Make dry backyard grass a thing of the past
Keep your lawn looking great this summer (Getty)
Every summer, avid gardeners look for ways to keep their lawns looking beautiful throughout the summer.
As a scorching heatwave hits across the UK, the challenge of keeping your lawn healthy and green rather than brown and withered has once again come into play. Hot, dry weather can cause your grass to dry out quickly and look less attractive.
For anyone struggling to keep their lawn looking fresh, the gardening experts at Rainbow Rubbish Removals have shared their top tips for keeping your lawn green even in the heatwaves.
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Water thoroughly and regularly. (Getty)
Water generously and frequently
Opt for deep watering sessions rather than frequent shallow watering, as this encourages roots to grow deeper and makes your lawn more resistant to drought conditions. Water in the early morning or late evening to minimize evaporation.
Sprinkler hoses and drip irrigation systems are efficient watering solutions that deliver water directly to the soil and minimize evaporation. These methods target the root zone, reducing water waste and the risk of overwatering, promoting healthier plant growth. Plus, they help prevent fungal diseases by keeping the leaves dry.
Put mulch on the lawn
Adding organic mulch, such as grass clippings or shredded leaves, has many benefits: it helps conserve soil moisture, suppresses weeds, moderates soil temperatures, increases soil fertility, promotes the overall health of your lawn and reduces maintenance needs.
Aerating your lawn allows water, nutrients and oxygen to penetrate deeper and improves soil drainage and root health, which results in healthier grass growth, reduces water runoff and helps your lawn maintain its elasticity and vitality.
Adjusting the height of the lawnmower
Setting your mower blades higher will allow your grass to grow taller, providing natural shade to the soil, reducing evaporation and encouraging deeper root growth – improving the overall health and resilience of your lawn.
Regular mowing is important to keep your lawn lush and healthy, and with many local councils now charging for garden waste removal, you may want to consider using a garden waste collection service during the spring and summer months.
Setting your lawnmower blade higher will make your grass grow taller (Getty)
Choose drought-tolerant grass varieties
When planting or sowing grass seeds, choose drought-tolerant grass varieties such as bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, and tall fescue. These grasses require less water to grow, making them ideal for sustainable lawn care in water-scarce areas.
Create shade
Planting trees and shade structures in your yard will reduce direct sunlight and reduce water loss through evaporation, creating a cooler microclimate and reducing the need for frequent watering, helping to keep your lawn healthier.
Reseeding of bare ground
Applying grass seed to bare areas of your lawn will increase grass density, reduce water loss through evaporation, and help prevent soil erosion.
For gardeners who want to reduce their carbon footprint, there are also several environmentally friendly ways to protect their lawns. Gardeners can conserve resources by using “grey water” for irrigation, reusing water used for activities such as boiling and bathing vegetables, and choosing sustainable gardening tools such as non-electric or solar-powered.
According to the experts at Rainbow, planting clover or dandelions will provide natural nutrients, increase soil fertility and boost the overall vitality of your lawn in an environmentally friendly way.
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