Should I water my dying lawn?

ripplyuk

I keep reading conflicting opinions about this. My garden was renovated last year (from rubble) so this grass is only a year old and the top soil isn’t very deep. With all this hot weather, large patches are already brown. The grass is also quite short, which I know doesn’t help, but my lawnmower doesn’t go any higher. I read that you can tell if it’s dormant or dead by seeing if you can pull it out easily. I tried that and the grass just seemed to crumble so now I’m tempted to water the whole garden.

Is this the right thing to do? I don’t have an outside tap so watering it will be a real palaver but I can’t afford to replace the entire lawn if it dies.

neilmcl

I'd say it's under stress due to the hot/dry weather and the fact you're cutting it too short but I'd doubt it's actually dying. I'd get another mower that'll allow you to adjust the height or mow it less often.

DaftyDuck

If you start watering now, you will need to continue daily for weeks, and it looks like any damage - if any - has already occurred.

If using an inside tap, ensure water isn't softened. Try not to cut lawns before not spells, cut only in the evening, try to cut longer, and / or cut less often.

It will come back, it might need a little grass seed, but that can be had cheaply enough.

You'll see by all the threads you are not alone. Pretty much most lawns are suffering, mine is, as are my animal grazing paddocks, as are all the neighbours. We are in for a long and hot summer. It won't be the first or last, and all previously dead lawns recovered!

Save the cost of watering, spend it on a packet of grass seed if you need to.

ripplyuk

Will it come back soon? Or does that mean autumn?

I’ve also just read an article about drought and it says ‘All foot traffic on the lawn must cease immediately’. It sounds like a military order, so I’m guessing it’s important. It just seems like what’s the point of having a garden if I can’t use it when the weather is hot and sunny. I can’t even put laundry out on the line then either!

DaftyDuck

Wouldn't worry too much. Dance on it and it will still recover, just might take four days longer.

It will grow back. I remember, back in '76 (,oh god, here we go...), long drought, hot summer, lawns and the like all died right back. But, within three weeks of the rain, they were greening up nicely.

Sure, if you are a bowls fanatic, faff over watering, cut it thrice weekly, discuss it at allotment society and debate seed mixtures....

Or, use your garden, let it dry out, pretend you are in Spain, and enjoy the sun!

Promise you, it will grow back. Full refund if I'm wrong!

glasgowdan

Cut height is key in these conditions. I was just out playing footie on mine with the wee boy and even surprised myself with how the lawn is doing in the drought! (not just bugle-blowing here). I cut it higher than any of my customer's lawns but do it weekly, whereas all my work is fortnightly.

As Daffy says, you'll see it improve eventually. Just let it grow and get a bit scruffy for now.

Davesnave

Look on the bright side; it's been fantastic hay making weather.

DaftyDuck

It is, and I have!

shortcrust

I wish I’d looked at these lawn threads before I cut mine yesterday lunch time and started to water some brown patches!:eek:

Justagardener

Think of village recs and local parks that have marquees for shows and carparks and kids running around all over the grass. They still recover. Enjoy this brilliant weather and the garden. The winters are too long and miserable!
https://theperfectgarden.co.uk/lawn-and-grass-faq/

Davesnave

DaftyDuck wrote: »

It is, and I have!

Me too now. 31 big bales and the grass is just acres of beige carpet, but as soon as it rains again.....