into the soul which encourages the roots to grow further into the soil and become more resilient.
We would recommend to ensure the soil is moist but not waterlogged. Check your local council website for hosepipe bans but in periods of hot, dry weather make sure to deep water regularly.
Don’t mow your grass too short
Leaving your grass to be a little longer can help it recover quicker. Avoid mowing all together until it actively starts growing again and then avoid cutting it too short, as this can add extra stress to the lawn.
Keep off the lawn as much as possible
It can be frustrating during summer to have to stay off your lawn, especially with it being the season we spend the most time outdoors, but during drought and heatwaves any extra foot traffic on the lawn can damage it further. Giving it a chance to recover can help speed up the process.
Add lawn feed to your lawn (if conditions are right)
Adding a suitable lawn feed can provide your lawn with the correct nutrients it needs to grow. Make sure to follow the specific application instructions detailed and don’t overfeed your lawn.
Applying too much lawn feed can burn and damage the grass, make sure to not apply the fertiliser while there is drought or heatwave conditions. Lawn feed needs moisture to be able to travel deep into the grass roots.
To help lawns recover from heat and drought stress, try our Seaweed Liquid Lawn Feed. Rich in natural trace elements, it supports stronger roots and healthier soil.
Be patient
Depending on the extent of the damage, weather conditions and the type of grass you have, recovery can take time. With regular care, you should gradually see the lawn become greener, thicker and healthier.
Reseed if necessary
Some areas of your lawn may not recover at all, which means you may need to reseed it. Once temperatures have dropped and there is more moisture and no risk of any more heatwave, bare or still brown patches can be treated with new seed.
If your lawn is dead, we recommend lightly raking away the dead grass to make room for healthier growth. Don’t scarify aggressivly while your lawn is stressed. You may need to gently aerate if conditions have cooled and the ground is moist enough, as aerating can help new grass grow.
How to tell if your grass is dormant or dead?
Dormant grass tends to look brown but closer to the roots they have greener growth. If your grass continues to stay brown after temperatures have dropped and you’ve seen regular rainfall then it might have died off completely which will require you to reseed.
How can Boston Seeds help?
If your lawn needs a little extra help after a heatwave, at Boston Seeds we have everything you need to give it the best chance of recovery.
Take a look at our specifically formualed lawn repair grass seed for overseeding thin or damaged areas to drought-tolerant grass seed that can help create a more resilient lawn for the future. We also stock a range of lawn feeds and fertilisers to support healthy growth once conditions are suitable for feeding.
If you need help choosing the right seed or working out how much you need, you can use our online Grass Seed Calculator or speak to our team for advice. Take a look at our autumn lawn care diary which can help you get ahead for autumn.
