Green-fingered Brits are being told to think twice before watering their lawn next week due to the warm weather.
Weather maps and forecasts from the Met Office, BBC and WXCharts all suggest parts of the UK will be hit by warmer conditions from Sunday, which will continue through the week, through to September 5, 6, and 7.
It comes days after the Met Office issued a yellow alert of wind and rain for several parts of the country in the middle of the summer.
However, experts at GardeningExpress.co.uk say that contrary to popular belief, frequently watering the lawn during hot spells is a waste of time and energy, and can damage the lawn heal.
Hot temperatures can turn the lawn patchy and dry, making it tempting to reach for the hose to keep the garden grass lush and green.
Nevertheless, gardening experts say there’s no need to worry, as grass only goes dormant during dry spells and recovers quickly once wet weather returns.
It can be good for the grass to get a little parched as it encourages the roots to dig deeper in search of water.
Watering too frequently can also make the grass less resilient, as it’s dependent on constant moisture.
Not only is watering the lawn during summer a waste of time, but it’s also a waste of resources and puts additional pressure on the country’s water supply which is already under strain during summer.
Avoiding watering the lawn helps conserve water, therefore, preventing hosepipe bans across the country.
Another key factor is that cutting back on watering saves households money on their utility bills.
Garden hoses and sprinklers can use 1,000 litres per hour, so if gardeners are watering their entire lawn even just once a week, their water usage will increase significantly.
If the heatwaves carry on for a prolonged period of time, gardeners may need to intervene but with the UK’s erratic summer weather, a rainy day is usually just around the corner.
If watering is necessary, it’s important to remember to do it early in the morning or in the evening to prevent the sun from evaporating the moisture or burning the grass.
Chris Bonnett, the founder of GardeningExpress.co.uk said: “It’s understandable that many gardeners are tempted to water their lawns in hot and dry weather conditions, but this common practice might be more harmful than beneficial.
“Frequent watering can weaken the lawn, as it hinders deeper root growth and makes the grass less resilient to warm and dry weather conditions.
“Although your lawn may turn a bit brown and dry, there’s no need to panic, as the grass is tough and will come back to life after it gets some rain.
“Frequently watering the lawn will also hike up your utility bills, as hoses and sprinklers use a significant amount of water.
“While heatwaves are more common now due to climate changes, the UK still sees a good amount of rainfall during the summer, so it’s important to keep an eye on the weather forecast.
“If it’s meant to rain in a few days then just relax and let nature take its course, however, if the extreme heat lasts for an extended period, you may need to take action.
“In this case, give your lawn a top-up watering early in the morning or the evening, but make sure to not leave it until too late as your grass is more likely to develop diseases if it’s damp when the temperatures drop.”
