14/08/2026
🌱 Is your lawn looking dead?
With drought conditions across England, many lawns are looking brown, dry and rather sorry for themselves... But an established lawn turning brown does not necessarily mean it has died.
During prolonged dry weather, grass can enter dormancy, conserving its resources until rain and cooler conditions return.
So rather than trying to force your lawn to stay green, now is the time to think about what it will need when conditions improve.
Our 10 drought lawn tips 👇:
🌱 1. Don't panic about brown grass
An established lawn can survive periods of drought by going dormant.
💧 2. Don't waste water trying to keep it green
Prioritise new lawns and recently established areas where watering is genuinely necessary.
✂️ 3. Raise your mower height
Longer grass provides more shade for the soil and puts less stress on the plant.
🌱 4. Stop mowing if growth has stopped
There is no need to mow grass that is not actively growing.
🍃 5. Leave fine clippings where appropriate
They can return nutrients and provide a light mulch for the soil.
🪴 6. Scarify once your lawn has recovered
September and October are excellent months for lawn renovation, but don't scarify severely drought stressed grass.
🌿 7. Aerate compacted areas
Creating channels into the soil allows air and water to reach the root zone more effectively.
🌱 8. Repair bare patches in autumn
Once the soil is moist and conditions improve, autumn is a good time to reseed damaged areas.
⚠️ 9. Fertiliser (In store now!)
Wait until the lawn has recovered and is actively growing before considering an appropriate autumn treatment September if the PERFECT time to revive and feed for next year.
🌧️ 10. Start planning now for next spring
Scarifying, aerating, repairing bare patches and overseeding at the right time can all help you develop a healthier, more resilient lawn... That time in now!
The key thing to remember is that a brown lawn is not always a dead lawn.
August and September are important months for thinking ahead, and the work you do once conditions improve can make a real difference to how your lawn looks next spring.
We'll be sharing more lawn care advice as we move towards autumn, including scarifying, aerating, lawn seed and feeding.
Don't fight the drought. Prepare your lawn for what comes next. 🌱
