Experts warn gardeners to avoid this lawn care task until after the heatwave, or risk destroying their lawn – this is what to do instead for lush grass
This lawn care job is best left until autumn
If your lawn has become compacted as a result of all the hot weather, you may be considering whether to aerate it. The short answer is no, do not. Gardening experts even say that it can make it harder for your lawn to recover after a heatwave.
If you’ve been wondering when to aerate a lawn, garden experts want you to be aware that it’s best to wait until autumn when conditions are a little wetter. While aerating a lawn is a great way to improve drainage and allow nutrients to reach grass roots, it can also increase moisture loss and turn your lawn yellow and patchy if you do it at the wrong time.
This is why it’s so important to stick to your lawn care calendar when it comes to aerating and especially to avoid the task during a heatwave. Here’s why.
Why you should never aerate your lawn during a heatwave
‘When it comes to lawn care, aeration is the process of creating small holes in the ground, meaning water, air and nutrients can more easily reach grass roots. Similarly, scarifying removes dead organic material, called thatch, which also allows water, air and nutrients to reach the roots,’ explains Paul Hicks, Senior Marketing and Product Manager at STIHL GB.
‘While these are both important parts of the lawn care process to ensure a healthy, lush lawn, these tasks should not be completed in the summer months as essential moisture can be lost through the aeration holes - and scarifying should only be done when that grass is actively growing, and the lawn can recover.’
Aerating a lawn is typically done using an aerator tool (such as this £29 Amazon bestseller) and is brilliant at improving drainage following dry spells where soil becomes compacted. The key thing to remember here is that you need to wait for the dry spell to finish before you aerate.
‘During a heatwave, your lawn is already working hard just to cope with the stress of high temperatures and dry conditions. Creating hundreds of small holes in the soil can increase moisture loss and make it even harder for the grass to recover when it's already under pressure. Most lawns simply don't have the energy reserves to bounce back properly in those conditions,’ says Luke Newnes, gardening expert at Hillarys.
‘I often compare it to recovering from a marathon. If you've just crossed the finish line, that isn't the moment to head straight into another tough workout. Your lawn is in a similar position during a heatwave – it's focused on conserving energy, retaining moisture and simply getting through the hot spell, so adding another source of stress can do more harm than good.’
How to protect your lawn during a heatwave
‘During the summer months, there can be very little rainfall – if you want your lawn to stay healthy year-round, then watering it is important. While the exact amount of water that your lawn needs will depend on both the type of soil and species of grass you have in your garden, a good general rule of thumb is to supply enough water to penetrate a minimum of 25mm into the ground, roughly once a week,’ recommends Paul.
‘Do this in the cooler early morning or late evening hours to avoid evaporation and your damp grass being scorched by the summer sun, making sure to water the area evenly. If the hot weather gets extreme, you can increase this to two or three times a week as needed,' Paul adds.
'Don’t be tempted to water your lawn more than this. While it might seem the obvious thing to do in a heatwave, overwatering can actually cause serious damage to the grass as it forces air out of the soil, which can then cause root rot. If you’re not sure how often to water your lawn, use a moisture meter to check levels.’
Ensuring your lawn gets the right amount of water is a key July lawn tip, as is applying a wetting agent (£23.99, Amazon) and adjusting how you mow.
‘For now, think of protection rather than perfection. Raise your mower height slightly, mow less often and avoid heavy foot traffic where possible. Longer grass helps shade the soil, reducing moisture loss, while staying off the lawn can prevent additional stress and compaction. And don't panic if your lawn loses some of its colour – established lawns are often more resilient than people think and will usually recover once cooler temperatures and rainfall return,’ says Luke.
‘Heatwaves are also a good reminder that our gardens are changing. More people are looking at ways to create comfortable shaded spaces through trees, climbing plants and features such as pergolas. Not only does that make the garden more pleasant to use during hot weather, but it can reduce wear and tear on lawns when conditions are at their toughest.’
A wetting agent lowers surface tension on hard lawns allowing water to deeply penertrate the soil, meaning more moisture gets to your grass roots.
A sun sail is an easy way to add shade to your garden. Shade not only helps protect your lawn, but makes your garden a more comforable place to sit, too.
For deep watering, a sprinkler can make the task much easier. This one is suitable for watering medium to large gardens, up to 320 m2.
‘If your lawn is struggling in the hot weather and brown patches start to appear, don’t panic. Grass is extremely resilient and will go into a dormant state when it’s unable to access enough moisture. Established lawns will recover quickly,’ concludes Paul
Just wait till autumn before you aerate…
