Summer is the season to truly enjoy your garden. From relaxing in the sunshine and hosting BBQs, to enjoying family games on the lawn and admiring borders in full bloom, your outdoor space becomes the heart of the home.
But with all that activity plus periods of hot, dry weather, your lawn can start to look tired. The good news is that lawns are tougher than they look, and with a little seasonal care, they’ll stay greener, healthier, and recover quickly from summer stress.
Mow Little and Often
During summer, it’s best to allow your grass to grow slightly longer than usual. Raising the mower blade height helps shade the soil, reducing moisture loss and protecting the grass during dry spells.
Aim to mow regularly to keep your lawn tidy and healthy:
- Twice a week during normal growing conditions
- Once a week during particularly hot or dry periods
Avoid cutting the grass too short in summer, as this can weaken the lawn and leave it more vulnerable to drought stress.
Allowing the grass to grow a little longer than normal will help reduce the stress on your lawn, just amend the mower blade setting a little higher to achieve this. Even though you want the grass to be a little longer, it is still recommended to mow at least twice a week. If there are particularly harsh periods of drought, then it should be pushed back to once a week. Persistent hot and dry weather can quickly affect the appearance and overall health of your grass, so moisture is key. Water deeply 2-3 times per week.
Learn more about how to cut your lawn during summer.
Water Wisely
Persistent heat and dry weather can quickly affect the appearance of your lawn. Rather than watering little and often, give your lawn a deep soak two or three times a week to encourage stronger root growth. A sprinkler is ideal for this, as it allows you to water the lawn evenly and thoroughly with minimal effort. Leave it running long enough for the moisture to soak deep into the soil, encouraging stronger root growth and a healthier, more drought-resistant lawn.
Watering early in the morning or later in the evening will help reduce evaporation and allow moisture to soak into the soil more effectively.
Feed for a Greener, Stronger Lawn
Summer lawns benefit from regular feeding to help them cope with wear and tear from foot traffic, pets, garden furniture, and warmer weather. Aftercut and Safelawn lawn feeds are designed to keep lawns healthy, strong, and looking their best throughout the season.
SafeLawn
SafeLawn is a child and pet friendly lawn feed that naturally helps create a greener, stronger lawn while also helping to discourage weeds and moss. It’s available in both granular and liquid formats, making it easy to apply by hand, spreader, or watering can. You can reapply SafeLawn monthly from February to October.
SafeLawn Liquid Lawn Feed
SafeLawn Liquid is ideal for summer use and younger lawns. This fast-acting liquid feed delivers visible greening results in as little as five days, while providing slow-release nutrition for longer-lasting lawn health.
Aftercut Ultra Green Plus
For quick summer results, Aftercut Ultra Green Plus feeds and conditions your lawn for a greener, healthier appearance without the risk of scorching. With an Iron and Magnesium supplement to provide rapid deep greening action in just three days, this lawn feed also promotes stronger grass that is able to withstand stress and outcompete moss.
Stay on Top of Weeds and Moss
Weeds and moss compete with your lawn for water and nutrients, especially during dry conditions, so keeping them under control is key to maintaining a healthy lawn.
Remove obvious weeds by hand where possible, particularly larger weeds such as dandelions and daisies, before they spread or set seed.
Aftercut All in One Lawn Feed, Weed & Moss Killer provides triple-action care by:
- Feeding and greening the lawn
- Killing moss
- Controlling common lawn weeds, including dandelions, clover, and daisies
The formula delivers visible greening in just seven days while helping to strengthen your lawn without encouraging excessive growth.
Aftercut All In One Lawn Feed Weed and Moss Killer contains 2,4-D, Mecoprop-P, Dicamba and Ferrous Sulphate. Use plant protection products safely. Always read the label and product information before use.
Repair Bare and Worn Patches
Heavy foot traffic, garden furniture, paddling pools, pets, and dry weather can all leave lawns looking patchy during summer. Repairing bare areas early helps prevent weeds and moss from taking hold and keeps your lawn looking thick and healthy.
To repair patches:
- Rake out any dead grass and loosen the soil surface
- Sprinkle Westland Patch Fix evenly over the area
- Lightly cover with fine soil or compost
- Water gently and keep the area moist while the seed establishes
Try to avoid walking on newly repaired patches until the grass has established properly.
Planning a New Lawn This Summer
Although autumn and spring are traditionally the best times to sow grass seed, establishing a new lawn in summer is still possible with careful preparation and consistent watering.
Follow these simple steps:
- Clear the area
- Prepare the ground
- Sow your lawn seed
- Water
Taking the time to prepare the ground properly will give your new lawn the best chance of establishing successfully.
Learn more about how to sow a new lawn.
Enjoy Your Lawn All Summer Long
A healthy summer lawn doesn’t need to be perfect; it’s there to be lived on and enjoyed. With regular mowing, smart watering, seasonal feeding, patch repair, and weed control, your lawn will stay in great shape right through the warmer months.
