Do you have lawn envy when you look over at your neighbour’s perfectly groomed and manicured lawn? Don’t worry, as we have got you covered. Get our insider tips on general lawn care and maintenance, from mowing height, watering regimes to fertilising and aeration – get all the lawn care advice you need in this one handy article.
Weed control: Regular maintenance is the best way to keep control of those unruly weeds. Get in the habit of removing weeds, either by hand or with weed kill spray, on a regular basis. While weed eradication can be done at any time of year, the ideal time is early spring prior to the onset of growth bursts. Take care when removing weeds late Autumn and Winter, due to the slowing of plant growth, as the bare patches created by dead weeds take longer to fill.
Soggy lawn: If over winter, your lawn becomes wet and boggy due to winter rains, then minimise watering your lawn from mid-March onwards. This will help keep the soil dry and more tolerant of the upcoming rains. To improve drainage apply Gypsum in May at 500 grams per square metre.
Drought stress: If the harsh Australian summer has caused stress to your lawn it is best to minimalise mowing and keep off it. The Autumn and Winter rains will nourish and rejuvenate it.
Aeration: Over time lawn soil becomes hard and compact, making it hard for water and nutrients to penetrate to the roots. To encourage new growth you need to increase light, water and air penetration into the lawns root system. This is done by systematically poking holes in the ground either by spiking the lawn with a garden fork or using a mechanical aerator.
Top dress: To encourage more growth you can top dress your soil. Ensure that your lawn is freshly cut and that all leaves and debris is raked. Sprinkle top soil or sandy loam so that the blades of grass still show through. Then follow up with a lawn starter, seed, and water thoroughly.
Mowing your lawn– height matters: When mowing your lawn keep your mower blades raised. Aim for roughly a height of 40-50mm and in shaded areas and cooler months you can go even higher. In the harsh summer months, it’s a good practice to let your grass grow just a little longer, so raise the mower blade a little more than usual.
Grub damage: During the summer months, hungry grubs love chewing on the roots of lawns. You will know you have grub damage because the lawn is turning brown and birds are pecking at your lawn. Apply a lawn grub insecticide to control this.