How to keep your grass green in really hot weather

Lots of gardeners can find their lawns turn yellow in high temperatures

For many people, the good thing about hot weather is that it is an opportunity to sit out in the garden and catch some rays.

Wales has enjoyed scorching temperatures and beautiful sunshine in recent days, but it's not always good news for the green, green grass of home.

The lack of rain and scorching sun means many gardeners will be concerned about the state of their lawns and the fact they are yellow and parched-looking.

However, according to the Mirror Online, it may not just be the heat that is causing the problem.

So, what could be the problem?

In addition to the heat, other reasons your grass could be yellow are:

• Over-watering;
• Under-fertilising;
• Over-fertilising;
• Animal urine;
• Spilt petrol;
• Compacted soil;
• Cutting the grass too short.

Here, our colleagues from the Mirror Online have looked at these problems in more detail - and possible fixes.

Heat

This is the most obvious reason in hot weather, with high temperatures potentially drying out your lawn and making it turn yellow.

Depending on the type of grass in your garden - and how hot it is - this can happen in only the space of a couple of days.

It could also show that your grass has shallow roots - possibly caused by over-watering in the past.

How to fix it:

Give your grass a deep water. Early in the morning is best, to reduce the amount of water that evaporates when it gets hot later in the day.

The type of soil you have will determine how quickly the water drains away - sandy soil, for example, may need more watering.

You're looking to soak the top 4-6 inches of soil - use a screwdriver to check how far down it gets wet.

Be careful not to water your lawn too frequently, as it will get damaged. Once or twice a week when it is hot is usually fine.

Over-watering

Watering your lawn too often means the grass will develop shallow roots and won't be able to cope if the soil gets drier. Also, if the ground is waterlogged, the roots won't get any oxygen and will die.

Over-watering will also cost you more on the water bill if you have a water meter.

How to fix it:

Don't water your lawn every day, or if it is forecast to rain. Grass that needs a water will start to turn a blue-green colour, rather than the lush green you're used to. Your footprints will also stay visible for longer after you've walked on it.

Watering thoroughly but infrequently is the best advice.

Under-fertilising

If your lawn is lacking in nutrients like iron and nitrogen, then it will start to look yellow.

How to fix it:

If you've not fertilised your grass, then it is likely that it is lacking the nutrients it needs. A soil-test kit can tell you if your soil is short of a particular nutrient - and you can use the appropriate garden feed to fix the problem.

Remember to always follow the instructions - and don't over-fertilise your lawn as this can do more harm than good.

Over-fertilising

Using too much fertiliser can cause the grass to get scorched and can do more damage than under-fertilising.

The nitrogen in fertiliser is needed for healthy grass growth but too much will burn the roots and change the pH in the soil.

How to fix it:

A long, deep watering can help flush the fertiliser through the soil and away from the grass roots. If only one area looks damaged, then focus on that. Repeat every few days until the grass starts to recover.

A good way to prevent over-fertilising is to get a soil-test kit. These kits test the pH level and nutrients in the soil, so you know you're only fertilising the ground when it needs it.

Animal urine

If you let your dog run out on the lawn, then it's possible that your discoloured grass is because it has been peeing on it.

Urine contains nitrogen which burns the grass - much like over-fertilising.

This is usually most obvious if the yellowing of the grass is in patches, often near the borders.

How to fix it:

Train your dog to only use a certain part of the garden - ideally one where you don't have grass. Good luck training your neighbour's cat.

Spilt petrol

If you have a petrol lawnmower and have spilt some fuel while topping it up, this can seriously damage your lawn. The petrol will kill the grass.

How to fix it:

Always fill up your mower off the grass.

If you've already spilt the petrol, clean up the spill as quickly as possible. You can try using a lot of water to try and dilute the fuel but be careful that this doesn't just spread it further into your garden.

The best solution may be to dig up the affected soil - dispose of it safely - and then reseed the area.

Compacted soil

If the discoloured grass is near where a lot of people have been walking on it, or children have been playing, it's possible that the soil underneath is too compacted.

This means that water can't get to the roots - and your grass will dry out.

How to fix it:

Aerate the soil. You can get a proper aerator, or just prod the ground at regular intervals with a garden fork. Either way, it's going to be hard work.

Cutting the grass too short

Cutting the grass too short can leave it without enough moisture - and it will start to turn yellow.

This will usually show up soon after you've cut the grass. It could happen only in certain areas, often because the ground is uneven.

How to fix it:

Give the grass enough water to grow and let it get a little longer. Next time you cut the lawn, raise the cutting height of your mower.

Other helpful fixes

• Make sure your grass gets plenty of sunlight. If there are hedges or trees blocking the light, try thinning them out;
• Make sure you rake up fallen leaves and grass clippings. Otherwise, they can become a home for pests and insects that can eat the roots of your grass and damage it;
• Make sure you aerate your lawn and ensure that water is draining from your garden properly. This means that the grass roots can get the oxygen and nutrients they need;
• Get your lawn mower blade sharpened, otherwise you'll be ripping the grass rather than cutting it cleanly - ripped grass is more likely to go yellow.