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We all know how fickle the weather can be in a British summer, and its not unusual to be caught in a long, soggy spell where rain showers rule. Persistent rain and cooler temperatures can wreak havoc on your lovely lawn, turning it into a messy, muddy field rather than a sensational green sward.
There’s nothing you can do about the weather, but you can stop your grass from drowning and being damaged during a wet spell and then help it regain its strength when things dry out again and conditions improve.
A lack of sunlight and excess moisture can lead to all sorts of problems for your beleaguered lawn turf. The effects of too much water can result in:
Successfully seeing your lawn through a soggy summer means, essentially, damage limitation. You need to take a multi-pronged approach and implement strategies to avoid all the problems that the soaking rain can cause.
A waterlogged lawn is at the root of all problems caused during periods of heavy rainfall, so good drainage is vital. Identify areas where water tends to pool on the lawn and create shallow swales or ditches to draw off excess water. You can also spike the most squelchy areas with a garden fork, and use a hollow tine aerator to remove some plugs of soil to let the water drain through. A top dressing of horticultural sand can also help absorb the moisture. If possible make sure you avoid allowing any foot traffic on a soaked lawn because that will only exacerbate the problem.
Air circulation around the roots of grass is very important to ensuring its good health. When the soil is constantly wet it will become compacted and inhibit the flow of air – as well as nutrients – around the roots of the grass, causing stress for the plant. Your grass will be struggling to survive in a glutinous heavy mass of soil. Aeration – ideally using a core aerator which you can hire from a garden centre – perforates the soil by creating small holes to relieve the soil compaction. If you have a small lawn you can achieve the same result with a garden fork or pitchfork.
Very wet summers present the ideal conditions for your lawn to be attacked by the red thread fungus, notable for the appearance of pink or orange blotches forming in the green lawn. Other fungal diseases that can ruin a lawn are Fusarium patch (look for circular patches of brown grass splattered with a slimy white fungus) and rust disease (yellowing of the leaves with orange pustules). You’ll need to treat the fungus that is affecting your lawn with a specific fungicide, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
No lawn, even shade-tolerant grass, will thrive if it is deprived of sufficient light. Most species of turf grass require between four to six hours of full sunlight each day to do well because sunlight is required for photosynthesis – the process that allows plants to convert light, oxygen and water into energy for healthy growth. So prolonged overcast weather with dull, dark days is likely to prove challenging for your lawn. A lack of sufficient light is also going to encourage the growth of moss and algae, which can crowd out and take over the turf, particularly if it is already weakened by being waterlogged. You can help by pruning back any trees or shrubs that are casting shade over your grassy areas, to let in as much light as possible.
Wet weather is grist to the mill for germinating weed seeds. Weeds grow vigorously and spread quickly in a moist, humid environment, taking over any areas where they can gain a foothold, and a sodden patchy lawn is the perfect space. You can dig them up, or use a weedkiller, but don’t use weedkillers during rainy periods or they won’t be very effective. Wait for a dry spell and then apply a selective weed killer that will destroy the invaders, and not harm your grass.
To help your lawn maintain its strength during the onslaught of heavy summer showers, you can make sure it is well fed. Apply a high-quality lawn feed specifically formulated for the cool, wet conditions of a dismal British summer. Look for a feed with a higher concentration of nitrogen to promote healthy growth and a stronger root system. Iron is a vital nutrient for healthy grass and can also help to suppress moss growth. Consider applying an iron-based lawn treatment following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Get in touch, to find out how Jubilee Seeds can help you with lawn management.
We’re all aware that climate change is bringing shifts in weather patterns around the world, making it difficult to predict seasonal variations and aberrations. The best we can do is make sure you keep your lawn healthy and as resilient as possible in the face of whatever nature throws at, particularly during the active summer growing season.
To buoy your lawn up against the threat of future soakings during the summer months you can:
Get in touch, to find out how Jubilee Seeds can help you with lawn care.
Jubilee Seeds are the UK’s leading suppliers of grass seed, lawn turf, wildflower seeds, wildflower plants, plant fertiliser and lawn fertiliser.
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