Summer lawn care tips and advice

Summer lawn care needn’t be onerous. Showing your turf a little TLC this summer will help your outdoor space to thrive during the hotter months.

Follow our expert tips to help create a lawn that’d make the Wimbledon ground staff stop and stare.

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The importance of summer lawn maintenance

A well-maintained lawn is aesthetically pleasing and creates a lush blanket of green to enjoy outdoor activities and social gatherings.

But aside from improving the look and feel of your grass, why should you spend time on summer lawn maintenance?

1. Drought stress

Neglecting your lawn during the warmer summer months can lead to drought stress.

This causes the grass to become weak, brown, and more susceptible to disease and weeds. It can also affect the root system, which can lead to erosion.

2. Weeds and invasive plants

Failing to care for your lawn in summer provides the perfect opportunity for weeds and invasive plants to take over.

Weeds and grass compete for nutrients. Allowing weeds to take hold of your lawn will result in patchy and unsightly grass.

3. Pest infestation

Common lawn pests in the UK include chafer grubs and leatherjackets.

By keeping your lawn healthy and robust, you’ll create an environment that makes it more difficult for pests to establish themselves, therefore avoiding a brown, patchy lawn.

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Expert summer time lawn care tips

Your lawn is the centrepiece of your outdoor space, and as the weather hots up, there’s no better place to relax and enjoy the sunshine.

However, increased temperatures and prolonged dry spells can take their toll on your grass if not properly cared for.

In this section, we share our expert tips for caring for your lawn this summer time.

1. Watering

• Water early morning or late evening to mimimise evaporation during hotter weather
• Aim for about an inch of water per week, ensuring it reaches the roots. It’s better for your grass to be watered deeply and infrequently rather than ‘little and often’
• A sprinkler can help to provide even coverage

2. Mowing

• Mow once a week on average during the summer, reducing to fortnightly during periods of drought. This will help to eliminate weeds and promote denser turf
• The ideal time of day to mow in the summer is mid-morning
• Set your mower to a higher cutting height during the hotter summer for more resilient grass. This will also allow smaller wildflowers to thrive, for a flower-rich lawn
• It’s better to mow regularly and only remove a small amount each time. Never take off more than one-third of the grass height
• Make sure your mower blades are sharp for clean cuts that don’t stress the grass

3. Fertilising

• If required, apply a slow-release, low-nitrogen fertiliser in early summer to provide essential nutrients for growth
• Fertiliser should be applied evenly in cool, moist conditions, ideally when rain is expected
• Be careful not to use too much fertiliser as it can harm the grass and have detrimental effects on the environment

4. Weed control

• Spot-treat weeds with a selective lawn weedkiller or manually remove them by hand before they spread
• Applying a weed control product in early spring can help prevent weed seeds from germinating

5. Aerating and overseeding

• Aeration can help to alleviate soil compaction, which improves water penetration for a healthier lawn
• Then overseed the lawn to fill any bare patches and promote a denser lawn

6. Pest management

• Keep an eye out for signs of pests such as withered or yellow patches and address them promptly
• Insecticides can be used, but they will potentially kill the beneficial insects too
• For a natural remedy, encourage the pests’ natural predators into your garden, e.g. birds, spiders, and ladybirds

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