Hi @glenn666,
The process @J-P has described is called a lawn renovation, and it is pretty much the best thing you can do to essentially reset your lawn and promote and luscious growth.
In saying this, unfortunately, it is an inherently stress-inducing process for your grass, and due to the high temperatures we are experiencing across the majority of the country, it is likely not the best time for a full lawn renovation. Elements of it would be great, but a full lawn renovation is likely not a good idea right now, as heat stress combined with the stress of the renovation can kill off areas of your lawn.
The two initial steps of the process, cutting the grass really low, which is known as scalping, and dethatching, should be avoided right now, as they are quite destructive in nature and put a lot of strain on an already stressed lawn. They do a massive amount of good when they are used at the right time, but as mentioned, the stress might be a bit too much right now.
My suggestion would be to aerate your lawn using an aerator or garden fork, apply a top-dressing mix and a lawn fertiliser and then water it deeply once or twice a week. This process will reduce compaction and open up channels in the soil for water and air to penetrate deeper into the root layer. It will also level the ground and provide nutrients that will promote the healthy growth of your lawn.
On top of this, I'd also suggest regular mowing at a consistent height, around once a week during the peak growing season. This will encourage sideways growth that will thicken up and strengthen your lawn.
When the weather starts to cool down a bit, as we are approaching the beginning of Autumn, if you are not seeing the results you had hoped for, you can look at doing a more thorough lawn renovation by scalping and dethatching your lawn and repeating the aeration and topdressing process. The heat level will be reduced so your lawn will be better positioned to handle the stress and bounce back.
Check out the following articles, which lay out all of the processes that have been mentioned -
To summarise, right now, aerate, top-dress and fertilise your lawn. In the next couple of months, mow at a consistent height and water consistently. When the weather starts to cool down as Autumn approaches, reevaluate and consider scalping and dethatching your lawn if things have not improved as much as you'd hoped.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Jacob
