Southern England summers are getting hotter and drier, and Hampshire lawns face increasing stress through July and August. The good news is that grass is remarkably resilient — a lawn that looks dead brown in August will recover rapidly in September. The key is knowing what to do and what to avoid through the hottest months.
Adjusting Your Mowing
In dry weather, raise your mowing height significantly — cut at 4–5cm rather than the usual 2.5–3cm. Longer grass shades the soil, retaining more moisture and staying greener longer. Also mow less frequently — mowing stresses drought-affected grass further.
- Raise mowing height to 4–5cm in dry periods
- Mow less frequently — every 10–14 days rather than weekly
- Never cut more than a third of the blade at one pass
- Keep mower blades sharp — blunt blades tear rather than cut
Watering Correctly
If you choose to water, do so deeply and infrequently rather than little and often. A deep watering once or twice a week is far more effective than a daily light sprinkle, which encourages shallow roots. Water in the evening to reduce evaporation losses.
Letting It Go Dormant
In prolonged dry spells, the most sustainable approach is to let the lawn go dormant — it turns brown but the grass plant remains alive below ground. This is perfectly normal and the lawn will recover completely within weeks of autumn rain. Avoid heavy use of dormant grass.
A&T Landscapes provides summer lawn treatments and advice across Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire. Call 07735 916029 for professional lawn care.