November 2019 - Lawn Solutions Australia

How to cut grass properly

A well cared for, freshly mown lawn not only looks awesome, it’s also great to walk on and play on. Anyone can achieve it. The right length of grass is critical to its health and weed minimisation. Check out the guide below to determine the height of lawn that works best for you and is best for your lawn.

Guideline for ideal mowing heights (Rule of thumb: shorter for summer, longer for winter)

Green couch:                                       5 to 30mm

Buffalo grass (Sir Walter):             30 to 50mm

Kikuyu:                                                    30 to 50mm

Zoysia matrella (Sir Grange):       5 to unmown

Queensland blue couch:                  5 to 30mm

Broadleaf carpet grass:                    30 to 50mm

Hybrid Bermuda (TifTuf):               5 to 30mm

Fescue:                                                     30 to 50mm

Consistency is Key

Regularly mowing your lawn promotes lateral growth and allows more of the sun’s rays to get amongst the leaf of your lawn. Never cut more than 1/3 of the leaf blade of your lawn at any one time. If your lawn has become a little out of control and needs a more severe cut, take it down over a number of mows. This will leave plenty of green on the leaf allowing the grass to continue to photosynthesise.

Change it Up

Mowing in different directions not only minimises mownotony (see what we did there!), it also contributes to a healthy lawn by encouraging the individual blades to grow straight, which in turn provides more space for new blades to grow. Ultimately, this gives you a thicker lawn.

Make Sure the Lawn is Dry

Rain is great for fertilising, but not ideal for mowing. Mowing when the grass is wet can damage the leaf blades as they will tear rather than cut, leaving an uneven edge. This can give a ‘chopped’ look to your lawn. Wait until the lawn has dried out after rain or irrigation before you mow.

Keep your Mower Blades Sharp

To get a beautiful cut, it’s important to keep your mower blades in peak condition. You can drop your mower in to a service centre, or you can do the maintenance yourself. Jump over to this blog for more information on keeping your mower blades sharp or see here for information on replacing them.

Leave the Leaf Blade a Little Longer in Shade and when Water is Scarce

You can maximise your lawn’s health in the shade by raising your mower a notch or two when you get to the shaded areas. This gives the lawn a great surface to absorb what sunlight is available to it.

Keeping your lawn on the longer side will also reduce stress on the lawn during the hotter months. Doing this will keep the temperature of the soil cooled, reducing evaporation and keeping moisture at the roots of your grass, right where it needs to be.

Keeping a Level Lawn

If you have lumps or depressions in your lawn it can be a good idea to top dress your lawn. During the active growing season is the best time. Information on top dressing can be found here.

The right mower

There are many types of lawn mowers available. These include rotary, cylinder and ride-on mowers. Rotary mowers come in two types, mulching or catching. Mulching mowers mulch the grass clippings and deposit them over your lawn. These are good for lawns in poor condition or on poor soils. Catcher mowers catch the clippings for discarding or composting.

Petrol powered rotary mowers are powerful, affordable and easy to use. They suit most lawn types.

Electric rotary mowers are generally cheaper than petrol mowers and require less maintenance, however they can be less powerful and the cord can get in the way. Battery operated models are improving and can be a great alternative to the traditional petrol models.

Cylinder mowers are extremely popular with lawn enthusiasts.  They are excellent for short, fine lawns varieties and can give a real manicured look to your lawn. If you have a very small area, a hand pushed cylinder mower can be a good option.

Mow Stripes

Mowing stripes into your lawn is very achievable and it starts with having a thick, even lawn. Although having a cylinder mower can make this easier, you can get the same result with a few tips and tricks and a rotary mower. Your average rotary mower and a roller can do the job. It’s all about bending the blades of grass. You simply mow the grass, then use a roller to push the blades over. You can buy a roller or rent one from a hardware store. The best ones you fill with water, which means they are easier to manoeuvre when they’re empty.

Stay safe

Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) while mowing minimises your chances of injury. Let’s start at your feet and work our way up. Safety boots are best as there are no laces to catch on anything and they provide a good grip. For the best leg protection from flying debris, wear close-fitting, thick pants. A cool, long sleeve shirt will also protect your body and arms from debris, as well as the sun’s rays.

A face shield or safety glasses will keep your eyes out of harm’s way. A dust mask may also be required if conditions are very dry or if you’re mowing areas that have a lot of loose sand. Don’t forget your ears. Ear defenders or ear plugs will do a great job at blocking out your mower’s engine noise. Finally, protect your hands with gloves to avoid blisters and cuts. Gloves also provide a better grip on your mower.

Is it possible to install a new lawn during water restrictions?

Drought is spread across the country in many areas, with the agonising wait for rain growing each and every day. Local councils continue to increase water restriction levels, with many of these water restrictions impacting on home-owners ability to water their lawns.

Water Restrictions

Always check the relevant water restrictions in your area as these vary greatly around the country. Your water supplier will have all the necessary information on their website. Also, your local turf supplier should have helpful advice on the local conditions and ways to use and save water.

There are exemptions available for new lawns in some areas even in level 2 restrictions, so people shouldn’t be deterred when looking to install a new lawn as they can still easily install and establish during this time.

Freshly laid turf needs to be watered a couple of times a day, every day, for the first couple of weeks. Once your lawn sets root into the soil, it is starting to become established. You can test for this by trying to gently lift a corner of a roll or slab, if it doesn’t lift easily, the roots have set into the soil. This is a good thing as it means your lawn is growing well.

Once establishment is happening you can start to back off the watering, depending on the weather and the climate in your region.

Sydney Region

Level 2 water restrictions will be in place for everyone in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra as of the 10th of December. 

You can water new turf using:

A hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle for up to four weeks from the delivery date, following the watering plan below. This applies to areas of any size sprinklers and watering systems for up to four weeks from the delivery date, following the watering plan below. This only applies if you have a continuous area of new turf larger than 30m2.

Make sure you keep your receipt and any other order confirmation documentation as your proof of purchase.

Drought-proofing your lawn starts with establishment. New lawns will require regular watering during the establishment phase and the importance of allowing a concession for this time is paramount. These allowances save water in the long run. A well-watered newly installed lawn will develop deeper roots, providing far better drought tolerance in the future. What you use now, rather than a splash and dash method of watering, will save you hundreds of kilolitres in the future and can even diminish the necessity to water your lawn at all.

  • Water storage crystals are useful for new lawns. They can store up to 400 times their weight in water. The stored water is available to lawn roots after the water in the soil drains away or evaporates. Crystals can last in your lawn for a few years and make a great difference for lawn establishment. Just be sure to spread them out prior to laying turf.

Don’t let your new lawn dry out

You will need to keep your new lawn moist at all times. Watering 4 times a day in warm conditions is quite normal. An example schedule would be:

  • early morning
  • mid/late morning
  • late afternoon
  • early evening

You don’t need to flood your lawn, just be sure to keep the turf and immediate underlying soil moist. You must be systemic, ensuring you water all areas. Keep in mind that during hot conditions, especially if it is windy, the lawn will dry out very quickly and additional watering may be required. Your lawn will let you know if it is drying out by its appearance and behaviour. The leaf blades will start to curl, shrivel and dry out so you’ll know when it needs a drink.

Initial irrigation methods

Overhead irrigation

The best way to water is by overhead irrigation, in fact to establish a new lawn, overhead watering is the only way to go. Portable sprinklers attached to the end of a hose are cheap and efficient. Just move them around the lawn as required. A tap timer will ensure you don’t leave the water on for too long and wastewater. An in-ground, pop-up irrigation system takes this a step further. This can be connected by a manual tap timer, or a computer-controlled timer that is programmed to run as required. Hooking up a pop-up system to a rainwater tank or using recycled water is the most environmentally friendly and cost-effective method.

Grey Water

Grey water is the wastewater from washing machines, laundry tubs, baths, showers and wash basins. It does NOT include wastewater from the toilet, dishwasher or kitchen sink, as these can contain unwanted solids and potentially nasties. Grey water can be used on the garden and lawn by bucket or water re-use system. This is a good way to recycle your grey water, reduce pressure on grey water waste systems, save on valuable drinking water reserves as well as save money. If you want to use grey water be sure to use environmentally friendly, sustainable detergents that won’t harm your lawn. Before using grey water, it is best to check with your local Council for advice as there may be regulations regarding the use of grey water in your area.

Underground Water

If you live in sand belts such as Perth underground water can be tapped into a bore or a spear. Contact your local Council to see if underground water is available in your area.

On-going watering and creating a drought tolerant lawn

Once your lawn sets root into the soil, it is starting to become established. You can test for this by trying to gently lift a corner of a roll or slab, if it doesn’t lift easily, the roots have set into the soil. This is a good thing as it means your lawn is growing well. Once establishment is happening you can start to back off the watering depending on the weather and the climate in your region. The idea is to get to a point where you water less frequently but give the lawn a deep soaking when watering does occur.

This encourages deep root systems and ultimately a more self-sufficient and drought tolerant lawn. As the water drains through the soil, the roots seek the water out deeper in the soil rather than just hanging around near the surface, which is what will happen if you just give short, regular watering. Educate your lawn to go the distance.

Drought tolerance is one of the key characteristics of buffalo lawn, like Sir Walter. In many areas that receive fairly regular rain, you will almost never have to water a drought tolerant lawn at all, except during routine maintenance tasks like fertilising when you have to water the fertiliser in. During extended dry periods you may have to water your lawn more regularly to maintain a lush green look, but this is purely for cosmetic reasons.

Timing

The best time to water your garden is early morning or late in the afternoon/early evening, when there is no wind and less chance of water loss due to heat related evaporation. In humid areas, avoid late afternoon or early evening watering as this can increase the chance of fungal diseases. In these areas early morning is best.


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.

tiftuf - Lawn Solutions Australia


Lawn Solutions Australia - Jason Hodges



Prepare Your Lawn for the Summer Heat

What can I do to help my lawn survive the hot summer?

Warm season turf grass species commonly used in Australia need very little water to survive and are very hardy. They will lose colour, become brown and dry, with little to no leaf growth. However they will generally sit dormant until the next rain or irrigation event. In summer when temperatures are really high, grasses can 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.

You can help your lawn beat the summer heat by:

  • 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.
  • Water effectively – 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.
  • Apply a wetting Agent – Hydrophobic soil is caused by the decomposition of organic matter, which leaves a wax like substance forming a coating on soil particles. A wetting agent like Lawn Soaker will break down this coating allow water to penetrate.

lawn soaker

  • ColourGuard Plus – If your lawn has lost some colour and vigour from the heat, a good option is ColourGuard Plus. It’s a natural pigment with a liquid fertiliser. It’s a great solution during drought conditions to keep your grass green and to save water at the same time.

colourguard plus RTU

After long periods of dry weather, soils can become dehydrated and this is when the hydrophobic surface is exposed. This surface stops water from penetrating. A wetting agent like Lawn Soaker will help break down this surface tension and help water to soak in.

Mowing – The key to your lawn mowing in summer is to make sure you mow during the cooler time of the day and to mow regularly. You want to keep on top of the leaf growth, so you don’t remove too much at a time. Removing more than a third of the leaf at any one time, will cause stress to the grass roots.

mowing lawn summer

How much water does grass need?

Water is fundamental for grass to transport nutrients. It helps 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.

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.

water lawn sprinkler

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.


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.

tiftuf - Lawn Solutions Australia

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