6 tips to keep your lawn healthy in hot weather

The garden power tool experts at Toolstation have teamed up with professional gardener, Thea Pitcher (@theapitcheroutdoorcreations), who has worked on TV gardening shows like Gardeners’ World, to share 6 lawn maintenance tips you might not be aware of.

From advice on how to revive a damaged lawn after a heatwave, to guidance on making your lawn wildlife friendly, here is everything you need for a healthy-looking lawn this summer:

1. Mow every 1-2 weeks

“Depending on how perfect you want your lawn to appear and how fast it’s growing, you should look to cut it once a week or once a fortnight. For a healthy-looking lawn, aim to cut it about 4cm high in spring and autumn, and 2-3cm high during the summer.”

2. Aerate your lawn after hot weather

“Sad or damaged lawns can be caused by regular footfall, compacted soil, or drought. The best way to fix this is by aerating the lawn. This means making holes in the lawn to break up the compacted ground and allow water to pass through. It also helps to prevent poor drainage which can lead to moss.

“Lawn aerators can be bought for this, or if you don’t have a big lawn and feel like exercising, you can use a garden fork. Push the fork about 10cm deep and repeat every 10-15 cm.grass seed

“Once the aerating is done, rake the lawn and spread grass seed, from such as  grass seed uk ,  over the top. Then dress with a lawn top dressing (a sandy soil which is spread thinly over the top of the whole lawn). It will help to improve the soil structure and prevent thatch (dead grass build-up). This also helps to keep the lawn level, and can be used to fill in any hollows in the lawn.”

3. Create a wildlife friendly space

“If you want to maintain a wildlife-friendly lawn, it’s important to mow less often. Instead of mowing your lawn weekly, consider mowing it once a month. This allows the grass and other plant species such as clover, buttercups, and daisies to grow. These flowering plants provide nectar for pollinators and serve as hiding places for insects.

“Another option is to choose a specific area of your lawn to be left unmown, creating a habitat for wildlife. You can mow a path through this area to walk through the long grass and wildflowers without damaging other sections.”

 4. Mow from side to side if you have uneven terrain

“When mowing sloping lawns, it’s best to mow across the slope, from side to side. This method makes it easier to maintain consistent balance. For steep lawns, hover-type mowers are often the ideal choice.

“If your lawn has uneven terrain with dips or hollows, it’s advised to fill them in before mowing. If filling isn’t feasible, a strimmer would be my preferred tool for the job.”

5. Know your grass species

“The majority of grass seed or turf you can buy consists of a blend of perennial grasses. These types of grasses are known for being durable and low-maintenance, making them resilient to irregular mowing and high-footfall traffic. They are well-suited for lawns that require less maintenance.

“On the other hand, fine grass lawns such as the type you would find on bowling greens or golf courses, require more frequent mowing to maintain their desired appearance. These lawns need regular trimming to ensure they look their best.”

6. Dog designated areas

“When your dog urinates on the lawn, it can lead to yellow patches caused by nitrogen which burns the grass. This tends to be more of an issue with female dogs who squat to urinate.

“Unfortunately, there’s no quick fix to address this problem. You can use a hose to water the spot where they urinated to dilute the urine and minimise the damage. Or, I have seen some people successfully train their dogs to use a designated area to do their business.”