Overview
- Recent coverage has amplified warnings that the onset of El Niño, together with one of the warmest springs on record, makes a hotter, drier summer in the UK more likely though exact impacts remain uncertain.
- Lawn expert Chris McIlroy tells homeowners to aerate turf now to stop compaction so water and nutrients can reach grass roots and improve resilience during dry spells.
- He advises feeding lawns before the hottest months with balanced or potassium-rich fertilisers and warns against high-nitrogen products that can encourage weak growth in heat.
- McIlroy recommends raising mower blades to leave grass slightly longer to shade soil and adopting a morning watering routine to help water reach roots rather than evaporating.
- He also suggests installing a water butt to capture rain for use if regional hosepipe bans or water-use restrictions are imposed, and notes there are no widespread bans in force at present.