UK Heatwave: Gardeners Urged To Clear These Items From Their Lawns

The UK is heading towards a heatwave this weekend with temperatures expected to reach highs of 33°C (per The Met Office). 

That means you should avoid mowing your grass until the weather cools down, as doing so when it’s hot can damage already-weakened roots. 

But according to gardening expert Chris Cooper from Hayter, manufacturer of battery lawnmowers, gardeners with kids might accidentally be making another mistake.

If you’re bringing out the family paddling pool or toy seesaw over the sunny weekend, you could accidentally damage your grass more than you realise, he said.

Leaving kids’ toys on your lawn can cause sun damage 

“During heatwaves and when not in use, tidy away children’s play equipment,” Cooper advised.

“This will protect your grass from weather damage. The same goes for unused lawn furniture and barbecues.” 

When we cover a large area of grass with a heavy, impermeable object (including garden furniture), we deprive our grass of much-needed water and light.

“Leaving these heavier items on your grass won’t only damage the soil, it’ll also damage the grass, and the sun’s benefits won’t be felt by the crushed patches of lawn,” Cooper continued.

Any other tips?

Yep – the expert advised against waiting too late to water your garden in the heat. “You should also be watering your garden first thing in the morning,” Cooper told us.

“When the sun begins to rise, your grass and plants will begin to soak up the water for healthy growth – so make sure they start the day with a decent breakfast!

“This is especially important in a heatwave, as the weather will be much cooler in the morning than at midday when the temperature is at its peak.”

Noted.