Wales is currently experiencing its driest year since 1976, with a hosepipe ban set to be introduced in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. With sweltering temperatures, bone-dry land and disappearing reservoirs, you may be wondering about the state of your garden lawn. If we struggle in this exceptional heat, then surely our grass does, too! So how long does it take for grass to come back to life after excessive heat?
It can take up to 6 weeks for your grass to recover, with germination taking place between 2-3 weeks after a drought. This depends on many variables and treatment measures, including: the age of your lawn, the previous conditions of the lawn, and the severity of the drought.
Grass naturally goes dormant after two to three weeks without water, and most lawns can survive drought for four to six weeks. Remember, dormant grass isn't necessarily dead grass. Dormancy is a natural protection mechanism for grass to withstand weather changes.
Here's what you can do to revive your sun-soaked lawn after a drought...
1. Water, water, water!
It may seem blatantly obvious, but what's the first thing you do when you're parched? You give yourself water!
Water your lawn to enhance its moisture and to encourage new root growth. Give it a good rinse, and ensure that you cover the hard-to-soak areas, such as patches on hills or sloped areas.
You can water your lawn at any point, but we'd recommend doing it as early as possible before the sun gets too high. The 4am - 10am window is best as the air is cool, which means the water can run down into the soil and reach the grass roots without risking excess water loss through evaporation.
2. Prevent and pre-fertilise
If you know there's a bout of hot weather coming, it's best to pre-fertilise your lawn and stick to a consistent schedule.
Pre-fertilised lawns will be ready to fend off diseases, pests and weeds, and are more likely to survive a drought. The nitrogen within fertiliser promotes extra growth, which makes your grass lush, strong and green.
The more you look after your lawn all year round, the more likely it will be to survive the sweltering heat!
3. Tackle the weeds
You may find some troublesome plants in your lawn after a drought, so make sure you get rid of weeds quickly! Pesky weeds can act like parasites; they are able to steal the essential nutrients from the soil that your lawn needs to thrive again.
After a drought is the ideal time to carry out renovation and repair in your garden - this will help the lawn recover whilst making it more drought resistant for the following year.
4. Go back to your previous maintenance routine
Re-introduce some normality, and get your lawn used to your previous lawn maintenance routine. The best way to keep your lawn looking top-tier throughout the year is to follow a lawn care schedule. Why not try our very own lawn maintenance schedule below?
Your Lawn Maintenance Schedule
How can we help?
At Lawn & Weed Expert, we know that summer can be a difficult time for lawns. Our specialist summer lawn treatment service is safe, efficient, and extremely cost-effective. Get in touch today to request a FREE lawn survey, or browse our summer-specific advice to keep your lawn shining bright and thriving all year long.
Summer Lawn Treatment Summer Lawn Care Advice
