3 Steps A Gardener Is Taking Now To El Niño-Proof His Lawn

As far back as spring, experts have been warning of a so-called “super” or “Godzilla” El Niño which will peak at the end of this year. 

As that period draws closer, we’ve heard about how stormy and cold it might make the UK’s autumn and winter seasons (even though the phenomenon might raise global temperatures overall). And it could have knock-on effects on energy prices, too.

For those who have a garden, greenhouse, or just a group of potted plants by their door, Chris McIlroy, from The Grass People, said the changeable weather might seriously affect your plants. 

“The effects of the phenomenon are far from over, and we’re about to see the other side of the coin [after endless heatwaves] – wet and wild autumn and winter seasons,” he explained. 

Here are three jobs he recommends doing to prep your garden now (and one from us):

How to get your garden El Niño-ready 

1) Aerate your lawn 

The relentless heat of this summer “baked” our garden’s soil, the expert stated. This can sometimes compact the ground, making it hard for roots to get enough nutrients. 

It also means that when autumn and winter rains fall, they might not sink properly into the dirt (that’s why flash flooding is more likely after a heatwave). This risks waterlogging your lawn and leaving enough surface moisture to encourage the breeding of fungi and other diseases.

“Aerating the lawn relieves some of this compaction. It involves creating small holes in the soil to allow air circulation,” McIlroy shared.

“This can be done with a pitchfork or more specialised tools. It’s a quick two-second job, but it’s important to do it across the entire lawn to ensure proper drainage.”

The gardening pro added it’s “best to do this now before colder weather or heavy rainfall arrives”.

2) Fill in any bare patches

The more densely packed and deep-rooted your garden is, the likelier it will be to absorb water properly – even after a brutal summer and heavy rain. 

Of course, you can’t turn a new garden into an established ecosystem overnight. But McIlroy said that “overseeding your lawn is key at this time of year to repair wear and tear from the summer”, and can help to make up for its more threadbare areas.

“Grass absorbs rainwater far better than bare soil, so filling in thin or patchy areas now will help your lawn cope with wetter weather over the coming months,” he added.

3) Give your grass a rest – especially after heavy rain

The last piece of advice isn’t so much a task, but rather an action to avoid. 

“Frequent use of the lawn can cause soil compaction,” the expert reminded us – and “walking on wet grass can damage blades, but also compact soil further”.

To help keep your garden healthy throughout the year, stay off it as much as possible during and after downpours, and try not to stress it too much with heavy foot traffic in general.

4) Collect rain 

OK, this one didn’t come from McIlroy – but having written about endless hosepipe bans and struggling lawns this year, I strongly recommend investing in a water butt or other collection methods. 

I’m not alone. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) said that rainwater is better for your garden than regular water for many reasons: its lower pH makes its nutrients more available to your plants’ roots, and rain also contains soil-friendly nitrates. 

While most forms of nitrogen, which is crucial for plant health, aren’t easily absorbed by greenery, nitrates found in rain are incredibly easy for your flowers to process.

Not only that, but some experts think we might still technically be in a drought at the beginning of next year despite heavy rainfall.

That doesn’t make an abundance of usable water for the summer of 2027 seem very likely – so you’re best off banking what you get now.