BBC Gardeners' World expert Oliver Parsons has shared four essential lawn care tips for the end of June, helping homeowners give their grass a much-needed boost during the upcoming summer heatwave. With UK temperatures expected to reach 40°C in the coming days, Parsons emphasised the importance of proper lawn maintenance during this period.
Raise Mower Blades
Parsons' first recommendation is to raise mower blades. He explained: "This helps the roots to go down deeper and also shades the soil so a lot less water will evaporate from the soil surface. It also means your lawn will look that little bit better through summer." This simple adjustment can significantly reduce water loss and promote deeper root growth.
Feed Your Lawn
Feeding is another crucial task for June. Parsons advised using organic fertilisers such as blood, fish, and bone meal. He said: "Feeding is another job for summer, I like to use something organic. Blood, fish, and bone meal in March, and again in June does the trick." This provides essential nutrients to keep the lawn healthy despite the dry conditions.
Don't Worry About Weeds
Contrary to common belief, Parsons suggested a relaxed approach to weeds during the heatwave. He commented: "As for weeds, I prefer to be reasonably laid back. If a dandelion pops up, I may dig it out with a daisy grubber, but otherwise I let the lawn do its own thing." This approach saves time and reduces stress on the lawn.
Edge with Shears
Parsons' final tip is to never underestimate the impact of edging after mowing. He explained: "Also, never underestimate the impact of a little bit of edging after mowing with some long-handled shears. It sharpens everything up and makes the whole garden look tidier." This simple step can dramatically improve the overall appearance of the garden.
Watering Advice
On the podcast, Parsons also addressed watering, stating: "Summer can be a bit hard on lawns. All that sunshine and not a lot of rain can leave it looking pretty sorry for itself. Watering the lawn, unless it's one you've just sown by seed or laid as turf, is pretty much a waste of time, and it's definitely a waste of water. Even if it goes brown in a dry spell over summer, it will soon green up again after a decent bit of rainfall."
Timing of Mowing
Earlier this month, fellow BBC Gardeners' World presenter Monty Don advised that mowing should be delayed until after June 21. He explained: "It is important to time the cutting of this long grass to maximise the performance of the bulbs next spring and of the grasses themselves. Nothing should be cut at all until after the longest day on June 21. This gives the foliage of the bulbs time to die back and feed next year's bulb and subsequent flowering. The grass can then be cut if it has been hot and dry, although sometimes I leave this as late as mid-August."
