This is a question we have been asked over the last week or so as lawns start showing signs of lawn drought stress. (June 2022)
An outlook for Nottingham’s lawns
We continue to experience a dry period, in fact, comparing Nottinghams weather for April, May and June with last year, your lawns has enjoyed 27% less rainfall.
During the last week we have noticed more lawns showing signs of water stress. We believe growing conditions for the grass will get more challenging following this weekends drying winds and we have only light showers forecasted for the week ahead. This will contribute to the plant taking its natural action to self protect and go into dormancy, normally with the finer grasses first.
Should I water my lawn FAQ’s?
My lawn has gone brown should I be concerned?
We believe no, it’s a natural response to prolonged dry conditions where the grass does not get enough water and goes into a natural “self protect” mode.
Why is my lawn going brown?
Its the natural response where the grass does not get enough water. This natural “self protect” response to drought occurs as the grass begins to become drought stressed, by producing a hormone chemical called Abscisic Acid. The deeper the drought, the more hormone it makes.
The acid signals the stomata to close keeping moisture inside the plant longer resulting in the brown grass blades, the grass refocuses its energy on the roots to develop a more extensive root system by growing deeper and more extensively into the soil.
Will it recover?
Yes, in the majority of cases, completely. In the drought of 2018 a number of finer luxury grass lawns struggled with recovery, especially those that didn’t enjoy regular scarification which they require to keep tip-top.
How do I know if the lawn is dry?
You can tell if the grass needs to be watered deeply by a change in the colour of the grass as the blades fold. If you walk on the grass, it doesn’t immediately spring back but will take longer to become upright again. You can look back and see your foot prints.
The deep watering grass process should begin by watering deeply over a couple days.
What do I do?
If your happy to water: give it a “deep and thorough water” at least weekly, for more watering information see our web site Watering Advice
If your not happy to water, don’t. Just let the lawn and mother nature complete its natural response.
Lawn watering advice from the UK’s Lawn Experts
RHS – Spring and Summer Lawn Care
RHS – Drought Care
UKLCA – Watering Your Lawn advice
EverGreen Garden Care – Watering your garden with David Domoney
Greener Gardens – Nottinghams Independent Lawn Care Watering Advice
My lawn isn’t dormant, can I cut the lawn?
If the lawn needs a light cut, yes, but raise the cut height and complete a light topping only.
Will a summer feed benefit my lawn?
Our experience is yes. Lawns that do not enjoy a summer treatment and nourishment top up do not recover as quick as the lawns that do, we suggest you continue with beneficial summer treatments.
What lawn treatments will help?
Aeration is a great way to allow the lawn to breath, creating spaces for increased root health by increases biological activity, helping to increase nutrient efficiency, Improving surface drainage and allowing air into the root zone.
Different types of aeration are available including: hollow tine, solid tine (Spiking) and solid chisel tine. A good time to include aeration into your programme is autumn and early summer when extra root growth naturally occurs.
Now is an ideal time to incorporate these treatments into an annual lawn plan.
Treat Safe® Your Questions answered is written by John Draper of Greener Gardens, Nottingham’s local independent BASIS Lawn Assured specialist and Chairman of the UK Lawncare Association.