Parul Sharma

A prolonged period of unusually high temperatures, drought across much of England and all of Wales, and water stress have left many UK lawns yellow or brown. Gardeners are advised to use a screwdriver to test whether soil is dry or compacted and whether moisture has penetrated below the surface. Brown grass may be dormant rather than dead, so recovery should be allowed to occur gradually after rainfall and rehydration. Where compaction is confirmed, aeration can improve the movement of air, water and nutrients to roots, but it should be carried out during active grass growth and not on saturated or excessively dry soil. Manual tools are suggested for small gardens, while electric aerators may suit larger areas.