Thinking about lawns

For some, a lawn is a waste of water and too much upkeep, but the expanse of a healthy lawn is much more than that. It’s an extension of your living space, an oasis of relaxation, can reduce your stress levels and certainly increases your homes property value.  A well maintained lawn gives you all these benefits, as well as getting the kids to play outside and a place to host barbeques for family and friends. With a bit of planning it is possible to be the proud owner of a great lawn that doesn’t require full time hours and a significant amount of money.

ALL ABOUT CHOICE

Choosing the right type of grass for your location and climate will save you a great deal of time and money. Local knowledge is your best resource, check varieties that are growing well near you. Think about how the type of grass behaves, some vigorous runner grasses will ‘self-repair’ better than others.  This is important to consider for the amount of foot traffic it may receive, if you have a pet, what soil type you have or if it may be in a shaded aspect.

There are many grass types suitable for our conditions, drought tolerance, aesthetics and up-keep requirements. For example, Kikuyu is all these things, tough, fast growing and inexpensive but will need mowing every week in summer.

BUFFALO LAWN

• One of the most popular grasses in Australia today
• Excellent at repairing itself
• Great drought tolerance
• Can take high family traffic
• Holds good colour over Winter

KIKUYU LAWN

• Budget friendly
• Fast growing, an excellent choice for larger areas
• Drought hardy
• Excellent at self-repairing
• Low shade tolerance
• Requires frequent mowing
• Can become invasive if edges are not kept confined

COUCH LAWNS

• Mostly hard wearing
• Turf grass whose fine blades give a formal look
• Maintenance requirements vary between varieties
• Requires annual top dressing
• Can become invasive if edges are allowed to run

 

STARTING ANEW WITH SEED

Spring is one of the best times to sow new lawns or patch your existing lawn with seed. Prepare the first 10-15cm of soil making sure it is well drained loose and sandy. Clay soil will need added gypsum and coarse sand to a depth of 4-5cm mixed through the top 10-15cm of loosened soil. The more soil preparation and effort you put in at the beginning will determine your success with seed germination. The use of a Seed and Turf starter fertiliser at the time of planting supplies essential nutrients for seed germination and encourages faster germination and stronger seedling vigour.

It’s important not to sow the seed too heavily, causing problems with the establishment. The seed germination period lasts from around one week to one month, depending on variety, and should be kept moist at all times.

Cut the new lawn a couple of times in the first 5-6 weeks and fertilise to stimulate growth. Choose a fertiliser that provides the right balance of nutritional elements to support the root and shoot development.

SUPERSTART

• Fertiliser designed to supply essential nutrients for seed germination
• Mix with seed prior to sowing to provide even distribution or rake into the soil
• Encourages faster germination and stronger seedling vigour
• Available in 5kg and 10kg bags

TOP DRESSING & RESTORER FOR LAWNS

• Ideal for using with seed to repair damaged and bald spots in lawns
• Levels uneven surfaces
• Perfect for all lawn types

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT LAWNS