GreenThumb Lawns and Dry Weather

A dry, brittle lawn can be disheartening—but with the right approach, you can bring it back to life. Whether your lawn is showing early signs of drought stress or already looks straw-like, GreenThumb can help you recover your grass and protect it from future dry spells.

From understanding drought symptoms to implementing long-term maintenance strategies, here’s how to transform your lawn into a resilient, lush green oasis.

Recognising Lawn Drought Stress

During warm, dry summers, your lawn is likely to experience drought stress. Key signs include:

  • Grass turning dull green, bluish-grey, or brown

  • Footprints lingering on the grass after walking

  • Blades wilting, feeling dry or brittle

It’s important to know whether your grass is dormant or dead:

  • Dormant grass is a survival mode—brown in colour but still alive beneath the surface, waiting for moisture to return.

  • Dead grass is often the result of prolonged drought or damage and cannot recover.

Why Some Lawns Dry Out Faster

Factors affecting drought stress include:

  • Grass type – Cool-season grasses struggle in heat, while warm-season types are more tolerant.

  • Soil condition – Compacted or sandy soil retains less moisture.

  • Sun & wind exposure – Accelerates water loss.

Regularly monitoring your lawn is crucial for early detection and successful recovery.


Effective Watering Techniques During Drought

healthy greenthumb lawn avoiding drought by watering with sprinkler

Timing Matters

  • Best times to water: Early morning or late evening to minimise evaporation.
  • How often: Once or twice a week during drought, applying approx. 25–30mm of water per session.
  • How long: 20–30 minutes for the first soak, then 15–20 minutes every other day if possible.

Use Wetting Agents

In dry spells, some soils become hydrophobic—they repel water. Wetting agents (like Oasis) help break surface tension and ensure even moisture penetration, crucial for lawns suffering from Dry Patch.


Revitalising Lawn Health with Treatments

hand holding nutragreen fertiliser (orange, grey and white small pellets)

Fertilising for Fast Recovery

Even in dry conditions, fertilising is key. At GreenThumb, we use controlled-release, no-scorch fertilisers that:

  • Don’t require watering in
  • Remain dormant until it rains or is watered.
  • Deliver nutrients exactly when your lawn needs them

Why treat during dry weather?

Because having fertiliser in place before it rains speeds up recovery:

  • No fertiliser: ~6 weeks to recover
  • With fertiliser: ~3–4 weeks
  • With fertiliser and GreenThumb Oasis Treatment: ~7–10 days


Ensuring Long-Term Lawn Maintenance

Champagne flutes, BBQ and a lovely striped GreenThumb lawn

Once your lawn begins to bounce back, long-term care is vital to prevent future damage:

  • Mow properly: Keep grass at 5–7 cm to retain moisture and promote deeper roots.
  • Control weeds: Drought can weaken grass and allow weeds and moss to take over once it rains. Post-drought treatments help control this resurgence.
  • Feed regularly: Use GreenThumb’s professional lawn feed to maintain strength, colour, and resilience.


Common Lawn Issues After Dry Weather

yellow dandelion in the lawn, lawn weeds

Dry Patch

Soil becomes water-repellent, causing patches that won’t absorb water. GreenThumb Oasis Treatment is highly effective for this issue.

Red Thread

A fungal disease that can appear when the lawn is weak after drought. Easily treated by your local GreenThumb specialist.

Weed Invasion

Weeds thrive post-drought due to weak grass and dormant seeds blown in during dry weather. Post-drought weed control is built into our treatment programme.

When can I start using GreenThumb?

You can adopt our services at any time of the year. There is never a ‘bad time’ to start improving your lawn.

Do I have to be at home when you come and treat my lawn?

The majority of our customers are not at home when we call. Since all our vehicles and Lawn Operatives are self-sufficient, we can carry out your treatments as long as we have access to the lawns.

If you would prefer to be in when we are treating your lawn, we will do our best to accommodate your request.

I have children and /or pets. What should I be aware of?

We recommend that you keep off the lawn until any liquid part of the treatment has dried (approx. 2 hours). This stops it being walked off. And this is especially true of our NutraGreen Autumn Long Treatment, we recommend that you keep off the lawn for more than 2 hours then as it could stain a carpet or wooden floor, if it were walked into the home.

Grazing pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs should be kept off the lawn for a minimum of two weeks or three cuts, whichever occurs latest, to avoid ingestion of Ragwort, in particular, which becomes poisonous to them as it dies back.

Do I have to sign a contract?

No, we want our customers to continue with GreenThumb based on our merits in creating a healthier, greener lawn for them - not because they are stuck in a contract. Of course, with our treatment programmes, you will need to sign a Direct Debit Mandate with the relevant T&C's which relate to this payment option.

Why is my grass turning brown in summer?

Grass turns brown during dry, hot weather due to drought stress. This is a survival mode where the lawn goes dormant but remains alive beneath the surface. With moisture, it can recover. However, grass that is truly dead (not dormant) will not grow back and will need to be reseeded.

Will dead grass grow back?

No. Dormant grass can recover, but truly dead grass won't. You’ll need to reseed dead patches to restore the lawn.

How often should I water my lawn in summer?

Water deeply once or twice a week, applying 25–30mm of water per session. This encourages deep root growth and helps grass stay green during hot weather.

Can I treat my lawn during summer?

Yes. GreenThumb offers summer-safe treatments including controlled-release fertilisers that don’t require watering in. These remain dormant until it rains and speed up lawn recovery when moisture returns.

How do I rescue or revive a parched lawn?

To revive brown or parched grass:

  • Water deeply and consistently
  • Apply professional fertilisers
  • Use wetting agents like GreenThumb Oasis to improve moisture absorption

With the right care, lawns can recover in as little as 7–10 days.

What are common lawn care mistakes in hot weather?

  • Cutting grass too short
  • Watering during the heat of the day
  • Not addressing Dry Patch
  • Delaying fertiliser application (which can delay recovery)

How can I get my grass green again?

  • Controlled-release fertiliser
  • Wetting agents to combat Dry Patch
  • Consistent watering practices
  • With GreenThumb treatments in place, lawns can bounce back in just 7–10 days once rain or irrigation is applied.