Gardeners are being urged to remove lawn furniture and avoid walking on brown, crunchy grass as rain finally returns to much of the UK this week after more than a month without downpours.
Rain brings hope for recovery
According to garden experts, the return of rain is a critical time for the health of grass. Natural rainwater will not only hydrate lawns but also provide nutrients to give them a boost.
Chris McIlroy, lawn expert from The Grass People, said: “Your grass might not be dead, only in a state of dormancy, so with the right treatment and some rain, it could be as good as new by autumn.”
Protect grass from damage
McIlroy advised: “What you want to do is protect the grass at all costs, keep foot traffic to a minimum, remove lawn furniture, and resist mowing too close.”
He also warned against using fertilisers and weed killers at this stage: “Your lawn is in a vulnerable state of recovery, and applying fertilisers and weed killers when the grass is still dry will only make scorching worse and have little effect on greening and growth.”
Patience and autumn care
McIlroy emphasised patience: “Give the grass time to soak up the rain and allow it to get out of dormancy and to get growing again.”
He added: “If you notice patches that don’t recover, there will be time in the autumn to intervene with an overseed, patch repair and a strong feeding programme. In the meantime, remove any weeds by hand and clear the area of any debris that has been left since the summer months.”
He also recommended stocking up on nitrogen-rich autumn feed in time for September renovations. A study from Thames Water shows over a quarter of people don’t know how long a lawn can survive in drought conditions.
