Gardeners facing dry, brown lawns during the current drought are being advised to resist the urge to intervene. According to gardening expert Ish, the best action is to leave the grass alone, as it is in a dormant state and will recover when rain returns.
Why You Shouldn't Touch Brown Grass
Ish, a TikTok creator, explained that his lawn shows two distinct colors: one brown and dried out, the other green and healthy. He emphasized that these conditions require different treatment. For the brown grass, he warned that removing it is the "last thing you want to do." Instead, leaving it alone allows the grass to protect itself by forming a mat that prevents moisture loss and keeps the roots cool.
"The best thing you can do is actually leave it, cause right now your grass has gone dormant. It’s actually protecting itself by keeping this nice little mat here, which is stopping it from taking any moisture from the soil, but also keeping it cooler, protecting those roots, and that’s the most important bit," Ish said.
Grass Is Resilient, Not Dead
Although the grass may continue to dry out and "crisp off," it is not dead. Ish noted, "That’s the really cool thing about grass, it's actually quite resilient. This isn’t dead, it was just hibernating." When rain returns, flecks of green will reappear.
Gardeners should avoid cutting, scarifying, and feeding the grass while it is in this condition. For grass that remains green, mowing should be done at the highest setting to avoid stress. The goal is to keep the ground cool and retain moisture.
Expert Advice from the RHS
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) echoed Ish's advice, stating that well-established lawns with healthy roots should spring back to life when rain returns. Watering during a drought should only be done when absolutely necessary, such as for newly sown lawns. The RHS also warned that if grass becomes sparse, weeds and moss may develop when rain reappears.
