BRFM Waste of time & water!
Written by karen on 25 July 2018
Watering Lawns is waste of time & water say experts!
Turf experts are advising homeowners to avoid watering established lawns during the current hot weather. The Turfgrass Growers Association, whose
members represent more than 70 per of all the turf grown in Britain, say watering is wasteful and unnecessary.
Coral Russell from the Turfgrass Growers association told BRFM: “Our message to homeowners is not to worry if your lawn goes brown during the summer.
Going brown is the natural survival mechanism of grass. When water is in short supply grass responds by shutting down. The brown colour shows
that it has stopped growing until more favourable conditions return. Grass is remarkably resilient, and as long as you follow a few basic rules, most lawns will recover completely when the rain finally arrives.”
Top tips from the turf growers include:
* Increase your mowing height to 35-40mm – this creates deeper roots and more shade and shelter from high temperatures
* Keep mower blades sharp. Blunt blades bruise the leaf causing the plant to lose more water
* Try not to concentrate wear in one place – move barbecues and toys like slides around
* There is no need to feed your grass as it won’t be growing during hot weather
* Avoid blanket weedkillers as they may damage the grass – use a spot weedkiller if necessary
* Apply a light dressing of compost to help keep moisture in the soil and protect the grass from high temperatures
* Scarify your lawn once a year to remove matted and dead growth. If it is allowed to build up, it acts as a barrier to rainfall
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