It’s that time of year when knowing how to grow weed in hot, dry weather rises to the top of every gardener’s priority list. Although it may seem like a seemingly simple job to grow (and maintain) a green lawn and the perfect lawn edge, during the summer (during any other season of the year) these months bring high temperatures that can dry out your lawn and hinder the growth process.
First, a good lawn should be at the heart of your garden, so start by choosing the best fast-growing grass seed to get it off to a good start. Timing is also key, so learn about when to plant grass seed to ensure your lawn has the best chance of success throughout the year.
However, with the right garden ideas, knowing how to grow weed in hot, dry weather doesn’t have to be complicated. These are the steps recommended by experts so you can enjoy a healthy lawn all summer long.
How To Grow Grass In Hot Dry Weather – 5 Steps To Success
(Image credit: Polly Eltes)
“Plant growth faces great challenges in the future. Climate change has already affected agriculture, parks and other green grass areas. As a result, the need for hardy, drought-tolerant turf crops and grasses has never been greater,” says Guy Jenkins, consumer manager at Johnsons Lawn Seed. (opens in a new tab).
So how do you grow weed in hot, dry weather and keep it healthy despite the heat? These garden landscaping ideas are a great place to start.
1. Choose warm season grass
For the best chance of success, expert Jason White of All about gardening (opens in a new tab) invites you to collect warm season grass. “If you try to grow cold season grass in hot weather, you’re setting yourself up to fail,” he says.
He recommends Bermuda grass [such as this one on Amazon (opens in new tab)] or Saint-Augustin, which is also suitable for hot weather. “Make sure the seeds you use are of high quality,” he adds.
(Image credit: Future PLC/Dan Duchars)
2. Water smarter
‘Always water enough to at least keep the roots alive. This will ensure that the grass will come back when the water comes,” says Jason. But how often should you look to water new seeds?
The Grass People Team (opens in a new tab) suggests watering new seeds twice a day on particularly sunny days. They also recommend testing the humidity of grass to gauge its hydration levels.
‘To do this, drive a screwdriver into the ground. If it can get up to 6/7 inches deep, great – if not, keep watering,” they say.
“If you don’t water enough and your seed sits in hard, dry soil or is buried too deeply underneath, you will experience germination issues, leaving you with a very dry garden for the summer season.”
3. Mow only when necessary
While it’s understandable that you want to give your best lawn mower (opens in a new tab) a test run on your new lawn, experts advise holding off the heat until needed.
“It’s important not to mow until the blades are at least 5-7cm tall. Mowing close together or mowing early can damage new seedlings that are just trying to find their way in the world and grow. prevent their growth,” Grass People said. say.
However, with rising temperatures (and the ever-possible chance of rain), it’s likely that your grass is growing at a particularly fast rate. “It’s thanks to the perfect growing conditions that summer brings: heat, light and humidity,” they add.
(Image credit: Annaick Guitteny)
4. Watch your seed placement
“Make sure your seed isn’t buried too deep or on the surface, otherwise be prepared for it not to grow,” warns the team at Grass People. Because while sunlight is essential for germination, it also needs the combination of heat, moisture and air provided by the soil.
‘When you sow new seeds, you should rake the seed so that it is about three [dollar] coins (stacked) below the surface; this gives it ample room to grow and receive light while providing protection from the elements,” they add.
5. Don’t opt for fertilizers
The sun is known for its ability to dry out your lawn; however, Guy cautions against using fertilizer to combat its effects.
“Even if your lawn is in terrible shape, don’t be tempted to reach for fertilizer during a drought,” he says. This counts for new grass seed or grass that may dry out due to the season.
“When the soil is extremely dry, the essential water is not there to transport nutrients to the roots where they are needed. The application of some traditional fertilizers can lead to burns in the event of drought, making it even more of a false economy,” says the expert. Therefore, he urges you to stay away from fertilizers until the heat wave passes.
