A homeowner has revealed a cheap hack for turning drought-hit lawns lush green without repeatedly soaking them with water.
The viral video, which has attracted 6.7 million views, shows the treatment transforming dry, brown grass into an almost impossibly vibrant shade of green within seconds.
It comes as millions of British households face hosepipe restrictions following prolonged hot and dry weather.
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The Environment Agency said seven water companies had introduced or announced temporary restrictions affecting 23 million customers, while water demand had risen by as much as 30% on the hottest days, as reported by What’s The Jam.
But the instant transformation seen in the viral video is not fresh grass suddenly springing back to life.
The immediate colour comes from the seaweed contained in the treatment, while genuine regrowth develops more gradually over several weeks.
Similar seaweed-based feeds are available from UK supermarkets for as little as £3.50, although these encourage greener growth over time rather than creating the instantaneous colour seen in Sébastien’s video.
The treatment is applied directly to the dry grass, which should then be left without watering for 24 hours.
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Sébastien C, who demonstrated the technique, said: “It’s very simple.
“You pour it into a sprayer and apply it to a very dry lawn, then avoid watering for 24 hours.
“The green is instant because the colour comes from the seaweed itself, so the lawn looks green straight away.
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“The actual regrowth is more gradual and comes through over a few weeks.”
Sébastien, 38, said he had used other lawn fertilisers that produced similar levels of regrowth but did not deliver the same immediate colour.
He added: “I’ve used other fertilisers that don’t give this colour, and in terms of regrowth the results were fairly similar.
“The real difference here is the instant colour.
“There are different brands available online and in garden centres.
“For me, the main thing is that it gives the lawn some colour, but above all that it’s eco-friendly and biodegradable.
“That’s the most important point for me.
“If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t use it because I don’t want to pollute the soil.”
The business owner filmed the demonstration in his garden in Belgium on 31 July after drought left his lawn dry and brown.
Drought conditions have also remained critical across large parts of Europe following repeated heatwaves and limited rainfall.
He said he had used similar treatments during the summer for several years.
Sébastien said: “I use this type of product every summer, when the lawn almost stops growing and needs a bit of life brought back to it.”
Sébastien claims the colour remains visible until the lawn is next cut and has lasted for several months during his own tests.
He has also seen claims that the treatment can last for up to a year on hedges, although he stressed that he has not personally verified this.
He said: “On the lawn, I’ve tested it myself and it holds for several months, until the next mow.
“On hedges, I haven’t personally been able to verify the up-to-12-months claim yet, so I can only speak for the lawn from my own experience.”
He believes the treatment could prove particularly useful during dry spells because it helps revive the appearance of grass while requiring very little water.
Sébastien added: “I would recommend it to anyone who wants to feed their lawn while reviving its colour.”
The dramatic footage divided viewers online.
One person wrote: “Sorcery!”
Another called it “a very good idea”, while one viewer said: “Standard practice on a golf course in summer.”
Others were less convinced by the unnaturally vivid transformation.
One asked: “Am I being dramatic if I call this dystopian?”
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