This summer has seen temperature extremes for the UK, and my grass is looking less than pleased right now. Unsurprisingly, the way you water your lawn in hot weather can have a huge impact on its condition – and it's something I've learned the hard way.
Contrary to popular belief, though, you shouldn’t water your lawn more. Just as there’s a correct way to mow your lawn in hot, dry weather, there’s also a right way to water it – and quality is better than quantity, according to the experts. Apparently, sprinklers are a little more redundant during heatwaves.
Here’s how you should be watering your lawn in hot weather.
What you'll need
This rotating sprinkler can evenly cover areas up to 254m².
This adjustable sprinkler is ideal for small to medium-sized gardens.
Set up a sprinkler schedule so you don't forget to water your lawn!
If you take just one July lawn care tip on board during the height of a heatwave, make it this: don’t water your lawn every day.
‘Light, frequent watering encourages weak, shallow roots,’ says Jonathan Davis, grass expert at leading lawncare specialists Lawnsmith. ‘You're better off giving it a proper soak early in the morning or evening.’
That might sound counter-intuitive, especially when your grass is already looking yellow and worn – but according to experts, deep watering a couple of times a week is far better for your lawn’s overall health and longevity in future droughts.
‘A thorough watering once every few days does far more for a lawn than a daily light sprinkle,’ says grass expert Vania Zhang at Segway Navimow. ‘Deeper water encourages roots to grow down into the soil, making the turf naturally tougher when drought hits.’
Drought-tolerant planting is becoming more and more popular in the UK, and watering a lawn deeply rather than frequently in hot weather can toughen up your grass, too. You can still use a sprinkler, like this Hozelock Rectangular Oscillating Sprinkler from Argos, which can cover up to 220 square metres – but make sure you aren’t lightly sprinkling your grass every day, and stick to a deep soak once every few days instead. Plus, it’s usually easier to revive a dry lawn than you’d think.
‘When supplies are genuinely tight, water your most vulnerable plants first,’ says Vania. ‘Lawns are more resilient than they look and manage surprisingly well on a more targeted amount of water.’
Watering is crucial if you want to keep your lawn alive in a heatwave, but less is more for the making of drought-tolerant grass.
