Four Frequent Fertiliser Fails

Posted on October 28, 2019April 21, 2022 by nathe

Now is a great time to fertilise your lawn and for the most part, is a pretty straight forward thing to do. Buy fertiliser, spread it out and depending on whether it’s granular or liquid, water in or dilute and apply. You have gone down the path of fertilising your lawn, so you have the best of intentions to start with which is great. But a few days later you check on your lawn and it’s not what you expected!

But where could it possibly have gone wrong? Here’s some of the usual mistakes…

Too much N

That’s N for nitrogen. Lawns love it and need it, but too much produces burnt grass and/or too much leaf growth, and not enough root growth.

What happens when you over fertilise your lawn?

Over fertilising your lawn will cause sudden plant growth, particularly leaf growth and thatch. The problem with this is that the roots won’t experience the same amount of rapid growth and will then be unable to supply the amount of water and nutrient that your grass needs.

As fertiliser is primarily made up of mineral salts, excessive fertilising will cause salts to build up in the soil making it difficult for water to be absorbed, which dries out your grass causing discolouration and possibly even plant death if bad enough.

Signs you may have over fertilised your lawn:

Fertiliser burn on the grass leaf
Browning leaftips and yellowing of lower leaves
Darkened and weakened roots
Salt like crust of fertiliser on the soil surface

Too erratic

The method of application is just as important as the fertiliser choice. Chucking fertiliser about willy-nilly produces lawn that looks like it’s maintained by a goat. Walking systematically back and forth across a lawn with a spreader is a good way to apply granular fertiliser. For liquids, a similar orderly approach can be adopted.

Too keen…

… can lead to ‘This fertiliser does nothing!’ Wrong. It’s probably not the fertiliser but the date of application. Apply fertiliser too early, that is, before soil is consistently above 14°C and good lawn food and good money goes to waste. Grass must be actively growing and out of its winter dormancy before it will benefit from a dose of fertiliser.

Applying fertiliser at the right time of year will ensure you get the most out of your lawn. Seasonal fertilising information

Too little water…

… can lead to burnt grass, due to the fertiliser. Once granular fertiliser is applied it must be well watered to solubilise it. This is one of the reasons those in the know fertilise just before a dump of rain. But be careful not to spread it out if a deluge of rain is anticipated, too much rain and the fertiliser will wash away, which doesn’t help your lawn and isn’t good for the environment.

While many fertilisers are similar, not all fertilisers are the same. Make sure you always follow the label instructions for the specific fertiliser that you are using.

What should I use for fertilising?

For fertilising we recommend using our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser. This fertiliser contains a combination of slow and fast release granules that will give your lawn a quick initial boost and will continue to feed the lawn for up to 12 weeks. This is a well-balanced fertiliser that contains all the essential nutrients your lawn needs to stay healthy and is suitable for all lawn varieties.

Exceed Liquid Fertiliser is a great liquid fertiliser option. Exceed will give your lawn a quick boost as it is absorbed by the leaf of the grass.

Lawn Solutions Australia has many articles on all aspects of lawn care.

Here’s some fertiliser related topics you might find helpful…

Why do I need to fertilise my lawn anyway, doesn’t it feed itself?

Find out here.

Not sure whether to use a granular or liquid fertiliser?

Learn more here.

Check out the Lawn Solutions Australia lawn care page for more helpful tips and advice here.

Want to receive helpful lawn care tips, advice and promotional offers via email?

7 Lawn products to make your life easier

Posted on October 28, 2019November 26, 2019 by nathe

Here’s some lawn gear ideas to make lawn life a piece of cake!

There’s got to be an easier way! And in most cases, there is. Weeding, mowing, spraying, fertilising – there are handy tools and products for your yard for almost everything. Lawns are pretty easy to manage for the most part, but anything that helps to save you some time is welcomed.

So, we’ve put together this list of handy items that are sure to save you time and effort in caring for your lawn.

Save your back with this weed puller!

The Fiskars Xact Weed Puller is a great innovation for removing weeds effortlessly. Its simple and ergonomic design eliminates the need for bending, kneeling and using chemicals for the removal of weeds.

The deep reaching claws grab roots from all directions and remove weeds cleanly. The ejection system helps to release weeds after they’ve been removed from the soil, allowing you to work upright at all times.

Instant green lawn

Winter and drought make it a challenge to maintain a green lawn all year round. A way around this is to apply a grass pigment to your lawn. Now we’re not talking about painting your lawn or any of those silly memes with a bucket of green paint and a paintbrush. We’re talking about a pigment. The key difference is that a pigment doesn’t coat the leaf of the grass, it’s absorbed into it. One natural grass pigment is called ColourGuard Plus, which also includes a liquid fertiliser to feed the lawn at the same time.

Killing weeds before they even appear!

A pre-emergent herbicide targets weed seeds before they take hold by forming a barrier at soil level that stops the germination of any new seedlings.

OxaFert is in granular form, and when applied forms a film at the base of the turf. This film kills new weed seed germinations, leaving your lawn free of crow’s foot, summer grass, winter grass, creeping oxalis, and others.

Mowed lawn without having to mow!

Husqvarna Automower® is fully automatic and works inside an electronic fence. When batteries run low, it returns to the charging station. After a one-time installation, which can be performed by your dealer, you’ll enjoy a more or less maintenance-free lawn for many years.

Make spraying easier!

The Silvan 16L Rechargeable backpack sprayer is designed for spot spraying of large and small properties and is suitable for use with herbicides, pesticides or liquid fertilisers.

Powered by a built-in, rechargeable Li-ion battery, there is no pumping required. It also features an ergonomic, contoured design and adjustable straps for comfortable use and an easy to reach on/off switch.

Spread fertiliser and seed evenly with ease

The RYOBI 18V ONE+ seed & fertiliser spreader is the perfect tool for any stage of your lawn. You can precisely lay the perfect amount of seed to produce a professional lawn. The unit can then accurately spread fertilisers or wetting agents to keep your grass in dazzling condition.

Lawn Mower Cup Holder

Last but not least, the lawn mower cup holder for those who can’t wait until they have finished the job. Perfect for holding your beer (or water) while you mow the lawn properly with two hands! Check out this one by The Mower Mate which comes with one of your choice of four stubby holder designs.

8 Ways to Keep Mosquitoes Away

Posted on October 28, 2019November 21, 2019 by nathe

All you want to do during the warmer months is get outside and enjoy your lawn! Hosting barbeques, playing with the kids, gardening and enjoying the great outside space you have created. But the pesky mosquitoes are back and are running amok! The kids are scratching, you’ve got lumps all up your arms and the mozzies are having a right old feast.

So, what do you do? Give up and head back indoors? NO!

You might have tried some common solutions, but there are some things (especially when combined) that might help.

Here’s 8 options…

DEET (Topical Insect Repellents)

DEET is short for N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide and is used as a repellent. When applied to the skin, it creates a vapour barrier on the surface of the skin which deters the mozzies from making contact. Different repellents include differing percentages of DEET, with a higher percentage providing longer lasting protection. One of the best products available is from Bushman Repellent which has a range of products with DEET amounts up to 80%!

Mosquito coils

This might be a fairly common go-to, but when combined with the use of topical insect repellents you get pretty good protection from mozzies. Traditionally mosquito coils were made using pyrethrum, with many now containing pyrethroid insecticides to kill the mozzies and/or citronella to repel them.

Mosquito repellent plants

One of the easiest ways to get a leg-up on the mozzies is to plant mosquito repellent plants. Some options include; lemon balm, lavender, peppermint, marigolds, citronella grass and catnip. The great thing about these is they smell great, but the mosquitoes don’t like the scent, so it keeps them away. Try planting these plants near your entertainment areas or have some of them in pots closer to where you need them.

Eliminate stagnant water

Stagnant water is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Where possible, try to avoid stagnant water in places where it’s not needed. Remove any old buckets or containers that have filled up from rain. For birdbaths and pet water bowls, try to keep the water fresh by replacing it regularly.

Garlic

Who won’t it keep away! No surprises here really, mosquitoes aren’t big fans of the smell of garlic; if you boil it and use the water for a spray, you can target some problem areas where the mosquitoes congregate.

Coffee Grinds

Love the smell of coffee? Well, mosquitoes don’t, so make use of your coffee grinds. Leave them in a bowl and singe them with a lighter to spread the aroma.

Lighting

Insects see lights differently to humans and are highly attracted to light sources, especially ones that emit intense heat and brightness. Bug lights have a bulb that is coated with a yellow, opaque coating that is less detectable to mosquitoes. As a result, they won’t swarm around your light source, which will mean they are less likely to spoil your evening outside.

Create a cross breeze

It can get seriously hot outside in the summer, even in the evening. If you utilise a fan to help cool you down, it will also lead to less mosquitoes as they will seek shelter where the air is calmer.

5 things you didn’t know you could compost

Posted on October 28, 2019January 31, 2020 by nathe

Composting is a great way to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and also a way of creating nutritious material that is ideal for your garden and lawn.

Compost Structure

A good layered compost will have a combination of both green waste products and brown waste products.

Green Waste (nitrogen) – These include fresh plant waste, grass, vege scraps, and coffee grounds – items generally high in nitrogen.

Brown Waste (carbon) – These include dried or aged plant material such as dead leaves, newspaper, straw, wood shavings and cardboard. These items add carbon to your compost.

A good combination of both is ideal, with a higher amount of brown material to ensure your pile doesn’t get too wet and smelly. On the flipside, if it’s too dry, then more green waste is required.

Banana peels, vege scraps and spoiled food waste from the kitchen are your usual suspects that go into the household compost bin, but there are some items you may not realise can also go in.

Here’s 5…

Hair

Pet hair, human hair from a hairbrush, it can all go in! Hair contains nitrogen which helps the decomposition process. Spread the hair throughout the green items in your compost to help it break down quicker.

Beer

Geez, I hope there aren’t any half empty beer bottles going to waste, but if there are, don’t just pour them down the drain! Beer can be added to your compost pile as well. Beer will help speed up the composting process, as it’s biodegradable. In addition, the yeast in the beer will feed microbes within the soil.

Tea Bags

Believe it or not, tea bags increase the speed at which your compost decomposes. But make sure your tea bags are compostable as some contain polypropylene and won’t decompose properly. The organic matter from the tea leaves provides moisture which promotes earthworms.

Eggshells

When tilled into the soil, ground eggshells provide your plants with calcium. Though nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are most vital for healthy growth, calcium is also essential for building healthy “bones”— the cell walls of a plant. It’s important the eggshells are finely ground as they won’t decompose well otherwise.

Fireplace Ashes

Green waste breaking down can create an acidic environment. Wood ash from your fireplace is more alkaline. This means that ashes from your fireplace can provide a neutralising effect on your compost pile. Ashes also provide nutrients in the form of lime and potassium, which can improve soil health.

Compost for top dressing a lawn

When your compost is broken down and is mostly soil-like in appearance, without much of an unpleasant odour, it will be ready for use.

A good aged compost material for top dressing your lawn will provide organic nutrients and moisture to your lawn. It will provide your lawn some of the key ingredients it needs to stay healthy and creating a beneficial soil environment for microbial activity. Compost for top dressing will also improve the ability for your soil to hold moisture, which is really important for drought proofing your lawn.

African Black Beetle | Lawn Grubs

Posted on October 28, 2019October 29, 2024 by nathe

African Black Beetle

Scientific name: Heteronychus arator

Black beetles can be a common sight in and around your lawn. They are a natural part of the ecosystem and play an important role. We sometimes hear from people who have noticed them in their lawn and are concerned that they may be damaging their grass.

Here’s what you need to know…

It is rare that adult black beetle will cause much harm worth worrying about, it’s the root feeding black beetle larvae that cause the most damage. So, it’s important to understand their lifecycle and signs of infestation, so that you can take prompt action when they become active.

Description

Black beetle eggs are laid in spring and early summer. After several weeks the eggs hatch and the larvae or grubs emerge that then feed on the grass roots. It is when large numbers of these eggs hatch that it is a serious problem for some lawns. These larvae develop through 3 stages, the fully-grown larvae at the end of the third stage are around 25mm long. You will need to be particularly vigilant as the weather warms up, usually September to March, and after heavy rain.

The larvae then move into pre-pupae and pupae stages which cause no damage to your lawn, before developing into adults after about 2 months, in late Summer or early Autumn.

Adult beetles are black and shiny, about 15mm long, with brown serrated legs. The beetles are dormant or semi-dormant through the winter before laying eggs again in spring where the cycle repeats.

Symptoms

As a result of extensive root damage caused by these larvae, your lawn can no longer take up the moisture and nutrient it requires efficiently. This causes the grass to become dry and straw like, as it would during severe drought conditions.

When at its worst, the grass will actually be able to be peeled back easily from the soil surface as the roots have been eaten away. This is when you will inevitably find a large number of feeding larvae.

Treatment for Lawn Grubs

Due to the rate at which the grubs feed and move across your lawn, the number of eggs they lay, and the sheer numbers involved in an infestation, delaying treatment can be disastrous. Your local turf farmer can supply advice and treatment options.

You can also source fast-acting insecticide products here on our website as well, such as Lawn Solutions Battle Insecticide to get the job sorted quickly and easily. Always remember to follow the manufacturer’s handling and safety instructions.

battle insecticide bifenthrin — Battle Insecticide

The most effective time to apply the treatment is as late in the day as possible while the adults are active.

To ensure the grubs are eradicated, apply the treatment again in two weeks. This is an especially important timeframe because eggs take 2-5 weeks to hatch and more grub’s will become present. A re-application at this point will ensure that any missed eggs or grubs are eliminated.

Prevention for Lawn Grubs and Pests

Unfortunately attack by these grubs can happen to any lawn and can occur numerous times during a season.

This is why we recommend Grub Guard Ultimate, Acelepryn GR, and Acelepryn Liquid. These products provide safe and effective control of black beetle while minimising the impact on the environment and non-target organisms, such as bees and earthworms.

Acelepryn targets pests such as black beetle, stem weevil, cut worm and army worm. The great thing about Acelepryn in comparison to other pesticides, is that it’s preventative. This is why spring is a great time to spread it out and protect your lawn for up to six months.

Can your lawn thrive with chickens?

Posted on October 9, 2019 by nathe

The short answer? Yes. The long answer follows, starting with it depends on how big your lawn is and how many chickens you have.

If you have a lush, thick lawn with no bare areas, then your chickens (providing there aren’t too many) and your lawn can both thrive together. Chooks eat slugs, bugs, leaves, weeds and grass clippings, plus aerate the soil. If there are some bare patches in your lawn you can put some wire mesh over them to stop your chickens exacerbating the problem and allow time for repair. Of course, selecting the right grass variety for your area is extremely important to give you the best possible chance of success if you want chickens roaming on it. Ultimately, you’ll have to monitor your lawn to determine if action is required.

Coop or free range?

Chickens like to dig holes and take dust baths, which could lead to your lawn looking more like a chipping zone on a golf course. However, you can largely avoid this by using some sort of enclosure or deterrent.

Perhaps the simplest method is to fence off areas you don’t want your chickens on or in. If that doesn’t suit, you could install a large coop for them to run about in. This will likely kill off the lawn inside, however you’ll provide your feathered friends a fixed home that’s separated from your garden beds.

Chooks will pick at your veggies and fruit, plus their fresh manure contains pathogens, so if you’re thinking of free-range, place some wire cages over these areas to prevent damaging attacks and contamination problems.

If you do notice your chickens are digging where they’re not welcome, you can construct a kitty litter area or box containing coarse sand. This then acts as a place for them to scratch about and have a dust bath.

Another alternative is to employ a lawn tractor (also known as a chicken mower). This gives you maximum control over your chickens’ access to your lawn. Many chicken lovers adopt this approach, as it offers a good compromise. These movable pens, often with wire at the base, allow you to supply your chooks with fresh grass, while the pens prevent excessive digging.

Free lawn food

Chooks eat many damaging pests and create a free, nutrient-rich organic fertiliser. Beware though, due to its high nitrogen content, fresh manure can burn your lawn if it’s too concentrated in one area. Plus, the manure harbours pathogens, so beware if you have children, or pets apart from chickens. It’s for this reason fresh chook poo is no good for applying to your veggie patch, either. It must be composted first.

Chooks and lawn fertiliser

Granular fertiliser and chickens don’t mix. Chickens can peck and pick at granules buried in your lawn. The best idea is to not spread granular fertiliser where your chickens roam. If you do want to fertilise in these areas, you must make sure the granules have completely dissolved before you allow your chickens to return to these areas.

How to add value to your home

Posted on October 9, 2019May 6, 2024 by nathe

You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to increase your home’s appeal. Simply investing a little time in a clean and tidy can do wonders for your home’s street appeal and value. Of course, sometimes a small outlay can make further substantial improvements.

Let’s focus on the front of your house, which is where the first, and lasting impression may be made.

Easy wins

Your garage door makes up a fair percentage of your home’s frontage. So you can achieve a large gain with a quick brush off of any cobwebs and removal of any dust and grime. If you’re preparing for a house inspection, turn your attention to the rollers and running tracks of the door as well to really impress would-be buyers.

Walkways, your driveway and concrete verandahs are further easy wins. Who doesn’t get a kick out of a bit of pressure washing?

Windows

A clear, uninterrupted view of your garden from indoors not only makes you feel good, it’s easily achievable. The secret? A little methylated spirits mixed in water. Squeegee your windows inside and out and lap up the praise you receive from your visitors.

Gutters

Gutters that do their job go unnoticed, but importantly, add to the impression of a well-maintained home. A scoot up the ladder for a quick tidy means rainwater will collect where it’s supposed to – in your tank – and not spill over, leaving your freshly cleaned porches puddle free. A clean of your gutters also means you’re better prepared for possible bushfires.

Furniture

Your outdoor furniture gets a lot of use for barbecues, parties and general good times. A splash of furniture oil on your wooden tables and chairs will give them a lift and keep them in top condition year-round.

Lawns and gardens

Here’s where you can really make a big difference to your home’s appeal. A lush, thick lawn looks amazing and isn’t hard to pull off. A fifteen-minute facelift is the perfect place to begin. To make your lawn really come alive (instantaneously!) you can apply a little bit of magic in the form of ColourGuard. This inexpensive lawn paint will green your lawn, give it a health kick and transform your front yard if your lawn’s looking a little tired. To top it off, you’ll get a greater sense of space and allow more light onto your renewed lawn by shaping your hedges and shrubs.

Need a new lawn?

For more information on the different turf varieties available and the characteristics that would be best suited for your lawn area click here.

Once you have an idea of which turf varieties you prefer, contact your local turf supplier directly or submit an online quote. With an online quote, you will receive up to three quotes from your local Lawn Solutions Australia accredited turf suppliers within 48 hours. Easy as. You can submit a free quote request here.

Finishing touches

A front door dressed in a modern colour looks smart and inviting. And while you’ve got your painting gear out you can revitalise your fences, fascia and window frames, too. So cheap for a high-class result!

If you’re not the gardening type, it doesn’t get any easier than this – potted, low-maintenance plants. There are two great benefits to these: an immediate pay-off, plus you can take them with you if you move.

There’s not just a financial gain to a spruce up of your home. Easily seen numbers on your letterbox means you’ll receive the right mail, and pizza when it’s still hot. A buff up also makes it super easy for home buyers to find your address for your open home inspections.

Lastly, some ornamental lighting in your garden beds will really make your handiwork pop, but before you take your sunset shot for Instagram, stand back and appreciate what you’ve achieved: an increase in your home’s value.

2019 must-have items for your backyard

Posted on October 1, 2019October 31, 2019 by nathe

Who doesn’t want to sit about and soak in the sun’s rays while reading, meditating or having a few quiet drinks? Here are some hot backyard furniture items that will get you out into the garden this spring.

Get comfy in style. Enjoy the outdoors in this spectacular looking lounge – great for you and great for your garden.

Outdoor Hammock Bed

This outdoor hammock bed is great for laying about in.

Start a new novel, or … siesta all afternoon, then watch movies on your outdoor projector set-up into the small hours. Wake at sunrise, rinse and repeat!

Swinging Egg Chair

Cocoon yourself in this luxury, swinging egg chair and enjoy some time out with the latest Booker-Prize winner.

You’ll need a flat stretch of lawn for this one. If you can beat the kids (or even dog or cat) to this retreat, hours of contemplative thought and relaxation await. Perhaps you’ll just admire your garden for a while.

Festive Lighting

You can create a carnival feel or modify the mood to fun and colourful to accompany your movie watching with these lights.

These lanterns are easy to install and add an instant lift to your outdoor space.

Don’t wait for birthdays or special events, make it happen today, or more importantly, tonight – and then every weekend.

Lawn Rugs

Hang on a minute. Do you need furniture at all? How about a rug?

Dust off your guitar and play in the sunshine or perhaps your kids would like to host their own picnic?

The Built-In Lawn Seat

OK, DIYer, you’re saying ‘What about me’? Well, may we present the built-in lawn seat?

Get out your shovel, get to your local LSA turf supplier for a couple of slabs of TifTuf or Sir Walter and plonk it onto your custom-built, in-ground chair.

These beauties are tricky to mow, but the longer the lawn grows the comfier the seats get.

How about a cantilever umbrella? One of these allows you to remain outside in the heat of the day. And it can shade your lawn (or lawn seat!), too.

Oversize Cushions

Oversize outdoor cushions. Your kids will love jumping onto these or maybe you just want to spoil your pooch?

Just because it’s getting warmer it doesn’t mean every evening is T-shirt and shorts weather. Some nights you may still need (or simply want) a fire pit. Make sure you check out your local rules and regulations. Check out our safety tips for using a fire pit here and stock up on marshmallows.

Before you set off to grab a new piece for your backyard, here’s a few final lawn care tips: remember to shift the position of the furniture on your lawn periodically to keep it looking pristine. If the area around the furniture is compacted, aerate with a garden fork or aerating sandals to allow air, water and nutrients to the grass’s roots.

If you’re relocating your furniture, try to place it on an area of the lawn that minimises how much shade the lawn will receive.

How long can my lawn survive without water?

Posted on October 1, 2019November 28, 2019 by nathe

Drought conditions are impacting a lot of areas at the moment and being environmentally responsible with water use is more important than ever. At the same time, many of us would also like to install or maintain a beautiful green lawn. Fortunately, it is only in the most severe of conditions, over a considerable amount of time, that your lawn could suffer to the point where it would completely die off due to lack of water.

Warm season turfgrass species commonly used in Australia need very little water to survive and are very hardy.

How long can my lawn survive without water?

Despite grass being generally soft and delicate, it’s actually very resilient. Most common lawn types in Australia can survive extended periods of drought. They will lose colour, become brown and dry, with little to no leaf growth, but they will generally sit dormant until the next rain or irrigation event.

In summer when temperatures are really high, grasses will enter a state of dormancy where they shut down tissue growth to preserve moisture loss. You can usually tell if a lawn is dormant rather than dead by looking at the crown at the base of the leaves. If the crown is white to off white, it is likely that it is still alive. A dead lawn will be dry, brown and brittle across the entire plant – the leaves, the roots and the crown.

The point where turf grass really starts to suffer and wilt, is referred to as its permanent wilting point (PWP).

As the soil becomes drier, plant roots need to work harder to extract water. Eventually the plant is unable to extract any further water from the soil – its PWP. Turf grasses with some level of drought tolerance will not die when the turf plant reaches its permanent wilting point. Many grasses can stay in dormancy for 3-4 weeks without beginning to deteriorate to the point of plant death. When the prolonged period without rain ends, the turf is able to regenerate from rhizomes and stolons.

To prevent the death of your grass you will eventually need to provide the moisture that it desperately needs. This, however, is difficult when your area is suffering an extended period of drought and has strict water restrictions in place that you need to adhere to. But there are still ways you can help your lawn.

What can I do to help my lawn survive a drought?

Remove thatch – Removing dead material from the lawn profile will help the living plant to absorb all the available moisture.
Aeration – Improving the ability for water to penetrate to the roots will be important to take best advantage of water when it is available, but also to improve moisture in the soil where it is needed during the next dry spell.
Stay off the lawn – Your grass is already having a hard time and the drier it is, the more it is likely to be damaged and not be able to recover from foot traffic or additional wear.
Effective watering – When you can water, do so for longer, less frequently. Encourage deeper roots that can delve deeper into the soil to find moisture. This will allow your lawn to stay hydrated for longer, even if there has been an extended period without rain.

How much water does grass need?

Water is fundamental for grass to transport nutrients, maintain cell structure and for it to create its own food through the process of photosynthesis.

For the most part, this water requirement will be met through rainfall or soil moisture storage. This available moisture is lost over time through the leaf of the grass. If the roots cannot maintain this level of moisture to the leaf, the leaves will close their stomata. Stomata are cells that form the pores of the leaf surface. When the stomata are closed, there will be limited growth due to its inability to take in carbon dioxide.

During water restrictions that were in place in the Sydney area during 2003-2009, public areas, sports fields and the like were able to survive on very limited rain without additional irrigation. Areas with deep loam soils performed best, with the grass able to rely on water reserves stored within the soil.

When should I irrigate?

The simple answer is – when your lawn needs it. It is important that you only irrigate your lawn when there is not enough rainfall to meet the needs of your lawn. When you do water, do so within the rules outlined by local water restrictions.

Turf researchers are continually testing new strains of grass for superior traits that are critical for a sustainable environment. Drought tolerance is one of the most important factors for Australian turf growers. With new, improved, more drought-tolerant varieties becoming available that are much better equipped to handle these prolonged periods without rain.

Lawn Solutions R&D programs have a strong focus on bringing lawn to Australian consumers that not only look great but use much less water than older varieties and once established will need little to no water to stay alive.

New turf varieties such as TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda (couch), have been selected and released to the market because of it’s superior drought tolerance.

For more information on the best turf varieties to suit your local conditions, you can contact Lawn Solutions Australia directly here.

Which veggies will you nurture this spring?

Posted on October 1, 2019August 28, 2024 by nathe

Butter on barbecued corn … from the veggie patch in your garden. Mmmmm.

What? You don’t have a veggie garden? Well, lets get planning!

Prepare your patch

Even with just a small area size, you and your family can be harvesting the benefits of eating home grown veggies!

When it comes to planting your veggie gardens, raised gardens are a much-loved option for veggie gardens. Raised garden beds will allow you to plant your veggies earlier than usual as they tend to be warmer than the earth, providing you with a longer growing season. Raised garden beds will also help reduce the need to bend and kneel when tending to your crop. For larger plants like corn or for climbing vegetables, you may want to consider planting directly into the soil.

For your veggie patch it is best to use a soil that is rich in organic matter. Something with a compost mixture or manure will also help make your soil rich in nutrients.

Let’s grow!

Once you’ve prepared your veggie patch, it’s time to plant. But of course, you need to grow what’s suitable for your climate.

What you can plant:

For warmer locales you could try zucchini, eggplant, corn, pumpkin or rocket.
Cooler climates perhaps peas, spinach or turnip.
More temperate regions you may consider broccoli, eggplant, silverbeet or carrots.

Consult your nursery as to what’s best in your area and remember that if you’re still suffering frosts or your soil temperature is still too cold, hold off for a little longer.

Mmmmm, corn

We can’t cover all your favourite vegetables here, but because we love grass, we’ve chosen a grass vegetable.

As with lawn, corn likes a loamy soil, which comprises sand, silt, organic matter and clay. Guess what pH corn likes? Same as grass, of course: 6 to 7. Consult your seed variety packet for how far apart to plant, but remember to plant in blocks, rather than rows, as wind pollinates the corn. And just like your lawn, corn thrives on chicken manure, so ensure to mix some into your soil before planting.

Similar to lawn, less frequent, deep watering is best. Water your corn once a week as opposed to a light watering several times. In a little over two months your corn will be ready to harvest. Sweet!

Count on clippings

Apart from the gastronomical benefits of a veggie garden, it provides a great place to recycle your lawn clippings, either as mulch or as compost. Grass clippings have a high nitrogen content and decompose quickly. When they’re combined with brown organic material (such as the leaves you raked up in your spring clean) to decompose, they provide a compost that’s fit for your veggies.

When used as mulch, grass clippings help to keep your garden moist, keep weeds out and add nutrients to the soil. The clippings also help to provide nitrogen and potassium. Both compost and mulch improve your soil structure but remember not to use clippings if you’ve recently applied herbicides or other chemicals such as fertilisers on your lawn.

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