Mix Organic matter through the top 15cm of a sandy soil before a lawn is established to improve water holding capacity. If you have clay soil use gypsum to break the soil up and allow roots and water to enter.
Your lawn should be fertilised regularly to ensure it stays healthy. Once a year in March or April is the recommended time. If possible fertilize after rain has fallen to ensure the soil is able to accept the fertilizer.
Do not set your mower too low. Do not cut it any lower than 2.5 cm, and cut the lawn longer in winter months so that keeping grass longer shades the soil surface and reduces evaporation loss.
Do not over-water lawns as this can lead to the development of fungal problems. Plus if it is running off and not going in, you are wasting water.
"Train" your lawn to use less water. In spring, when your lawn is beginning its new growth, let the topsoil dry out so that the grass roots will be forced to grow deeper and make use of subsoil moisture. Then soak your lawn every 10-14 days. By training your lawn this way it will be able to survive longer in the heat without requiring water.
