Gardeners have been told to change one thing when it comes to mowing their lawns this July. This comes as the UK is set to experience its third heatwave of the summer this week. A Met Office meteorologist has revealed that Thursday, July 10, will see high temperatures back in the country with hot conditions to continue into the weekend. Much like humans, plants and grass need extra care when there is hot weather in the UK. Gardeners need to take extra care of many things in their garden when a heatwave hits, including their grass.
Grassy lawns can become dry and lose some of their vibrant green colour when the weather is hot and sunny. With a lack of rain, grass can easily become dehydrated, and you might notice your lawn becoming crunchier than it normally is. To protect your lawn, there are a few things you should do. And if you plan to mow it this month, with more hot weather expected this summer, you should do one thing to protect it.
According to Jamie Shipley, gardening expert and Managing Director of Hedges Direct, Brits need to be cautious about cutting their grass at a certain height. Grass should be left a bit longer in the summer months, especially when heatwaves are expected.
This is because grass sends its roots further down into the ground when left to grow longer. This means that it has a better chance of retaining moisture during a heatwave, and it is less likely to turn brown.
Jamie commented: “There are plenty of gardening jobs to get done during July. Weeding, deadheading, and tying-in will help plants look their best. You also need to be on the lookout for pests and keep sustainability in mind when it comes to watering and mowing. Looking ahead, now is also the time to propagate certain plants as well as get autumn-flowering bulbs in the ground. It’s also important to look out for precious garden wildlife through the warmer, drier months.”
As well as cutting grass to a certain length, Jamie recommends deadheading your flowers. “It’s an effective way of boosting colour in your garden during the summer,” he says.
Gardeners should also top up their bird baths as heatwaves can make it hard for birds to find water, particularly in built-up towns and cities. Additionally, gardeners should “keep on top of” weeds at this time of the year
Jamie also says that July is a great time to “plant autumn-flowering bulbs which are dormant at this time of year”.