As green-fingered folk spruce up their gardens amid the soaring temperatures, they are being urged to pack up their lawn mowers to avoid damaged grass.
It’s commonly believed that lawns should be cut every two weeks, between the months of March to October, but sticking to this rule could leave you with unsightly turf. Gardening guru James Lewis has warned that mowing grass during the balmy weather could lead to brown patches or if the grass is killed, bare spots in your lawn.
The expert, from MyBuilder.com, claims that delaying the outdoor chore will protect the blade and keep the moisture in the grass during the sweltering heat. He said: "It’s understandable that we want our gardens to look smart while we enjoy them in this warmer weather. However, mowing lawns in the heat can do damage that lasts for way longer than this heatwave.
"If it’s cut too short it will expose the blades to more heat than they can handle, potentially killing them. This will lead to bare patches in your lawn which will take time and effort to repair."
James continued: "Best to leave your lawns, the extra length will help protect them until the heatwave is over, and there are other tactics you can use to help keep your lawn healthy."
The green-thumbed expert highlighted another 'common' lawn care blunder, that can also cause havoc for your grass. He said: "Watering your lawn when the sun is hot and shining directly on it can cause damage. Blades of grass will normally only grow during the cooler part of the day."
James explained that watering should take place in the early morning, before 8am, or at night after 9pm, when grass can grow. "You can set timers for your irrigation systems and sprinklers to activate during these best watering times, or ensure you do it manually at these times," he said. James also shared his top tips for achieving a healthy, vibrant lawn this summer, which can be found below.
Let it grow
Letting your grass grow a little longer allows it to cope with heat stress. Longer grass in hot weather acts as a "micro jungle", with taller stems helping to sustain a microclimate at soil level.
When temperatures rise, mowing can actually cause stress to a lawn so it’s often best to leave your grass to grow a little longer in these conditions. James suggests keeping the length at around 2.5cm to 5cm, although if you wish to grow it a little longer then up to twice that height can promote healthy blades of grass.
Raise your mower
To avoid scalping the lawn, the cutting height of your mower should be increased during dry conditions. The majority of lawn mowers have different height settings and a higher setting will allow valuable moisture to be trapped, limiting evaporation and encouraging stronger, deeper roots to grow, which improves drought tolerance overall.
Be prepared to water
If you need to mow your lawn when it’s hot, be prepared to regularly water it. Ideally, you should be watering your grass about one inch of water per week. If you’re using a sprinkler, it will take approximately 30-minutes to get a half inch of water.
There are a variety of techniques that can be used to water your lawn, from a handheld watering can with a sprinkler head, a sprinkler, an irrigation system or a hose pipe. It’s important not to over water, so while daily watering may not be needed, regular watering is the best way to avoid burning the lawn by ensuring there is adequate moisture in the soil.
Provide shade
Planting trees or installing shade structures in your garden will provide some much needed relief to your lawn during hot days. Shade helps to lower water loss through evaporation which in turn creates a cooler microclimate, reducing the need for frequent watering while maintaining grass health.
There are many different options to add shade to your garden, including awning, parasols, sail canopies, pergolas, arbours, gazebos for planting trees or tall shrubs. The best option for you will depend on your garden size, type and the budget you have available.
Avoid extreme heat
Mowing a larger lawn in extreme heat could be exhausting, so avoid it if you can, or make sure you only mow early morning or late evening when the temperature is lower. If you do need to do mowing or any gardening when it's hot then ensure you have applied sun cream, are wearing a hat and take regular breaks.
Don’t over mow
One of the worst things you can do for your lawn when it's hot outside is to over-mow it. The shorter the grass, the less shade there is to protect the roots - which can reduce moisture.
When mowing your lawn, it is good practice to follow the one third rule by never cutting more than a third of the blade of grass in one go. If you cut more than a third this can stress the grass and affects its growth.
Remember to re-seed
Make sure you re-seed and fill in bare spots in your lawn to maintain a dense turf cover. The ideal times to overseed lawns are in springtime, from March to early May, and then late summer into early autumn, from the end of August into September.