The Garden Gurus Lawn Care
Lawn still is an important part of many yards, it cools the garden and provides both you and the kids a place to relax and play, so keeping it looking and growing its best is essential. Even under current water restrictions, having a happy and healthy lawn is possible, there’s just a few important points to follow:
Lawn Type
Seeded varieties like fescues and bent grasses that create clumps, have not faired well and many of these lawns have really suffered.
Running varieties like COUCH, BUFFALO, KIKUYU that send out runners, developing roots and creating new plants as they go along are definitely the way to go.
Watering
An established lawn needs about 25mm of water per week to keep growing well. Depending on your soil type, this water can be applied in one application (Sandy soil) however, if soil only soaks in a little before water begins to run off (Clay soil) then you will need to apply your water a couple of times, allowing the previous watering to properly soak in before adding more water.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing increases growth, color, vigor, hardiness and thickens the grass.
It is important that you do not over apply. This only stimulates top growth and has potential to harm the grass and cause runoff problems in surrounding lakes and streams. Without
Fertilizing 4 times a year using a slow release fertilizer (e.g. Yates Lush for Lawns) - early spring, late spring, late summer and mid autumn. When applying a fertilizer, making sure the lawn is dry, this stops the fertilizer sticking to the grass blades and burning. Always apply as per manufacturers directions and water in well.
Why not wait until a rain before applying lawn feed, here’s another way to save water!
High-traffic areas usually require more fertilizer than low-traffic areas.
Mowing
For a healthy, low-maintenance lawn, set your lawn mower to cut the grass longer. Remember, the roots underground mirror the shoots on top so the shorter you mow, the smaller the root systems. Small root systems leave your lawn more vulnerable to drought, insects and invasive weeds as well as needing more frequent fertilizing.
Longer grass helps cool the soil surface, reducing water loss from the soil.
If grass is allowed to get tall, then cut short, the soft, lush base of the grass will be exposed to hot sun and it will burn and turn brown. For tall grass, set the mowing height higher, then, a few days later, mow the lawn again at the regular height.
Grass should be mowed as soon as it reaches one and a half times mowing height so only one third of the grass height it mowed off
Keep your lawnmower blades sharp. Dull blades tear the grass instead of cutting it cleanly. The wounds cause the grass to lose more water, increasing irrigation needs or moisture stress, and also leave the plants more vulnerable to diseases.
Santa Anna Couch:
Mowing can take place every 7-14 days during late spring and summer. During autumn and winter every 2-5 weeks, only if necessary. The mowing height is best kept between 20-25mm throughout the year. Raising the height fractionally over late autumn and winter will give better colour. DO NOT mow couch close in winter. Mowing at even lower levels can achieve putting green appearances.
Sir Walter Buffalo:
Mowing can take place every 7-14 days during late spring and summer. During autumn and winter every 2-5 weeks, only if necessary. The mowing height is best kept between 40-50mm throughout the year. Mowing at a higher level will improve drought tolerance and leaf softness.
Kikuyu:
Mowing can take place every 7-10 days during late spring and summer. During autumn and winter every 2-5 weeks, only if necessary. The mowing height is best kept between 30-40mm throughout the year.
Maintenance
Over the year, lawns may need special care to keep them looking their best.
Aerating
If the lawn is has been walked on or trampled and looking brown and patchy, then it’s likely the soil has been compacted stopping air and water from penetrating to the roots.
A couple of ways to deal with this -
Use a garden fork and ‘pogo’ it around the lawn, pushing the prongs into the ground and giving it a real wiggle, this helps open up the soil.
Or, head to the hire shop and pick up an aerator/corer - this punches holes in the lawn ever few inches to allow air and water to penetrate into the soil, this is often needed on turf where
The frequency of aerating will depend on your soil type and the amount the lawn is used. A yard on clay soil with active kids may need aerating every year. On the other hand, a yard with rich soil and lots of earthworms may never need aerating.
Thatching
Thatch is a layer of dead stems and roots that can build up on the surface of the soil. When this layer gets too thick, it can encourage disease problems and also create a barrier that stops water from penetrating the ground.
There are several ways to deal with this.
In early spring, mow the grass as low as possible, this will remove much of the thatch. Hiring a specialized thatching machine to run over the lawn will remove thatch and open up the ground at the same time. Thatching usually leaves bare patches so it is a good idea to spread starter fertilizer and grass seed after thatching so the bare patches fill in before weeds get started. Therefore, thatching should be done from mid-September to mid-February.
Lawn Type
Seeded varieties like fescues and bent grasses that create clumps, have not faired well and many of these lawns have really suffered.
Running varieties like COUCH, BUFFALO, KIKUYU that send out runners, developing roots and creating new plants as they go along are definitely the way to go.
Watering
An established lawn needs about 25mm of water per week to keep growing well. Depending on your soil type, this water can be applied in one application (Sandy soil) however, if soil only soaks in a little before water begins to run off (Clay soil) then you will need to apply your water a couple of times, allowing the previous watering to properly soak in before adding more water.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing increases growth, color, vigor, hardiness and thickens the grass.
It is important that you do not over apply. This only stimulates top growth and has potential to harm the grass and cause runoff problems in surrounding lakes and streams. Without
Fertilizing 4 times a year using a slow release fertilizer (e.g. Yates Lush for Lawns) - early spring, late spring, late summer and mid autumn. When applying a fertilizer, making sure the lawn is dry, this stops the fertilizer sticking to the grass blades and burning. Always apply as per manufacturers directions and water in well.
Why not wait until a rain before applying lawn feed, here’s another way to save water!
High-traffic areas usually require more fertilizer than low-traffic areas.
Mowing
For a healthy, low-maintenance lawn, set your lawn mower to cut the grass longer. Remember, the roots underground mirror the shoots on top so the shorter you mow, the smaller the root systems. Small root systems leave your lawn more vulnerable to drought, insects and invasive weeds as well as needing more frequent fertilizing.
Longer grass helps cool the soil surface, reducing water loss from the soil.
If grass is allowed to get tall, then cut short, the soft, lush base of the grass will be exposed to hot sun and it will burn and turn brown. For tall grass, set the mowing height higher, then, a few days later, mow the lawn again at the regular height.
Grass should be mowed as soon as it reaches one and a half times mowing height so only one third of the grass height it mowed off
Keep your lawnmower blades sharp. Dull blades tear the grass instead of cutting it cleanly. The wounds cause the grass to lose more water, increasing irrigation needs or moisture stress, and also leave the plants more vulnerable to diseases.
Santa Anna Couch:
Mowing can take place every 7-14 days during late spring and summer. During autumn and winter every 2-5 weeks, only if necessary. The mowing height is best kept between 20-25mm throughout the year. Raising the height fractionally over late autumn and winter will give better colour. DO NOT mow couch close in winter. Mowing at even lower levels can achieve putting green appearances.
Sir Walter Buffalo:
Mowing can take place every 7-14 days during late spring and summer. During autumn and winter every 2-5 weeks, only if necessary. The mowing height is best kept between 40-50mm throughout the year. Mowing at a higher level will improve drought tolerance and leaf softness.
Kikuyu:
Mowing can take place every 7-10 days during late spring and summer. During autumn and winter every 2-5 weeks, only if necessary. The mowing height is best kept between 30-40mm throughout the year.
Maintenance
Over the year, lawns may need special care to keep them looking their best.
Aerating
If the lawn is has been walked on or trampled and looking brown and patchy, then it’s likely the soil has been compacted stopping air and water from penetrating to the roots.
A couple of ways to deal with this -
Use a garden fork and ‘pogo’ it around the lawn, pushing the prongs into the ground and giving it a real wiggle, this helps open up the soil.
Or, head to the hire shop and pick up an aerator/corer - this punches holes in the lawn ever few inches to allow air and water to penetrate into the soil, this is often needed on turf where
The frequency of aerating will depend on your soil type and the amount the lawn is used. A yard on clay soil with active kids may need aerating every year. On the other hand, a yard with rich soil and lots of earthworms may never need aerating.
Thatching
Thatch is a layer of dead stems and roots that can build up on the surface of the soil. When this layer gets too thick, it can encourage disease problems and also create a barrier that stops water from penetrating the ground.
There are several ways to deal with this.
In early spring, mow the grass as low as possible, this will remove much of the thatch. Hiring a specialized thatching machine to run over the lawn will remove thatch and open up the ground at the same time. Thatching usually leaves bare patches so it is a good idea to spread starter fertilizer and grass seed after thatching so the bare patches fill in before weeds get started. Therefore, thatching should be done from mid-September to mid-February.
AS SEEN ON 
