Keeping your lawn green through an Al-Ahsa summer
Four simple habits that stop your lawn yellowing in the hot months.
A lawn in Al-Ahsa can stay green all summer if its care changes as the heat rises.
- Water before dawn or after sunset, never at midday.
- Raise the mowing height to 5 cm so the grass shades its own roots.
- Feed every six weeks with a slow-release fertiliser.
- Check the sprinklers monthly: one blocked head is enough for a yellow patch.
Why lawns turn yellow in summer
The usual causes are dry patches from uneven sprinkler coverage, watering at midday so most of it evaporates, mowing too short so the soil is exposed to the sun, or salt building up in the soil.
Water deeply, less often
Light daily watering keeps roots shallow and weak. Watering more at longer intervals pushes roots deeper, so the grass handles heat better. If water pools on the surface, split each watering into two short cycles.
Don't cut too much at once
Remove no more than a third of the grass height per mow, and keep the blades sharp: a sharp blade cuts cleanly, while a blunt one tears the tips and turns them yellow.
Go easy on foot traffic in the heat
Heat-stressed grass is quickly damaged by heavy foot traffic and furniture left in one spot. Move chairs and toys around from time to time.
Spot problems early
- Round brown patches can mean a fungal disease, especially with too much night watering and high humidity.
- Grass that lifts easily from the soil can mean insects in the roots.
- A white crust on the soil means salt build-up; an occasional deep watering helps flush it out.