There is nothing better than taking a lounge chair outside to sit out on lush green grass in summer, and it can be achieved as long as you know some basic lawn care techniques. 

Lawns tend to be incredibly easy to care for but gardeners need to do more than water the grass during the hot weather to avoid it becoming patchy, discoloured and pest-ridden. 

Matt, a gardening expert who goes by the Garden Lawncare Guy, has shared there are some common pitfalls lawncare owners need to learn to get lawns looking “a thick and healthy green” this summer. 

He said: “With warmer weather comes the chance to spend more time outside, but it also means that there’s a higher risk of making common lawn care mistakes.

“Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to lawn care, it’s easy to fall into the trap of making simple mistakes that can harm your lawn.”

Biggest lawn mistakes to make in summer and how to avoid them 

Cutting the grass too short

Mowing is essential for having a healthy lawn but gardeners need to avoid scalping the lawn as it will put even more stress on grass at a time it is already under stress due to the heat. 

Matt said: “The single biggest mistake people make is leaving the grass to grow long, bringing the mower out and hacking it right back down to the roots.

“This creates a cycle of poor quality looks, huge amounts of stress on the plant and ultimately as poor looking lawn.”

It is important to only trim grass back only a third of its overall length when mowing and it is often better to mow the grass regularly cutting off small amounts rather than too much at once. 

Not taking care of weeds

Nobody wants to be spending a lovely summer day pulling up weeds, but this time of year is the perfect weather condition for these pesky plants to spread quickly. 

Matt said: “Typically this grass will die off during the heat of the summer however, you don’t want to spread the seeds over the lawn by using a box to collect the clippings and reducing the spread.”

It can be very easy to remove weeds quickly on lawns if you mow cautiously but make sure to always pick up grass clippings and dead weeds as leftover foliage can release too much nitrogen into grass which can kill the grass.  

Not mowing enough 

It may seem obvious, but gardeners should begin mowing lawns in late July or early August at least once a week to keep grass healthy during its growing season. 

Matt said: “This will help promote a thick dense sward and fresh new growth from the grass which in turn supports disease resistance, weeds and heat stress.

“If you are new to lawn care, a weekly mow taking off no more than one-third will really improve the results you are seeing and is the first] biggest step you can take without even applying any products to the lawn.” 

Not fertilising the lawn 

Grass should not be fertilised during hot weather as it can burn grass but many gardeners make the mistake of not fertilising at all during the summer months which can result in less growth. 

Matt said: “You don’t want to apply fertiliser in the top heat of summer where the grass is already in enough stress as it is so look out for a cooler spell where there is rain or you can keep on top of watering.”

Make sure to use a slow-release fertiliser and only feed the grass in the morning during a cool or rainy day. 

Also, water the lawn thoroughly before and after applying fertiliser to help the nutrients get absorbed into the soil and reduce the risk of burning the grass.