If the hot weather has left your lawn looking worse for wear, you might be wondering how to make it green again – or whether it's dead for good.
If your grass passes the tug test (it resists your pull without ripping out the roots), we have some good news: your lawn has simply gone into survival mode, conserving energy while it waits for better weather to return.
To find out the best way to resurrect your stressed-out, dormant turf, we spoke to two landscaping experts for their top lawn care tips (spoiler: it all boils down to soil care).
1. Aerate your lawn
Once you've raked away any dead, matted thatch, you'll want to aerate the lawn using a hollow-tine aerator to help the soil breathe again. Note: the ground will need to be slightly damp from previous watering or rainfall.
"Contrary to popular advice, pushing a garden fork into the lawn isn't the answer," says David Hedges-Gower, Consultant at Modern Lawn Care. "It can actually increase compaction around each hole. Hollow-tine aeration physically removes small cores of soil, restoring the vital balance of oxygen and moisture that roots and soil biology rely upon."
Equipped with four spikes and a non-slip handle, this hollow tine aerator tool helps improve water and nutrient absorption.
David Hedges-Gower is the UK's most respected lawn consultant and has spent more than 45 years advising homeowners, historic estates, sports venues and some of Britain's finest gardens on the science of sustainable lawn care.
2. Re-hydrate the soil
Next up, the ground needs to be deeply rehydrated – a light sprinkle isn't going to cut it, says Chris Wood, Head Florist at Waitrose Gardens.
To minimise evaporation from the sun and wind, he recommends watering the soil between 5am and 9am, soaking it with 2.5cm of water per session, and checking that the water has penetrated around 10-15cm into the soil.
Chris Wood, Waitrose Head Florist, who has worked for Waitrose for 14 years and in the horticultural industry for over 30 years and holds a National Diploma in Horticulture.
3. Feed the soil
When it comes to feeding your grass, you'll want to avoid high-salt fertilisers and harsh chemical treatments, says David Hedges-Gower. Instead, he recommends choosing a product that feeds the soil itself, such as True Grass Lawn Food below.
"Organic nutrition, biostimulants and ingredients that stimulate microbial activity help rebuild root systems and restore the natural processes that produce healthy grass in the first place," he explains.
"One product I recommend is True Grass, which supports soil biology as well as the grass growing above it," says David.
4. Lightly scarify the lawn
Once your lawn's recovery is underway, David Hedges-Gower recommends giving it a very light scarification to help remove the layer of dead leaf material that masks the new growth underneath.
"Don't be tempted to scarify aggressively unless you are planning a full renovation and reseed," he adds.
This two-in-one machine will scarify and aerate your lawn, and includes four cutting heights and a 30L collection box.
"British lawns have survived droughts, floods, harsh winters and scorching summers for centuries. The difference today is that we often expect an instant fix. Nature doesn't work like that. Give the soil water. Restore its structure. Restart its biology. Allow the roots to recover. Then be patient," concludes David Hedges-Gowe.
If you found this helpful, you may also want to learn about the best time to water grass or make a note of the UK's lawn care calendar.
