As much as the recent spell of hot weather has been enjoyed by a lot of people, some are now finding it too much.

And as temperatures continue to hit the late 20s - with this weekend set to hit a maximum of 27C here in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire - many people say it is too uncomfortable to sleep and hay fever sufferers are also finding the heat unbearable as pollen levels continue to be exceptionally high.

Also, gardeners are now finding the heat a bit of a problem - especially as once beautiful lawns are now turning yellow.

Many lawns are suffering in the heat - and turning from green to a parched yellow.

Plenty of sun and water can lead to a beautiful looking garden, but the problem is, it hasn't rained in weeks, so that grass is feeling a bit parched.

If the weather reaches extreme heats, it can be only a matter of days before you start to see yellow patches of dry grass form on your one immaculate lawn.

But how can you fix it?

As reported by Cambridgeshire Live , this is why your lawn turns yellow and how you can fix it:


The first thing to do (when water companies have ceased asking people to conserve water!) is to give your grass a deep watering. Early in the morning is best, to reduce the amount of water that evaporates when it gets hotter later in the day.

The type of soil you have will determine how quickly the water drains away - sandy soil, for example, may need more watering.

You're looking to soak the top four to six inches of soil - use a screwdriver to check how far down it gets wet.

Be careful not to water your lawn too frequently, as this too can have a negative impact - see below.

Once or twice a week when it is hot is usually fine.

Dead grass can be down to a number of factors


Watering your lawn too often means the grass will develop shallow roots, and won't be able to cope if the soil gets drier.

Also, if the ground is waterlogged, the roots won't get any oxygen and will die.

Over-watering will also cost you more on the water bill if you have a water meter.

How to fix it? Don't water your lawn every day, or if it is forecast to rain.

Grass that needs a watering will start to turn a blue-green colour, rather than the lush green you're used to. Your footprints will also stay visible for longer after you've walked on it.

Watering thoroughly but infrequently is the best advice.


If your lawn is lacking in nutrients like iron and nitrogen, then it will start to look yellow.

How to fix it? If you've not fertilised your grass, then it is likely that it is lacking essential nutrients.

A soil-test kit can tell you if your soil is short of a particular nutrient, and you can use the appropriate garden feed to fix the problem.

Remember to always follow the instructions, and don't over-fertilise your lawn as this can do more harm than good - see below.


Using too much fertiliser can cause the grass to get scorched, and can do more damage than under-fertilising.

The nitrogen in fertiliser is needed for healthy grass growth, but too much will burn the roots and change the pH in the soil.

How to fix it? A long, deep watering can help flush the fertiliser through the soil and away from the grass roots. If only one area looks damaged, then focus on that. Repeat every few days until the grass starts to recover.

A good way to prevent over-fertilising is to get a soil-test kit. These kits test the pH level and nutrients in the soil, so you know you're only fertilising the ground when it needs it.

Animal urine can turn grass yellow

Animal urine

If you let your dog run out on the lawn, then it's possible that your discoloured grass is because it has been peeing on it.

Urine contains nitrogen which burns the grass - much like over-fertilising above.

This is usually most obvious if the yellowing of the grass is in patches, often near the borders.

How to fix it? Train your dog to only use a certain part of the garden - ideally where you don't have grass. Good luck training your neighbour's cat.

If you have a petrol lawnmower, and have spilt some fuel while topping it up, this can seriously damage your lawn.

Spilt petrol

If you have a petrol lawnmower, and have spilt some fuel while topping it up, this can seriously damage your lawn. The petrol will kill the grass.

How to fix it? Always fill up your mower off the grass.

If you've already spilt the petrol, clean up the spill as quickly as possible. You can try using a lot of water to try and dilute the fuel, but be careful that this doesn't just spread it further into your garden.

The best solution may be to dig up the affected soil - dispose of it safely - and then reseed the area.

Compacted soil

If the discoloured grass is near where a lot of people have been walking on it, or children have been playing, it's possible that the soil underneath is too compacted.

This means that water can't get to the roots, and your grass will dry out.

How to fix it? Aerate the soil. You can get a proper aerator, or just prod the ground at regular intervals with a garden fork. Either way it's going to be hard work.