England and Wales received just 34% of their average summer rainfall by mid-July, according to Met Office data, leaving many gardeners with brown, yellow, or patchy lawns and wondering whether the grass has died. Craig Wilson, gardening expert at Gardeners Dream, says the answer is usually no.
“Following the heatwaves, many homeowners are looking out at lawns that have turned brown, yellow, or patchy. However, a brown, parched lawn does not necessarily mean that the grass has died. Established grass can become dormant during a drought, a state that allows it to conserve energy until conditions become more favourable.”
Wilson warns against rushing to water, mow, or reseed a parched lawn. “The key is not to panic and try to force the lawn back to life overnight. Once rainfall returns and the soil has sufficient moisture, many lawns will begin to recover naturally. The best thing gardeners can do is avoid putting additional stress on the grass while it is vulnerable.”
How to tell if a lawn is dormant or dead
Colour is not a dependable guide to whether grass has survived, Wilson says. “Colour alone isn’t a reliable way to tell whether grass has died, as a lawn can be completely brown and still have living plants beneath the surface. The best approach is to look for signs of life rather than simply judging the colour. If the grass begins to produce new green growth following rainfall and the soil becomes moist again, it is a good indication that it is recovering. If areas remain consistently bare, then these patches require further investigation and potential reseeding.”
Avoid overwatering
“Established lawns are surprisingly resilient. Many people are tempted to give the lawn as much water as possible, but excessive watering isn’t going to help your lawn recover faster. It’s better to focus on getting moisture into the soil rather than wetting the surface. I highly recommend watering early in the morning, as it helps reduce evaporation. Gardeners should also always follow any local hosepipe bans or water restrictions that are in place.”
Keep the mower blade high
Wilson also cautions against cutting a struggling lawn too short. “Resist the urge to give your parched lawn a short cut just because the grass has started to look untidy. This can put more pressure on the grass when it is already struggling. As the lawn starts growing again, raise the mower height and avoid removing more than around a third of the grass blade in one cut. Keeping the grass slightly longer helps protect the soil and gives the grass more leaf area to support natural recovery.”
Wait before fertilising or reseeding
“One of the biggest mistakes homeowners can make is trying to fix a drought-stressed lawn before it has had time to recover. Avoid rushing to fertilise or reseed brown patches while the grass is still struggling. Instead, wait for signs of new growth and adequate moisture before feeding. If areas remain bare, autumn is a much better time to reseed, when cooler, wetter conditions can help new grass establish.”
Consider drought resistant planting
Beyond immediate lawn care, Wilson suggests using the dry spell as an opportunity to plan ahead. “If your garden has struggled during the heatwave, it’s worth considering how you can make it more resilient for the future. Choosing drought-tolerant plants such as lavender, salvia, echinacea, and sedum can help reduce the need for watering, as these varieties are naturally better suited to hot and dry conditions. Grouping plants with similar watering needs and adding mulch around them can also help retain moisture in the soil.”
By avoiding unnecessary intervention and allowing lawns time to recover naturally once rain returns, gardeners can expect most established turf to bounce back from this summer’s dry spell.