During prolonged periods of hot, dry weather, grass naturally goes dormant as a survival mechanism. While the lawn may turn brown and appear lifeless, the roots usually remain alive, waiting for cooler temperatures and rainfall to kick-start growth again.

The biggest mistake? Trying to force a lawn through a drought.

Instead, it’s better to work with nature.

Leave it alone

If your lawn has stopped growing, there’s little benefit in mowing it. If you do need to tidy it up, raise the cutting height so the grass remains longer. Longer blades shade the soil, helping to reduce moisture loss and protect the roots from scorching.

Don’t waste precious water

During drought conditions or a hosepipe ban, it’s rarely worth using valuable water on an established lawn. Mature grass can survive weeks without rain, even if it looks unsightly. Instead, prioritise watering newly laid turf, young plants and containers, which have much shallower root systems and are far more vulnerable.

Remember, even during a hosepipe ban you can use hosepipes to water new turf. For other uses, please stick to the watering can!

Keep off stressed grass

Dry grass becomes brittle and is more easily damaged by heavy foot traffic. Limiting wear will give your lawn the best chance of recovering once the weather changes.

Resist quick fixes

It can be tempting to apply fertiliser or lawn treatments in the hope of greening things up, but during drought this often places even more stress on the grass. Wait until temperatures fall and regular rainfall returns before feeding or carrying out repairs.

Recovery is often quicker than you think

Once rain arrives, most lawns begin to green up surprisingly quickly. Any small bare patches can be repaired by overseeding, while larger damaged areas may benefit from laying fresh turf when soil conditions are cooler and moisture levels are higher.

Think long term

A brown lawn in summer isn’t necessarily a dead lawn. Patience is often the best treatment.

If your lawn fails to recover after several weeks of cooler, wetter weather, it may be a sign that some areas have suffered permanent damage. At that point, professional advice can help determine whether simple repairs or replacing sections of turf will deliver the quickest route back to a healthy lawn.

With drought conditions likely to become more common in future years, understanding how grass naturally responds to extreme weather is one of the best ways to keep your lawn healthy for the long term.

Key points:

• Mow less: Keep grass longer to reduce moisture loss.
• Water wisely: Prioritise new turf, not established lawns.
• Be patient: Brown lawns usually recover with rain.

If you would like further advice on lawn care this summer or would like to talk to us about ordering turf, please contact us on 01392 231040 or email sales@wesellturf.com