A garden expert shared some advice for Britons trying to maintain a lush lawn during the heatwave. Garden designer and TikTok creator Ish urged people to follow some easy garden maintenance that will help prevent lawns from turning “brown and scorched”.
Ish shared the concern with his followers, writing in the caption: “Keeping your lawn green in the height of summer or droughts can be a never ending battle. But by preparing the ground and keeping the lawn length longer, you can actually help it utilise the water more efficiently and keep the ground hydrated, making sure your lawn is well watered.”
How to stop lawns from turning brown
It’s not just about keeping the ground hydrated but also about preparing the earth and grass correctly. This will help the ground retain its moisture on hot days.
An issue that may crop up with unprepared ground is that the water won’t permeate into the soil properly and drown the grass on top, in turn not properly nourishing the lawn. Ish stressed the importance of good lawn maintenance.
The first thing you need to do before you consider watering your lawn is to make sure that the ground is not “compact and hard.” Ish said, “If it’s nice and rock solid, the water will sit on top and struggle to soak in, meaning that it will just evaporate off the top, which is a complete waste of water.”
To prep the ground, you can use an aerator, scarifier, or even a garden fork. This is to poke holes directly into the soil to help the water drain in.
Ish advised to avoid mowing the grass too short. He said: “Having it a little bit longer actually creates a bit of shade on the ground, meaning that the water will stay on the ground longer, soaking in, and not evaporate quickly, and keeps it looking nice and lush.”
Once the ground is prepared, it’s time to give the ground a soak. This can be done with a sprinkler or hose.
Ish explained that it’s important to water the lawn at specific times of the day to prevent the water from evaporating.
He advised watering the lawn early in the morning between 7am and 9am or in the evening from 9pm onwards.
This is usually when the ground and the air are cooler, meaning that there’ll be less chance of the water evaporating, and leaving your lawn nice and hydrated.