How to Stop Your Lawn Going Crispy: Simple Ways to Care for Grass in a British Heatwave

The sun hat’s on, there’s iced tea waiting in the fridge, and you’ve finally got that perfect summer weekend planned. Then you glance out the window and panic – your once-lush green lawn has turned an alarming shade of brown, looking more like toast than the soft carpet you were hoping to sprawl across for afternoon picnics.

It’s a scene playing out across Britain right now as temperatures soar towards 32°C in London and the southeast, with heatwave conditions spreading to the Midlands and Wales. That green space matters for everything from barefoot evening walks to children’s games, not to mention the quiet satisfaction of having a lawn that’s the envy of the neighbourhood.

Keep It Long: The Golden Rule of Heatwave Lawn Care

The first mistake most of us make during hot spells is reaching for the mower with military precision. Don’t do it. ‘Start by raising your mower blades to leave grass longer, which helps shade the soil and retain moisture,’ says Cheryl Harper, managing director of Greensleeves. ‘Avoid cutting more than a third of the grass height at once.’

Longer grass creates its own microclimate, keeping the soil cooler and preventing that crispy, burnt look. Even better, Harper recommends leaving grass clippings on your lawn to act as a natural mulch, which shelters the grass beneath. It’s like giving your lawn its own sunhat.

Here’s where things get satisfying in that therapeutic, gardening sort of way. Aerating your lawn creates little pockets that help water and nutrients reach down to the grass roots, preventing the dreaded compacted soil that turns your lawn into concrete during dry spells.

‘Aerating regularly throughout the year can create little pockets in a lawn which helps water and nutrients reach down into the grass roots,’ explains Chris McIlroy, lawn expert at The Grass People. ‘It can prevent the lawn from being compacted, so that water can seep through more easily.’

You don’t need fancy equipment – a garden fork works perfectly for smaller lawns, though proper aerating tools are more effective if you don’t mind the investment. Simply push the fork about 10cm into the ground every 10-15cm across your lawn. It’s mindful work that you can do whilst listening to a podcast or catching up with neighbours.

If you’re looking to make the most of your outdoor space, well-aerated lawn is a brilliant foundation for any garden plans.

Water Smart, Not Hard

Here’s where most people go wrong. The instinct during hot weather is to give the lawn a quick splash every day, but that’s actually counterproductive. ‘Water your lawn deeply once or twice a week rather than little and often,’ advises Harper. ‘Always water early in the morning or late evening to reduce evaporation.’

The timing matters more than you might think. Watering during the heat of the day is like throwing money down the drain – most of it evaporates before it can do any good. Early morning is ideal because the grass has all day to absorb the water before the sun gets serious about its burning.

Harper also suggests using collected rainwater to conserve resources, which brings us to one of the smartest moves any British gardener can make. Water butts aren’t just environmentally virtuous – they’re practical. The average garden shed can harvest nearly 640 litres during summer, according to government figures, which is enough to keep most lawns happy for months.

These smart watering secrets work just as well for your lawn as they do for garden plants, and the deep-watering technique is particularly effective during extended hot spells.

For larger lawns, a sprinkler can make the job manageable without turning it into an evening marathon with the hose.

Making It Part of Your Summer Routine

The beauty of these methods is that they slot into normal life without drama. Check your lawn on Sunday mornings whilst having coffee – is it looking stressed? Give it a deep water. Saturday evening when you’re pottering about anyway? Perfect time for a quick aeration session in the areas that get the most foot traffic.

Keep an eye on the weather forecast too. With temperatures potentially hitting 32°C and heatwave conditions lasting several days, this summer is shaping up to be particularly testing for British gardens.

The Home-Grown Approach

What makes this advice so appealing is its simplicity. You don’t need a garage full of expensive gadgets or a degree in horticulture. A garden fork, some common sense about timing, and perhaps a water butt if you’re feeling organised – that’s genuinely all you need.

The approach fits with how most of us actually live. We want a lovely lawn, but we also want summer evenings free for barbecues and time with friends, not spent wrestling with complicated irrigation systems or researching the latest gardening technology.

Even first-time gardeners can master these techniques. There’s something deeply satisfying about working with nature rather than against it, using methods that gardeners have relied on for generations, just with a bit more scientific understanding about why they work. This approach aligns perfectly with creating lasting beauty with minimal care throughout your entire garden space.

Beyond the Heatwave

These aren’t just emergency measures for when the mercury soars. Building these practices into your regular lawn care routine means you’re always prepared for whatever the British weather throws at you. Given that heatwaves are becoming more common due to climate change, with record temperatures continuing to rise, these skills are becoming essential rather than optional for British gardeners.

A healthy, inviting lawn is absolutely within reach this summer, and it doesn’t mean hours of back-breaking labour. It’s about being smart and thoughtful with your care, working with the natural rhythms of grass growth and weather patterns rather than fighting against them.

When the next heatwave hits – and it will – you’ll be ready with your longer grass, well-aerated soil and deep-watering technique. Your lawn will stay green and soft underfoot whilst others turn crispy, and you’ll have that quiet satisfaction of knowing you’ve cracked one of gardening’s seasonal challenges without breaking a sweat. Plus, there’s something wonderful about having a garden that brings joy and peace to your daily routine, especially during the warmer months when outdoor time becomes so precious.