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Much of the UK is still struggling with the hot weather, even though the Met Office’s red alert has officially come to an end. But it’s not just humans that can suffer when the temperatures are high – our garden lawns are also under a lot of stress.

The extreme heat can scorch grass, leaving brown and dry patches that can ruin the overall look of your garden. But before you panic, it’s worth taking note of some advice from gardening experts who could help you to save your lawn. Lucie Bradley, gardening expert from Easy Garden Irrigation, told David Wilson Homes some of the key signs to look out for and one early morning task that can make all the difference.

The reason that your lawn might be looking dry or brown is because of a lack of rain, but it can also be down to compacted soil issues.

Lucie said: “In periods of drought, grass often goes dormant to conserve resources, and in doing so, it stops producing chlorophyll, the pigment that gives it a green colour.

“Often in the summer, we spend a lot of time in the garden walking over the lawn, which, over time, can compact the soil. Soil compaction can also cause strain on grass, starving it of essential nutrients, water, and oxygen.”

How to fix a brown patchy lawn

According to Lucie, keeping on top of watering is the best thing you can do to save your grass – but it must be done at a certain time of day to avoid causing even more damage.

While it’s true that you should aim to water the lawn around twice a week during a heatwave, you have to do it early in the morning. Lucie explained: “This avoids the soil from drying out and becoming hydrophobic (meaning it repels water).

“The best time of day to water a lawn is during the early morning between 6 am and 10 am, as this is typically the coolest time of day, so the water will not evaporate.”

Another important tip is to try and avoid cutting your grass at all when the weather is this hot. It’s already under a lot of stress, and if you start mowing, Lucie warned that it ‘may never recover’.

She added: “Instead, wait until the temperatures cool down and for at least 24 hours after rainfall or watering.”

And if you have a bit more time on your hands, it could also be worth aerating the lawn. Spiking the grass with a garden fork may help to sort out those soil compacting issues – just make sure the holes are no more than six inches deep.