Gardeners across Wales are being urged to resist the urge to tidy up brown, brittle lawns during the current drought, as doing so could prevent grass from recovering when rain finally arrives.
Dormant grass is protecting itself
Gardening enthusiast and TikTok creator Ish recently shared advice for those whose outdoor spaces are looking parched. He explained that his own lawn shows two distinct appearances, with one section brown and dried out while another remains green and healthy.
When confronted with brown and brittle grass, Ish warned that removing it would be the "last thing you want to do." The most beneficial course of action is simply to leave it alone.
Ish said: "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."
Grass is resilient and will recover
He anticipates the grass will continue to dry out and "crisp off" over the coming period, but when rainfall returns, hints of green will reappear. Ish said: "That's the really cool thing about grass, it's actually quite resilient. This isn't dead, it was just hibernating."
Gardeners should steer clear of cutting, scarifying, and feeding grass while it remains in this state. However, if a lawn is still green and showing signs of life, care should differ.
The gardening expert continued: "It's tempting to feed and cut as you would normally, but you don't want to stress this out, especially with the hot heat."
Mowing and watering advice
If mowing is necessary, the blade should be set to the highest possible position. A low setting would place additional strain on the grass. The goal is to keep the soil cool and retain moisture.
Ish added: "Now, as a result, over time, this will catch up. It will all be green and lush. And then you can resume normal mowing, normal feeding. But for now, let it recover. Don't stress it out. And if you can, water it where you can, do. But until then, leave it be."
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has explained that well-established lawns can bounce back when rain returns because the underlying roots "should still be alive." They support Ish's advice, encouraging gardeners to avoid watering lawns during drought, as established turf is more "resilient."
Risks of prolonged drought
A significant hazard during drought, particularly for lawns already in poor health, is the possibility of root systems perishing. Weakened grass can become fragile and desiccated if the dry spell is prolonged.
If grass becomes patchy, weeds and moss may take hold once rainfall returns. The RHS clarified that watering should only be done when strictly essential, such as for newly laid or sown turf in spring.
