WITH March and April bringing just 11 per cent of the usual amount of rainfall, gardeners have raised fears that many lawns may not recover.
Despite recent rain, the rest of May is also expected to be dry, which could leave grass across Notts looking brown.
In a bid to raise awareness of the problem, a new campaign has been launched.
Organised by lawn treatment service Green Thumb, Love Your Lawn Week is backed by actress and keen gardener Joanna Lumley.
She said: "The lawn has an integral role in our heritage – it's as much a part of British life as strawberries and cream, yet while we invest so much money on the appearance of the interior of our homes, all too often we give little regard to the greenery outside.
"This seems wrong, especially as more people see the outside of our homes than the inside.
"Of course, keeping lawns in pristine condition throughout the year is not easy given our British climate.
"In fact, the recent harsh winters, together with an increasing trend to patio over lawns or install wooden decking, have left Britain's lawns at their lowest ebb."
Miss Lumley said taking care of lawns was important for protecting wildlife. "Without a lawn you lose everything," she added. "You lose birds, the food for the birds, the insects and earthworms and all the things natural to lawns. You lose wildlife at night times – things like hedgehogs that creep through."
To keep lawns in top condition Green Thumb, which has stores in Mansfield and Stanton-on-the Wolds, near Keyworth, recommends spending 20 minutes a day watering the grass.
The service also warns people against cutting blades too short.
Steve Birks, who takes care of one of the most high-profile lawns in Nottingham, has been working over time.
He is head groundsman at Trent Bridge cricket ground, and said staff have been taking extra measures to protect their grass in the heat.
"The trouble with the cricket ground is that it is sand-based and so the grass really dries out when the weather stays hot," he said.
"We have been watering it a lot more and leaving it a bit longer when the team are not playing before we cut it."
For people who want to help their lawn to recover from the hot spell, Mr Birks said: "You should give it a nice fertiliser and keep it well watered. Also try and leave it a bit longer and don't cut it as short."
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