After weeks of sunshine and high temperatures, your lawn can often be one of the first areas of the garden to show signs of stress
After weeks of sunshine and high temperatures, your lawn can often be one of the first areas of the garden to show signs of stress. Brown patches, dry grass and thinning areas are common after a prolonged period of hot weather, but with the right care, your lawn can recover.
As we move into early autumn, the cooler temperatures and increased rainfall make this one of the best times of year to give your lawn some attention.
1. Don't panic about brown grass
A lawn that has turned brown isn't necessarily dead. Grass can become dormant during periods of extreme heat, conserving moisture until conditions improve.
Before reaching for the lawnmower or completely re-turfing an area, give it some time and see whether new green growth appears as the weather becomes cooler.
2. Give your lawn a thorough watering
If the ground is still particularly dry, water deeply rather than giving the lawn a light sprinkle every day.
Watering thoroughly encourages moisture to penetrate deeper into the soil, helping the grass roots develop and become more resilient to future dry spells.
Where possible, water early in the morning or later in the evening to reduce evaporation.
3. Avoid cutting the grass too short
One of the biggest mistakes after a heatwave is cutting stressed grass too aggressively.
Raise the height of your mower and remove no more than around one-third of the grass height at a time. Longer grass provides shade to the soil and helps retain moisture.
4. Aerate compacted soil
After a dry summer, your soil can become hard and compacted, making it difficult for water, air and nutrients to reach the roots.
Aerating the lawn by creating small holes in the soil can improve drainage and allow moisture and oxygen to reach the root system.
For larger lawns, a hollow-tine aerator can be particularly effective.
5. Scarify when conditions are right
Once your lawn has started to recover, consider scarifying to remove excess thatch, dead grass and moss.
September and early autumn can be an excellent time to do this because the grass can still grow strongly before winter.
Don't scarify a lawn that is still severely drought-stressed, allow it to recover first.
6. Repair bare and brown patches
If some areas haven't recovered, autumn is an ideal time to overseed.
Rake away dead material, loosen the surface of the soil and apply suitable grass seed. Keep the area consistently moist while the new seed establishes.
For larger areas that have been badly damaged, replacing sections of turf may provide a quicker and more uniform result.
7. Feed your lawn
A suitable autumn lawn feed can help provide the nutrients your grass needs as it prepares for the colder months.
Choose a fertiliser designed specifically for autumn rather than simply applying a high-nitrogen summer feed.
8. Keep leaves under control
As autumn arrives, fallen leaves can quickly cover the lawn and block light from reaching the grass.
Regularly rake or collect leaves to keep the lawn healthy and prevent damp, decaying patches from developing.
Give your garden a fresh start
A heatwave can leave even the best-maintained garden looking tired, but autumn provides the perfect opportunity to bring your lawn, and the rest of your outdoor space, back to life.
With some careful preparation now, your lawn can enter winter healthier and stronger, ready to look its best again next spring.
Thinking about transforming your garden rather than simply restoring it?
From landscaping and planting to patios, outdoor entertaining spaces and complete garden transformations, Luxuria can help you create an outdoor space designed to be enjoyed throughout the year.
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