A lush, green lawn is the dream - especially in summer. But if your grass is turning yellow, dry, or patchy, it’s a clear sign something’s not quite right. Don’t worry, yellowing grass in summer is one of the most common lawn care problems, and with the right steps, it’s easy to fix.

This guide covers the main causes of yellow lawns during summer and how you can bring your grass back to life with simple, effective lawn care solutions.

1. Lack of Water (the obvious one!)

Dry, yellow grass in summer is often caused by dehydration. Lawns need consistent moisture, especially during heatwaves or long dry spells. Without enough water, your lawn will turn yellow, thin out, and become brittle.

Lawn care tip:
Water deeply 2–3 times a week, ideally in the early morning before it’s too hot/sunny. Avoid light, frequent watering as it encourages shallow roots.

2. Too Much Water (the less obvious one!)

Whilst too little water causes yellowing, it can also be caused by a saturated lawn. An established lawn shouldn’t need daily watering at this time of year, so don’t overdo it and make sure your lawn is draining the water effectively.

Lawn care tip:
Reduce watering to 2-3 a week if you’re watering more than this, and ensure that the lawn isn’t becoming waterlogged through compaction by aerating. We’ll talk more about this later in the blog.

3. Heat Stress

Grass turning yellow in hot weather is usually a sign of heat stress. When temperatures soar and rainfall drops, your lawn struggles to cope - especially in sunny, exposed areas. If you’ve cut really short - often called ‘scalping’ - the roots and soil are exposed to heat and sun damage, leading to scorched patches and stunted growth.

Lawn care tip:
Raise your mower height in summer. Longer grass blades help shade the soil and retain moisture. Avoid mowing during the hottest part of the day.

4. Nutrient Deficiency

If your lawn looks pale or yellow despite a good watering schedule, it could be lacking nutrients, particularly nitrogen, which is essential for green growth.

Lawn care tip:
Apply a targeted summer feed like our Summer Pack, designed to strengthen your grass through summer stress without pushing excessive growth. Always aim to fertiliser the lawn with a seasonal fertiliser every 8-12 weeks.

5. Dull Mower Blades

If your grass looks frayed or has yellow tips after mowing, your mower blades might be the problem. Blunt blades tear the grass instead of cutting it cleanly, leaving it vulnerable to disease and sun damage.

Lawn care tip:
Sharpen your mower blades every few months to ensure a clean cut and reduce yellowing after mowing.

6. Lawn Fungal Disease

Warm, humid summer conditions are ideal for fungal diseases like red thread, dollar spot, or rust – all of which can cause yellowing or dead grass patches.

Lawn care tip:
Avoid watering in the evening, improve airflow by trimming plants around the lawn, and feed your lawn with a balanced fertiliser to boost its natural defences.

7. Soil Compaction

Heavy use, foot traffic, and dry conditions can compact the soil beneath your lawn, blocking water, air, and nutrients from reaching the roots. This often leads to patchy, yellow grass that struggles to grow as the roots can’t develop deep into the soil.

Lawn care tip:
Aerate your lawn to relieve compaction and restore airflow - we recommend doing this each spring and autumn for maintenance of healthy soil. For small areas, you can use a garden fork. For larger lawns, try a hollow-tine aerator.

Final thoughts for tackling a yellow lawn

Yellow grass is usually your lawn’s way of asking for help. Whether it’s thirsty, stressed, hungry or compacted, the right lawn care routine can turn things around quickly.

If your lawn is still struggling after a few weeks, you may want to consider a full autumn lawn renovation using The Lawn Pack – September and October are ideal for scarifying, overseeding, and feeding.