Will my lawn grow back after the heatwave?

The recent heatwave may have given us all a great start to the summer break. But as the weather returns to the milder conditions we’d expect from a great British summer, your garden may be looking a little worse for wear due to the near tropical temperatures.

Your lawn may have been particularly affected by the increased temperatures, boasting a baked, straw-like appearance instead of the lush greenness you’d expect at this time of year. If your lawn is looking on the verge of death, don’t panic! Even the most affected lawns can make a comeback with these tips…

Understand your half-baked lawn

When most plants are hit by extreme temperatures, they enter ‘survival mode’. This involves your grass hitting the emergency snooze button. The response makes the grass that your usually beautiful lawn is made of, one of the hardiest and most adaptable plants around. Unbeknown to most, grass recovers quickly in the face of various disasters, including extreme temperatures, flooding, frost, drought and even fire.

Your grass has entered a dormant phase to conserve energy. The part of the plant that you don’t see (officially known as the ‘crown’) has cut off supplies to the leaves that sprout above the surface, turning them a very unattractive yellow or brown colour. The plant below however remains very much alive.

Once conditions have returned to normal, new shoots or ‘tillers’ will begin to emerge. This is how grass continues to grow even with repeated mowing or grazing.

Bring your lawn back to life

There is a lot of conflicting advice from gardening experts about how best to revive your lawn after a heatwave. Some recommend watering your lawn occasionally to speed up the recovery process, whilst others advise letting nature take its course and forgoing the extra watering.

Mow your lawn a little differently

The same conflicting advice can be found when deciding when to resume mowing. Again some experts advise leaving your grass to protect the crowns underneath the surface.

Many gardeners however suggest light mowing as your grass recovers. Instead of collecting grass clippings, leaving these waste materials behind provides a protective topping that’s similar to mulch and helps to retain moisture.

Call on our gardening experts

If you’re worried that your lawn isn’t recovering properly, even after waiting things out, getting some advice from one of our gardening experts is the next step. Find a local gardener today!