A key part of garden maintenance is keeping on top of how changes in the weather affect your grass. Maintaining beautiful green lawns during hot weather and heatwaves can be challenging. However, with the right care, you can keep your grass looking healthy, even at the peak of summer.
Here are some of our most frequently asked questions about summer lawn care and how to look after grass in high temperatures.
Should you water your grass in a heatwave?
Carefully watering your lawn during a heatwave can be advantageous, but you need to do it in the right way to ensure your grass benefits while avoiding water wastage. Many people choose not to do this at all, especially if there’s a water hose ban or the lawn is already established. Rest assured, grass with a straw-like colour will typically recover once the rain returns.
The best time to water grass is early morning, usually before 10am. This allows grass to absorb water before or after the most intense heat of the day causes it to evaporate. This only needs to be done once or twice a week, and the water should be deep enough to encourage better root growth.
How often should you mow your lawn when it’s hot?
Planning mowing frequency and the blade height can help maintain your lawn during hot weather. Mow less frequently than usual, and raise the lawnmower blade to leave the grass longer for more shade across the soil.
Shaded grass will suffer from less water evaporation, and it keeps the soil cooler. Aim to keep your grass at about 3 to 4 inches high during hot weather, and make sure you move around any toys or furniture to improve ventilation.
Can you stop grass dying in hot weather?
While it can be tiring trying to prevent heat damage to your grass, ensure your lawn is well-fed, and try to keep the soil below in good condition. There are some great grass treatments on the market, but you can also lay some mulch down to help the soil retain moisture while keeping roots cool. You could even leave the grass box off when mowing on a high setting, as the clippings can act as mulch.
If you have grassy areas that are particularly damaged or unhealthy looking, consider temporarily keeping adults, kids and pets off these spots until they recover. Heavy foot traffic can compact the soil and make it harder for these patches to absorb water and nutrients.
How can you keep your grass healthy during the summer?
We regularly get asked about how often you should cut grass and what it takes to keep lawns healthy during the summer. By combining different approaches like deep watering, infrequent mowing and good soil care, you can ensure a healthy outdoor space.
Other top grass care tips include applying slow-release fertilisers during late spring, aerating your lawn to improve water penetration and keeping weeds under control. Save time by hiring a garden maintenance team to help you with your needs.
Need a lawn care service? Contact us
Efficient Cleaning offers expert lawn care services in South West London and Surrey. For a free quote, contact us now.
