How to Look After Your Lawn in a Heatwave (Even During a Hosepipe Ban)

How to Look After Your Lawn in a Heatwave (Even During a Hosepipe Ban)

When the sun beats down and rain stays away, lawns across Yorkshire start to feel the strain. Grass can dry out, growth slows, and patches often turn brown. Throw in a hosepipe ban, and it’s easy to think there’s nothing you can do. But with the right approach – and the right fertiliser – you can still give your lawn the support it needs to stay resilient.

At Lawn Force, we care for thousands of lawns across Ilkley, Harrogate, Skipton, Ripon and Bedale. Here’s our expert advice on keeping your lawn healthy during a heatwave, without breaking hosepipe restrictions.

1. Raise the Cutting Height

One of the simplest yet most effective things you can do in hot weather is adjust your mower. By keeping the grass a notch or two higher, you shade the soil and help lock in valuable moisture. Longer blades also protect the roots from scorching, making your lawn far more resilient.

2. Adapt to the Hosepipe Ban

With a hosepipe ban in place, most people can’t water their lawns – and that’s okay. Grass is tough and naturally goes dormant when conditions are too hot and dry. It may look brown, but that doesn’t mean it’s dead.

To help your lawn through this period:

• Avoid heavy use when the grass is stressed.

• Move play and pet areas to cooler or shaded spots if possible.

• Don’t be tempted to cut too low – it weakens the lawn further.

🌱 Important exception: If you’ve laid new turf or seed, you are allowed to water it for the first 28 days to help it establish. This is vital to avoid losing your investment in a new lawn. For the latest details, check Yorkshire Water’s guidance here: Yorkshire Water Hosepipe Ban Information.

3. Support With the Right Fertiliser

Even without water, giving your lawn the right nutrition makes a huge difference. During a heatwave, avoid high-nitrogen feeds, as they encourage soft growth that scorches easily.

At Lawn Force, we apply professional summer fertilisers designed to toughen grass and strengthen roots. These potassium-rich feeds help lawns resist drought, heat and disease – ensuring they recover faster once the ban is lifted and natural rainfall returns.

4. Don’t Panic if It Browns

It’s normal for lawns to lose colour in prolonged hot spells, especially when watering isn’t an option. Think of it as the grass protecting itself. With the right care and seasonal fertiliser, your lawn will quickly green up again when the weather turns.

Local Heatwave Lawn Care in Yorkshire

Looking after your lawn in a heatwave – and during a hosepipe ban – is all about working with nature, not against it. By mowing higher, avoiding unnecessary stress, and feeding with the right fertiliser, you’ll give your grass the best chance to survive the summer and recover strong.

At Lawn Force, we provide expert lawn care services across Ilkley, Harrogate, Skipton, Ripon and Bedale. Our professional products and experience mean your lawn gets exactly what it needs, whatever the weather.

👉 If your lawn is struggling in the heat, get in touch – we’ll help it bounce back.