December 2017

A great lawn requires great skill

All great Aussie lawns like Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo are what they call male sterile and cannot be grown from seed. Not even on the turf farm can they be grown from seed, they have to be grown from live vegetative material that takes a lot of skill from our Aussie turf farmers to turn into lawn turf. If an experienced turf producer can’t grow it from seed – what chance do we have?

Grass grown from seed struggles in hot weather

It is true that seed will grow into some sort of ground cover in the colder wetter climates of Australia, however it will not be a drought tolerant lawn for life. Usually it will be a cool season variety such as a seeded rye or fescue that may give a quick flush of green in a colder climate but once the hot weather comes along it can be gone forever.

Seed can be a budget option, but you will find that it takes a substantial amount of time and money to get the result you are after. You will be required to over sow a number of times and you still won’t be able to guarantee a successful strike rate and germination to get a nice consistent finish. With weather conditions potentially washing your seed away, birds and other animals also eating the seed, it can be a significantly challenging process to undertake.

See the difference for yourself

A good test if you’re still not convinced is to ask both your local LSA turf supplier and your seed supplier to show you a couple of front lawns they have supplied in your local area that are 5 years or older. You will be amazed at how few are grown from seed.

The most effective way of establishing a great lawn is by installing instant turf. By doing so, you are putting in what is already a healthy established grass and planting it ready to go at your own home. Within a few weeks the rolls will have established together and you will have a consistent healthy lawn.

Want a lawn for life?

So if you want a great long lasting Aussie lawn get in touch with your nearest Lawn Solutions Australia grower and get a great lawn for life. Remember only turf purchased through our growers or Lawn Solutions Centres come with our 10 Year Warranty!

Cleaning your mower is an important part of your lawn maintenance routine
Grass build-up can affect the performance of your mower
Cleaning 2 to 3 times a year will keep your mower in tip-top condition

Did you know that cleaning your lawn mower is an important maintenance routine that will make sure you get the best outcome for your lawn? Over time, grass clippings can build up on the underside of the mower deck (the case that houses the mower blades) and above the blades. This can create performance issues with your mower and in some cases spread lawn disease.

What Can Cause a Buildup of Grass on My Lawn Mower?

If you have a side-discharge mower; the build-up can impede the discharge hole. This can cause clumps of grass to gather instead of being spread evenly. These clumps will begin to compost and can burn the lawn underneath. For mowers with a catcher; the build-up can limit the amount of grass that can be pulled up to the catcher, causing more trips to the bin. If you happen to have a mulching mower, a build-up of clippings will reduce the space that the blades have to circulate. This means that the grass may not be cut as fine. Even slightly wet grass will trap moisture against your mower deck, blade, and blade shaft. This can create conditions that are ripe for rust build-up. If you discover rust, you’ll want to remove all of the flakes immediately. Then paint and seal the area to prevent the rust from spreading.

How Do You Clean a Lawn Mower?

If you’ve got a build-up, break out the wire brush and screw driver and start scraping away. Make sure to remove the spark plug first to prevent accidental starting. If needed, gently hose down the mowing deck. However, please note, it is not recommended to use a high pressure washer.

If you have time cleaning your mower deck after every use will prevent build-up over the long run. However if you are cleaning your mower 2 or 3 times throughout the mowing season, you’ll keep it in good shape.

Why Should I Wash My Mower When Mowing 2 Different Grass Types?

If your home as 2 different grass types, we generally recommend washing down the mower between each grass type. This is recommended to help reduce the risk of one grass type being carried to the other lawn type. This is particularly important when mowing between invasive turf types like kikuyu or couch grasses. However, if you do have a less invasive turf type like buffalo and another lawn with more invasive grass like kikuyu, we recommend mowing the buffalo lawn first, then mowing the kikuyu lawn. By mowing the less invasive grass, then mowing the more invasive lawn, you will generally only need to wash down the mower after you have finished mowing both lawns.

For more lawn care tips and advice, make sure you check out our other lawn care blogs here.

Month: December 2017

Lawn Seed – Why it’s a Bad Idea