Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:52 pm
You have worked hard to ensure that the lawn grows up in the spring and appears in a healthy green. In the first few weeks after sowing the lawn, the results are emerging and you can rightly be proud of yourself. The work has paid off – the garden looks neat and inviting.
The days are getting longer and it is approaching the height of summer. The thermometer breaks the 30°C barrier and the sun shines unceasingly on your lawn. Sun and warm temperatures are definitely beneficial for the growth and health of the lawn. But too much of a good thing has the opposite effect.
If the sun shines too strongly on the lawn, it can no longer withstand the strain. It loses its green coloration and appears unexcited brownish. How to save a burnt lawn and how to increase its defenses, so that the lawn will better survive the summer?
Contents
Causes of the burnt lawn
Obviously, the sun is the main culprit for a scorched lawn. The hot temperatures are a test of endurance that not every lawn can withstand. Similar to humans, lawns also have a comfort temperature. If this is exceeded, it goes to the substance of the plant and only with optimal care it will survive.
A burnt lawn is often caused by improper care and watering. This concerns, for example, mowing the lawn, which requires a special approach on hot summer days. The lawn should not be cut during the midday heat and too low. It is better if the blades of grass remain a little longer and mowing is done only outside the midday heat.
When it comes to watering, there are several pitfalls at once that lead to a burnt lawn. During hot temperatures, the lawn requires a greater amount of water. However, grass roots can hardly store the water. To meet the extra demand, it’s not enough to run the sprinkler a little longer. You should water the lawn more often so that it does not die of thirst.
In addition, the timing of watering is also important. During the midday sun, water evaporates in large quantities. Therefore, it is not absorbed by the soil, which is why it is hardly worth it to water the lawn during this period. It is better to water in the morning or in the evening. The myth of the “burning glass effect” also persists, according to which the water droplets lead to a concentration of light, causing the lawn to burn. However, this effect could not be proven, so it is to be doubted.
If the lawn seems weak and you want to strengthen it, you could apply a liquid fertilizer. But if you mean too well, you are more likely to harm the lawn. Fertilizing too intensively can also lead to burning.
Measures against the burnt lawn
If you see the burnt lawn, you should not take this lightly, but at the same time do not act hastily. Often, with a cool head, the lawn can be saved again, so that it finds its way back to its former strength. It is important that you again avoid the intense midday heat when taking these measures and prefer to support the lawn in the morning or evening.
Fertilize lawn
For the lawn to grow, it needs a number of nutrients. While overfertilizing could be partly responsible for burning, if you have kept the amount moderate in the past, you can now give it another helping hand.
Hot days occur mainly in the summer. For these cases, there is a special summer fertilizer. This differs from the regular fertilizer in that it does not so much promote growth, but the defenses. A summer fertilizer is a good measure to help a burnt lawn and better withstand the temperatures. Fertilize preferably in the evening hours so that the nutrients are absorbed optimally.
Watering the lawn
Of course, the focus is also on watering the lawn. Without adequate watering, the lawn cannot absorb the nutrients and will die of thirst. During hot temperatures, watering presents a particular challenge.
Avoid trying to make up the deficit with a larger amount of water. The dry soil cannot absorb the water at all, so most of it evaporates in the heat.
It is better to water the lawn every day now. About 20 to 25 liters per m² should be applied in the evening. If the temperatures are cooler, the water is better absorbed.
To keep the effort within limits, it is a good idea to install retractable lawn sprinklers in combination with a watering timer. With this system, you can apply water at the same time every day and accurately adjust the amount.
Seeding a new lawn
It is not always possible to keep the old lawn alive. If the burns are too severe, you have little choice but to reseed. For this, it is a good idea to first prepare the ground with a scarifier. For smaller areas, a hand-operated scarifier is quite sufficient. With this you remove the dead blades as well as weeds and moss from the lawn. This leaves more nutrients for the healthy remains as well as reseeding.
Once you have prepared the soil, you can start sowing the new lawn seeds. Continue to water the area intensively and after just a few weeks you should see a marked improvement. With the previously applied fertilizer, the regrown grass will be more robust and better protected against the hot temperatures.
Avoid the burnt lawn
Want to prevent the next heat wave from bringing the same result and destroying part of your lawn? Then follow these tips to avoid a burnt lawn.
Care only in the evening or morning
The lawn is subjected to particularly high stress in the heat. Therefore, maintenance should take place at times when temperatures are not quite as hot.
Give the lawn a rest
Playing children, the dog or the next barbecue put an enormous strain on the lawn. Normally, the lawn should recover from these activities and not suffer any damage. The situation is different if the lawn is burned. In that case, you should go easy on the area and avoid walking on the lawn if possible. Proceed as gently as possible so as not to add to the stress.
Use summer fertilizer
Use a special fertilizer that will help your lawn become more resilient. Do not rely on single fertilizers containing magnesium or iron, but choose a multi-component fertilizer. This contains several nutrients that are important for the health of the lawn and help it survive the heat.
Loosen the soil
In order for the lawn to better absorb the water, it is beneficial to treat the soil. You can sand this if necessary, and spreading humus is also recommended. The natural ingredients and higher quality of the soil are important building blocks for your lawn to recover.
Automatic irrigation system
To manage complicated maintenance with minimal effort, install an automatic watering system. Install invisible lawn sprinklers hidden in the ground and use an irrigation computer to control the application of water. A watering socket could also be helpful in this case to provide optimal watering for the entire lawn.
Help the burnt lawn
Lawns don’t always survive the hot summer temperatures. As summers become more extreme, new heat records are expected. The intense sunlight could cause the lawn to burn and turn yellow or brown instead of a healthy green.
Implement the measures presented here to immediately help the lawn and prepare it for the warm summer days. Then you will enjoy the lawn in its full glory even in these exceptional weather conditions.