Anyone with a lawn told they must not do this on Saturday and Sunday

Lawn experts have said there is one thing gardeners must not do on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. A yellow heat health alert has been issued for the southern half of England over the next week, with temperatures once again set to soar.

The alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), will be in place from 10am on Wednesday until 10am next Tuesday and covers London, the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, South East and South West.

"Significant impacts" are likely across health and social care services due to higher temperatures over the period, with the Met Office warning some areas will reach heatwave criteria and possibly see temperatures in the lows 30s by the end of the week.

Amidst the soaring temperatures, people may want to take the opportunity to get their lawn in order after it got a bit of rain this week in most placed. However, according to an expert from MyBuilder.com, mowing your grass in the heat can cause serious damage.

Brits have been told to leave mowing the lawn until the weather has cooled. Mowing in the heat can damage or even kill the grass blades, leading to ugly brown patches in the grass. Leaving the lawn to grow during the heat protects the blade and the soil from the penetrating rays of the sun - but if you really can't bear to leave it, there are some important tips to follow.

Gardening expert James Lewis, from MyBuilder.com, said: "While the good weather might make you feel like you have a great opportunity to make your garden look neat and tidy - actually gardening in the heat can be a bad idea.

"High temperatures and strong sun exposure can damage plants and that includes grass blades. If you cut your grass, the blades will be more exposed to the sun, and the soil will also suffer. This will lead to bare patches in your lawn which will take time and effort to repair.

"Extra length in your grass will protect it until the worst of the heat is over - and there are other ways to help protect your lawn in extreme temperatures too."

Lawn advice in a heatwave includes: Beware of walking on it

While you'll want to enjoy your garden in the nice weather, be mindful of heavy footfall on your grass. Walking on your lawn will add stress to it, which can risk further damage during heatwave, and can cause soil compaction - all of the above risking water not reaching the grassroots of your lawn.

Let it grow

Letting your grass grow a little longer allows it to cope with heat stress. Longer grass in hot weather acts as a "micro jungle", with taller stems helping to sustain a microclimate at soil level. Keeping your lawn length to around 2.5cm-5cm is recommended, although if you wish to grow it a little longer then up to twice that height can promote healthy blades of grass.

Raise your mower

To avoid scalping the lawn, the cutting height of your mower should be increased during dry conditions. The majority of lawn mowers have different height settings and a higher setting will allow valuable moisture to be trapped, limiting evaporation and encouraging stronger, deeper roots to grow, which improves drought tolerance overall. Leave the clippings on the lawn as mulch, which helps retain moisture and adds nutrients.

Create a wild garden

Wild gardens are better at coping with drought. You need to water it less and you'll have a bit more green, but you're also supplying a rich nectar source for all the bugs and pollinators, in turn helping the environment.

Be prepared to water

If you need to mow your lawn when it's hot, be prepared to regularly water it with about one inch of water per week, using any item from a sprinkler, a watering can, an irrigation system or a hosepipe. If using a sprinkler, it will take approximately 30 minutes to get a half inch of water. However, while it's important to water regularly, make sure not to over water - daily watering may not be needed.

Provide shade

Shade helps to lower water loss through evaporation which in turn creates a cooler microclimate, reducing the need for frequent watering while maintaining grass health and providing much-needed relief for your lawn There are many different options to add shade to your garden including awning, parasols, sail canopies, pergolas, arbours, gazebos or planting trees or tall shrubs. The best option for you will depend on your garden size, type and the budget you have available.

Don't water your lawn when it's sunny

Watering your lawn when the sun is hot and shining directly on it can cause damage. Blades of grass will normally only grow during the cooler part of the day. Watering is always best done either early morning before 8am or at night after 9pm when grass can grow, and be able to take the water and not evaporate. Alternatively, use your sprinklers at these times, either manually or with a set timer.