Spring is the season when your lawn starts to shake off the dullness of winter and show signs of life. But what happens when spring arrives without the rain? A dry spell can make things tricky, but with a little know-how, you can still keep your lawn healthy and looking its best.

Mowing: less is more

When your lawn is dry, it’s tempting to stick to your usual mowing schedule. But if there’s been little to no rainfall, it’s best to ease off. Grass grows more slowly in dry conditions, so you won’t need to mow as often. Aim to cut no more than once every 10 to 14 days, depending on growth.

Crucially, don’t cut your grass too short. A longer lawn is more resilient in dry weather, helping to shade the soil and reduce evaporation. Set your mower blades higher than usual. Around 5cm (2 inches) is ideal. This gives your lawn a better chance to stay green and healthy without extra water.

Watering: should you or shouldn’t you?

For new lawns or recently laid turf, regular watering is essential until roots are fully established.

However, if your lawn is established, it can usually tolerate a short dry spell without any long-term damage. Grass goes dormant in dry conditions, turning brown to conserve energy, but this doesn’t mean it’s dead. As soon as the rain returns, it will bounce back.

It does look like rain is on the way, but should the dry weather continue for several weeks, it may be a good idea to water once a week in the early morning. This will help to encourage deep root growth. Shallow, daily watering might have an adverse effect as it may result in weak roots that are more vulnerable to drought.

Feeding: hold off on the fertiliser (for now)

Spring is typically a good time to feed your lawn, but during a dry spell, it may be better to wait. Applying fertiliser when the soil is dry can do more harm than good, and it can even scorch the grass. Fertilisers need moisture to break down and be absorbed properly, so delay feeding until after a decent rainfall.

When the time is right, choose a spring-specific lawn feed with balanced nutrients to support healthy growth. We all have our preferences, but organic options are a gentler alternative to some traditional feeds.

Weeding: tackle them while they’re small

Dry weather doesn’t stop weeds sprouting up! They will also compete with the grass for limited resources, especially nutrients and any moisture that’s available. If there aren’t too many weeds you can pull them out by hand or using a special tool. Keeping them under control now will avoid the need to use weedkiller later.

And finally!

Spring lawn care in a dry spell is all about balance. A light touch with the mower, a pause on fertiliser, timely weed control. Keep an eye on the forecast, be prepared to water if needed, and your lawn will thank you with verdant growth as soon as the rain returns.

If your lawn does suffer and you need to returf just get in contact. We will supply larger orders ourselves or recommend a local supplier of our turf.

HCT was delighted to donate some turf to Year Two at Starcross Primary School. The students have been working hard in Science, part of which has been thinking about plant survival.

One of their tasks was to experiment with grass, to identify the essential elements it requires to thrive and be healthy.

This is where HCT came in, donating some turf to help with their experiments! This is what they did with it:

First, they cut it up into equal sizes and placed it into four trays. They labelled the trays:

1. Water and light
2. No water and light
3. No water and no light
4. Water and no light

The students made their predictions and have sent us some photos of their week one observation.

They said:

“Every day we are interested to have a look. Our predictions have been fairly accurate so far and we are amazed by the colour of the grass in the dark. It’s so yellow!”

Good luck with the next stages of your experiment!

A lawn rarely looks its best after months of cold, wet weather, and we have had quite a bit of wet this year! Your lawn may be patchy and waterlogged, with grass struggling to grow. But spring is exactly the right time to revive your lawn ready for the warmer months ahead.

You may need to repair minor damage, add seed to encourage a lusher lawn, or even returf areas that are beyond saving. So how do you get your grass back in top condition?

Assessing winter damage

Firstly, look closely at the condition of your grass. Some of the usual issues include:

• Moss build-up: this can choke your grass and prevent healthy growth.
• Waterlogging and compaction: heavy rain and frost can compact soil, making it difficult for grass to thrive, particularly in the South West where we have clay soil.
• Bald patches and thinning areas: often happens after wet winters or where the lawn has been walked on a lot, which can damage the turf.
• Weed invasion: weeds often do well in winter conditions and can take control where there is weak grass.

Once you’ve identified your problem areas, you can start your spring lawn revival.

Step 1: Feed your lawn

As temperatures start to creep up, your lawn needs nutrients to help it recover from winter stress. Apply a balanced spring lawn feed – look for one with nitrogen to encourage green growth, and phosphorus and potassium to help strengthen roots. Eco-conscious gardeners might prefer to consider organic options, such as seaweed-based feeds.

Step 2: Scarify and aerate your lawn

If your lawn has become overtaken by moss or dead grass, rake it over. This helps to remove this layer and allow fresh growth. Manual raking can be therapeutic, if you have a large area of grass, you may prefer to use a powered lawn scarifier.

It’s essential to aerate waterlogged or compacted soil. You can do this by spiking the ground with a garden fork or a solid or hollow-tine manual aerator. This will improve drainage and allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots.

Step 3: Reseed for a healthier looking lawn

Thin or patchy areas of lawn can be overseeded to encourage new grass growth. There are different types of seed mix to choose from, so decide if you need, for example, a shade-tolerant variety or hard-wearing blend for well-used lawns. Spring is an ideal time for overseeding, as temperatures are warming but the soil still retains moisture.

• Rake and loosen the soil in the affected areas.
• Scatter the grass seed evenly over the patches.
• Lightly rake again to ensure good seed-to-soil contact.
• Water gently and keep the area moist until new growth appears.

Step 4: When to consider returfing

If large sections of your lawn have excessive moss, show extreme wear or even signs of disease, you may decide to returf – this is basically laying fresh turf rather than reseeding, which will give you quicker results.

How to returf your lawn

1. Use a spade or turf cutter to lift the old turf. If the soil is compacted, break it up with a fork.
2. Make the soil level using a rake, carefully removing stones and debris. Adding a layer of quality topsoil improves conditions for new turf to establish (see: https://wesellturf.com/products/topsoil/)
3. Starting at one edge, rolling out each turf roll tightly against the next. Stagger joints like brickwork for a natural look.
4. Gently press the turf down and give it a deep watering to help it settle.
5. Avoid walking on the new turf for a few weeks to give the roots time to establish.

If maintained well, the fresh turf will root quickly and blend seamlessly into your garden.

Step 5: Regular mowing and ongoing care

Once your lawn starts growing again, regular mowing will keep it neat and healthy. For the first few cuts of spring:

• Set the mower blade higher than usual to avoid stressing the grass.
• Only cut when the grass is dry to prevent damage.
• Avoid removing more than a third of the grass height at a time.

By mid-spring, your lawn should be thriving. Continue to feed it every 6–8 weeks, water in dry spells, and tackle weeds and moss as needed.

Enjoy your revived lawn this spring!

With a little TLC, your lawn will bounce back beautifully after winter giving you a lush, healthy lawn ready for spring and summer enjoyment.

If you need turf or topsoil just get in contact. For smaller amounts of turf we will recommend a local supplier of our turf.

If you would like any further advice on spring lawn care or would like to talk to us about your order, please contact us on 01392 231040 or email sales@wesellturf.com