Brits are facing dry, brown lawns this summer due to soaring temperatures and widespread drought, prompting concerns about grass recovery. However, David Hedges-Gower, Chairman of the Lawn Association, assures that grass is a resilient plant capable of bouncing back.
"The dry weather definitely doesn’t kill lawns; grass has survived for hundreds of thousands of years; I call it a super plant because it always comes back green," Hedges-Gower stated. He emphasized that grass is the "most adaptive plant we have," covering approximately 28 percent of the planet. During a hosepipe ban, he advises minimal intervention, as the grass will naturally recover and grow green again within four to six weeks when rain returns and temperatures decrease. Nine major water companies have issued hosepipe bans across England and Wales, and the Environment Agency declared a drought for London on July 29, 2026.
Despite the expert’s confidence in natural recovery, Hedges-Gower warns against several common practices that can harm lawns, particularly during dry spells.
Wetting Agents
Using wetting agents during a drought and hosepipe ban is rendered "absolutely pointless" because they require water to function. Additionally, he noted that some wetting agents contain PFAS and other chemicals that can damage soil.
Forking
The practice of using a garden fork to decompact lawns is a misconception. Hedges-Gower explained that a garden fork is designed for flowerbeds and vegetable patches, not lawns, and attempting to use it on grass can actually push the soil further apart. He recommends using a hollow lawn corer instead, which aids in natural soil decompaction.
Fertilisers
Fertilisers with a high salt index can exacerbate existing scorch marks on grass. This includes even natural feeds like chicken manure, which can contain high salt levels that burn the plant, even in its dormant state, and hinder recovery. Hedges-Gower suggests opting for fertilisers with low MPK values, such as those using selected food waste products, like those from True Garden. He also advises "overfeeding" lawns before autumn by doubling the recommended application rate, as the grass needs extra nutrients to recover after depleting its reserves during the summer.
