I’m a gardening expert – here are the six most common mistakes people make that can ruin your lawn during the heatwave

WE ALL want our garden to look it’s best during the summer. However, there are some jobs you should steer away from as they can damage your lawn during the heatwave. Luckily a gardening expert has revealed the exact six jobs you should avoid during the heatwave. The first job you should cut out during […]

WE ALL want our garden to look it’s best during the summer.

However, there are some jobs you should steer away from as they can damage your lawn during the heatwave.

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Mowing your grass during the heatwave could damage your lawn[/caption]

Luckily a gardening expert has revealed the exact six jobs you should avoid during the heatwave.

The first job you should cut out during the heatwave is mowing the lawn, reports the Express.

Chris Mcilroy, lawn expert at The Grass People advised: “Remember that a short heatwave is not an issue, so try not to panic.

“A medium term heatwave can kill off your lawn or put it into a high state of stress where the grass turns yellow but will recover over time. 

“But if it becomes straw-like, it’s dead.”

So it’s best to not feed or mow the lawn during a heatwave – feeding it will make it need more water and mowing the lawn will add extra stress.

The sight of yellow grass may make you want to immediatley get the water ing can out, but you shouldnt.

It’s improtant to make sure you don’t overwater your grass during a heatwave.

Chris suggested: “It’s a good idea to water grass once a week if it’s not raining, but be careful not to flood the grass. 

“In extreme summer heat, a good guide is five gallons of water a week for every one square yard of lawn.”

For plants in containers, make sure to move them away from the scorching sun.

In a heatwave, the sun can cause the leaves to burn and flowers to drop off, said Nikki Hollier, RHS Chelsea Flower Show medal winner and founder of Border in a Box.

You may be tempted to start planting now the sun is out – but it couldnt be a worse time for it.

Anna Hampshire, Head of Marketing from Marshalls cautioned: “Digging up soil during intense heat can cause a loss of water and increased temperature for the soil, which can lead to unsuccessful planting.”

And the same goes for triming plants in the heat as it signifies to the plant its ready to grow, using up water and energy.

Watering your plants at the wrong time can also have adverse affects says Nikki.

Try watering them in the morning when it isn’t as hot and add mulch to prevent water evaporation.

Lastly, you need to check whether your pants are already wilting if you want them to withstand the heatwave.

Check for wilting leaves and drooping branches, and dry and yellowed leaves to see if they need extra attention.