Keeping Your Lawn Green and Healthy During the Summer Heat

Australia’s summer months bring plenty of scorching heat, and while we love soaking up the sun, our lawns often don’t feel the same. Brown patches, dry grass, and frustrated homeowners are a common sight when the summer heat really hits.

But don’t worry—keeping your lawn healthy in summer isn’t about working harder; it’s about working smarter. With a bit of TLC, your healthy grass will be the envy of the neighbourhood all summer long.

How to Tell if Your Lawn is Experiencing Heat Stress in the Hot Weather

Before you can help your lawn, you need to know when it’s in trouble. Heat stress occurs when grass blades can’t absorb enough water to stay green and healthy. Signs of heat stress include:

• Brown patches across the lawn.
• Grass blades looking wilted, dry, or brittle.
• Footprints that linger after walking across your lawn—this happens when your grass isn’t springy due to a lack of water.

Quick tip

If your lawn’s health is looking questionable, use a garden fork or lawn aerator to check for soil compaction. Compacted soil makes it harder for grass roots to absorb water and grow deeper into the soil.

7 Tips for Keeping Lawn Green in Summer

Here are our top 7 tips for making sure your lawn remains green in the summer. While they help individually, to keep your lawn healthy, we recommend all of these. After all, maintaining a good watering system, using the right weed killer and encouraging deeper roots are all part of keeping grass green year-round.

1. Deep & early watering schedule

Watering habits make or break your lawn during hot weather. The goal is simple: get water deep into the root zone, where grass can absorb it and develop deep roots.

Here’s the smart way to water your lawn:

Deep soak

Instead of light, frequent watering, aim for a deep soak once or twice a week. This encourages a deep root system, which helps grass survive drought and water restrictions.

Morning routine

Water early in the morning, ideally before the sun’s rays start heating up the soil. This reduces water waste from evaporation and allows the grass to absorb water efficiently.

Adjust for your climate

If you’re dealing with local water restrictions, an adjustable sprinkler or a watering can can help you manage a regular watering schedule without overdoing it.

Bonus tip

Check your lawn’s absorption by watching for water runoff. If water starts pooling or running off, stop and let the lawn absorb water before continuing.

2. Choose the right grass type

Not all grass varieties are built to handle Australia’s summer heat.

Opt for drought-tolerant grass types like DNA-certified Sir Walter Buffalo, Sir Grange Zoysia or TifTuf Bermuda, which are better suited to dry weather and can maintain their natural pigment even under stress. These grasses are pros at staying green and require less water compared to others.

If you’re not ready to re-turf the entire lawn, start small by incorporating these grasses into bare brown patches or areas that turn brown easily during the summer months.

3. Mulch to lock in moisture

Mulching is like sunscreen for your lawn. It helps lock in soil moisture, shields grass from the harsh sun, and prevents water from evaporating too quickly.

You can use grass clippings from mowing or organic mulch to keep the soil hydrated. Just be sure not to overdo it—thick layers of mulch can compact the soil and block water from reaching the root zone or sunlight from reaching the grass blades.

4. Protect your lawn from overuse

Summer gatherings and backyard cricket are a rite of passage, but they can take a toll on your lawn. Excess traffic can compact soil and damage your lawn’s health, leaving you with bare patches that are hard to recover.

Here’s how to minimise damage:

• Use stepping stones or pathways to divert foot traffic.
• Rotate high-traffic areas during gatherings.
• After heavy use, aerate the lawn to reduce soil compaction and allow water and essential nutrients to reach the root system.

If your lawn does take a beating, fertilise lightly and water deeply to help it bounce back.

5. Adjust your mowing for summer

Improper mowing can weaken your lawn, especially during hot weather. Adjust your mowing habits to keep your grass healthy and resilient.

• Raise the mower blades to leave the grass longer—this shades the soil, helping it retain moisture and reduce water waste.
• Avoid cutting more than a third of the grass height in a single mow to prevent lawn stress.
• Begin mowing regularly in early summer and keep a consistent schedule to avoid damaging established plants.

6. Deal with the weeds

Weeds can be more than just an eyesore; they compete with your grass for nutrients and moisture, leaving your lawn weaker and more susceptible to summer stress.

Remove weeds early

It’s far easier to pull weeds out when they first appear than after they’ve taken hold. Use a weeding fork or pull them out manually as soon as you spot them.

Avoid overusing weed killers

Herbicides should be a last resort, as excessive use can harm your lawn’s health—especially in the heat. However, if you need to choose a herbicide, make sure it’s high quality and well suited for the weed type and your lawn. We’d recommend Lawn Lovers Buffalo Weed Control.

Bonus tip

Alongside weeding, rake out any thatch or dead material from your lawn to improve airflow and allow the soil to absorb moisture more effectively.

7. Take Care of Summer Lawn Pests

If you’re noticing unusual bald patches, birds pecking at the soil, or spongy spots underfoot, you may be dealing with summer pests like African black beetles, or armyworms. These insects wreak havoc on your lawn by feeding on the roots, leaving your grass weak and discoloured.

Products like Acelepryn GR can control pests for the season. Pair this with proper lawn care, including overseeding any affected areas, to repair damage quickly.

By keeping an eye out for pests and tackling infestations early, you can prevent significant damage to your lawn during the hot summer months.

Repairing Your Lawn From Heat Stress

Even with the best care, lawns can take a beating in the summer heat. If you’re dealing with bare patches or discoloured areas, it’s time for some quick repairs:

Replace dead sections

Use a spade to cut out the damaged turf, lift it, and rake the soil beneath. Replace the section with new turf (like Sir Walter Buffalo), cut it to size, and press it firmly so the edges meet perfectly. Finish with a deep soak using a watering can.

Give it a green boost

For an instant boost, consider applying ColourGuard PLUS, a 100% organic, non-toxic grass colourant. ColourGuard gives your lawn a natural, vibrant green colour for up to 3 months, screens out harmful UV rays, and allows the grass to absorb filtered light for nutrients. Apply before the hottest part of summer for lasting results.

Keeping your lawn green in summer doesn’t mean battling the heat every day. With proper watering, the right grass varieties, and a little extra care, you can maintain a healthy lawn that thrives all summer long.

Make this summer the season your lawn stays green, vibrant, and ready for every backyard barbecue and garden party. Cheers to a greener lawn!

FAQs: Keeping Your Grass Green in Summer

Q: How do I keep my lawn alive in the summer?

Focus on proper watering habits, manage weeds early, and protect the lawn from foot traffic. Deep watering, mulch, and occasional aeration can help your lawn survive dry weather. Find out more about good summer lawn care in our blog post.

Q: What is the secret to a green lawn?

The secret to a green lawn is a healthy root system. Deep watering, good mowing habits, and regular maintenance keep the grass green and healthy.

Q: Should you put anything on your lawn in the summer?

Use slow-release fertiliser to provide essential nutrients, mulch to lock in moisture, and consider a grass colourant like ColourGuard PLUS for a vibrant green lawn without stress. If your lawn is really struggling you may consider a fast-acting liquid fertiliser like Lawn Kelper or Exceed but make sure these are watered in thoroughly following application.

Q: What is the best thing to make your lawn green?

Deep, consistent watering, nutrient-rich soil amendments, and removing weeds or pests are the best ways to achieve a greener, healthier lawn.