A long dry spell can leave any pitch looking worse for wear, but the good news is that grass is tougher than it looks and most surfaces bounce back well. This guide walks you through what to do after drought, so you can get your pitch back into playable shape without wasting time, money or effort.

A reminder of what to avoid until rain returns:

• Remember, less is more. Don't carry out routine maintenance, including mowing, if the grass has gone brown and dormant.
• If you do need to mow, raise the cutting height, avoid the hottest part of the day, and never take off more than a third of the grass length in one go.
• Steer clear of anything that adds extra stress to the grass, such as aeration, scarifying, fertilising or weed control.
• On goal mouths, penalty areas and centre spots, full grass cover may be a losing battle for now. It's still worth topping up with sand or dressing to keep the surface level and avoid dips forming, even if the grass itself can't be saved yet.
• Where possible, avoid training on match pitches, especially in the areas that see the heaviest use.