September 2021 - Lawn Solutions Australia

Identifying Lawn Seed Heads

As each turf type has a different seed head, it can sometimes be difficult to know what a seed head is and what is a weed. In this blog, we look at what seed heads look like in different grass types, why they grow, and how to help stop them from growing.

They will usually only appear in lawns for a few weeks a year, usually when the temperatures are changing. Although they do have a tough feel underfoot, they won’t cause any damage to your lawn.

Buffalo 

Buffalo grass seed head

Buffalo seed heads will grow from the runner, also known as stolon. The seed head will be thicker with exposed seeds and will feel tough. They also have a very similar appearance to asparagus. They usually grow at the same height or just above your lawns leaf height.

Most buffalo seeds are sterile. This means that the grass cannot be spread by its seed.

Couch 

couch grass seed head

Couch seed heads too can be mistaken as weeds. They can be green to purple in colour and will grow on a stem above the grass level. At the top of the stem, there will be a cluster of spikes (usually two to six spikes) that hold the seeds. These spikes are around two to five cm long.

Most turf sold as a solid turf variety like TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda and Nullarbor Couch will produce a sterile seed head that cannot spread.

Kikuyu

kikuyu seedhead

Kikuyu’s grows pollen sacs that extend above the grass leaf on white filaments, and are often mistaken as a web. These filaments will grow in a cluster of 2-4 flower spikelets. Kikuyu seeds are produced within the leaf sheath, and are not visible.

Zoysia

Zoysia seed head

Zoysia seed heads will either be white or purple in colour. They will feel ‘tough’ to touch and will come from one stem with small flowers that hold the seeds.

Why has my lawn gone to seed?

Seed heads start to grow for 2 main reasons.

The first being a change in seasons. Seasonal changes can cause a bit of stress on the lawn. In most varieties this will occur once or twice a year.

The second is that your lawn is lacking something. This will usually be water or nutrients

How to help stop seed heads

If your lawn has gone to seed, in most cases the grass will stop producing seeds over the coming weeks. The best way to help stop your lawn from going to seed is through regular mowing, watering, and fertilising.

When mowing, only remove one third of the leaf blade off at once to help reduce plant stress. In the warmer months, you may be required to mow at least once a week depending on your climate and turf variety. Watering your lawn less frequently for longer is best. For fertilising, a slow-release granular fertiliser that has a good ratio of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium) like Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser is ideal to help encourage strong growth for a healthy lawn.

lawn fertiliser

A plant growth regulator (PGR) like Primo Maxx will limit your lawns vertical growth and can help reduce the number of seed heads that your lawn produces. Regular mowing, twice a week, and the use of a PGR at full rates will minimise the seed head from flowering.

pH test

If your lawns seed heads don’t go away after a few weeks after increasing watering, fertilising, regular mowing, and aerating, it is worth doing a soil pH test.

Water Saving Tips for the Lawn and Garden

Lawn Solutions Australia is proud be a sponsor of Water Night 2021, brought to you by the Smart Approved WaterMark. Click here to find out how to get involved.

As tonight is Water Night, we’ve put together a few water-saving tips you can use to help save water around the garden!

With the warmer weather well on the way, many of us will start to use more water for our lawns, gardens, and pools. By making sure we are smartly using water, your garden can still thrive, while reducing your water usage!

  • Only water your garden when it needs it

Regular rainfall is usually enough to meet your lawn and gardens water requirements. If there is an extended period without rainfall your lawn may need water. Your lawn will start to show signs that it needs water when the leaf curls up, is wilting, or losing colour. 

  • Water for longer less frequently

If your garden is needing water, water for longer less frequently. By watering your garden and lawn less frequently for longer, the roots of the plant will be encouraged to grow deeper into the soil base. This will help increase the drought tolerance of your lawn and plants.

grass sprinkler

  • Water early morning to prevent heat-related evaporation

The best time to water your lawn and garden is early morning when there is no wind and less chance of water loss due to heat-related evaporation. Watering in the mornings is also best to help stop fungal diseases from growing in your lawn and on your plants.

  • Rainwater tank

Rainwater tanks are a great way to save water. By having your tank collect water from the roof of your house you can have a handy supply of water to use in and around the garden or top up your pool or spa. These tanks can save the rainwater and is store it ready for you to use. There is a range of tank sizes available to suit all houses.

water tanks

  • Use leak-free hoses with a trigger hose nozzle

Make sure your hose is free from any leaks. A quick tightening of a loose hose connection is often the fix. If the hose or fitting is looking a bit worse for wear it might be time to invest in a new hose or connection. Trigger hose nozzles allow you to have complete control when watering. This helps you avoid spraying out water to surfaces like concrete and footpaths.

  • Choose hardy droughtproof plants

When looking at putting in new plants, look at plants that are well suited to your natural environment that won’t need much additional care once installed. This can help reduce the amount of watering your plants need.

For drought-resistant turf, you can’t look further than TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda. TifTuf has a superior drought tolerance compared to other turf varieties. It is the only variety to have the Smart Approved WaterMark. This grass can take root in less than 7 days during the growing season, reducing the amount of water needed during establishment. Once established, TifTuf can better withstand longer periods without water than other varieties.

greener environments

  • Mulch in garden beds to reduce evaporation

Did you know that mulch can reduce evaporation by up to 70%? Mulch also helps stop weeds from growing in your garden beds! Wood chips, pine milch and hard-bark mulch is best for stopping evaporation.

  • Use mats and covers for pools and spas

Pool mats and covers are great at helping reducing evaporation. Evaporation will usually occur early in the evening when the air cools down and the water is still warm. Simple leaf cover pool blankets can reduce around 40% of evaporation and thicker blankets can reduce evaporation from around 90%. These can help reduce the number of times throughout the year you need to top up the pool with water.

  • Make sure your sprinkler goes on your garden

When putting out a sprinkler in the garden, watch over the area to ensure the sprinkler is reaching where you want it to go and not out any concrete paths or on paved areas. This will help increase the amount of water your lawn and garden receive while stopping water from running off.

sprinkler

For more information on how you can participate in water night and water saving tips, click here.

Preventing a grub attack | Acelepryn

Armyworm, African Black Beetle larvae (lawn grubs), Cutworm, and other grubs can all quickly cause extensive damage to your lawn. But what if there was a way you could prevent these damage causing grubs from crawling throughout your lawn? Well, Grub Guard Ultimate Powered by Acelepryn is your answer!

Prevention is the best solution

Grubs will often target the healthiest looking lawn on the street as their next tasty meal. When lawns get attacked by grubs, they often will have already created extensive damage before being noticed. Following an attack, the lawn can take a few weeks or a few months to fully repair itself. Instead of going through the long process of nursing your lawn back to health, prevention is a far better solution.

What is Grub Guard Ultimate?

Grub Guard Ultimate Powered by Acelepryn is an insecticide that provides your lawn with 6 months of protection from grubs and caterpillars like Armyworm in one single application. Grub Guard Ultimate works by targeting a specific muscle receptor that is common with damaging causing insects. Other non-target organisms like bees, earthworms, birds, fish, and mammals don’t use the same muscle receptors, making it one of the safest insecticides on the market!

Grub Guard Ultimate
Acelepryn liquid
Acelepryn Liquid

When should you apply Grub Guard Ultimate?

As a general guide, Grub Guard Ultimate is best used in September/October and March/April to prevent a grub attack year round. One application of Grub Guard Ultimate will provide you with protection for up to 6 months. So, two applications per year will ensure your lawn is protected from grubs throughout the whole year.

How to apply Acelepryn based products?

For treating beetle larvae including African black beetle, Argentine Scarab, Argentine Stem Weevil larvae and Billbug Larvae, spread the granules evenly, 1-2kg per 100m2. We recommend using a calibrated spreader to ensure the granules are spread evenly to the lawn. You can also spread the granules by hand. After the granules have been spread out, give the granules a water in with a minimum of 3mm irrigation.

For Caterpillars including Cutworm, Armyworm, and Sod Worm, spread the granules evenly, 1kg per 100m2. Again, we recommend using a calibrated spreader for an even application. You can also spread the granules by hand. After application, delay mowing and watering for 24 hours. After 24 hours have passed, water the granules in.

Acelepryn Liquid

For treating Lawn Curl Grub (Beetle larvae including: African Black Beetle larvae Argentinian Scarab larvae), Argentine Stem Weevil larvae and Billbug larvae, you can apply through a garden sprayer or watering can. For a garden sprayer use 8 – 15 mL per 5-10 L of water per 100 m2. Wheh applying with a watering can, mix 1.5 mL in 9 L of water and evenly apply to 10 m2. Apply the higher rate for up to 6 months residual protection, cases of high pest pressure, and late in season when mature grubs are present. Lightly water in immediately after application when applying by garden sprayer.

For treating Caterpillars including Lawn Armyworm, Black Cutworm, and Sod Webworm, apply through a garden sprayer. Use 8 mL per 5-10 L of water per 100 m2. To ensure optimum control, delay watering or mowing for 24 hours after application.

spreading fertiliser

Common signs of grubs

When grubs are present in your lawn, they will eat through your lawn’s roots. As the turf can then no longer absorb nutrients, the grass will become dry and straw like. When there is an infestation, large areas of the lawn will be affected quickly.

Lawn Grubs
Black Beetle Larvae

How do I know if my lawn has grubs?

If you think your lawn may already have grubs, it is best to do a quick lawn grub test. To do this, mix a bucket of soapy water and pour it over the edge of an affected area. Keep an eye on it and after about 10 minutes or so, usually if there are grubs there, they will come to the surface. This is best done at dawn or dusk when grubs are most active.

Grub test

What to do if you already have grubs?

If your lawn already has a grub infestation, it is best to act quickly to help prevent further damage. Delaying treatment can cause a substantial amount of damage as the grubs will move fast along the lawn while laying eggs and increasing in numbers.

After you have identified there is an infestation, we recommend using a fast-acting product for a quick knockdown. We recommend using Battle Insecticide to get the job done quickly. When using insecticides, it is always best to check the label for application and safety instructions.

The best time to apply the treatment is in the late afternoon/dusk when the lawn grubs are most likely to be active. To ensure you have treated the full lifecycle of the grubs, apply a second treatment in 2 weeks. This will help ensure that any eggs that may be in the lawn have been treated, avoiding a second attack. If you do still see these grubs after this, reapply every 2 weeks until they are gone.

Grub Treat and Protect Bundle

Protect your lawn from lawn pests with this one-two punch to treat an existing infestation and to protect your lawn for up to 6 months. If you have noticed damage to your lawn caused by black beetle larvae or Army worm, this bundle provides Battle Insecticide for a fast knock-down treatment, along with Grub Guard Ultimate – the best product on the market for lawn pest prevention in lawns.

grub treatment bundle

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For more information on lawn grubs and pests, check out our other blogs here.

How to lay a new lawn in spring

Spring is one of the best times throughout the year to lay a new lawn! The temperatures are just right and the lawn will be actively growing for a quicker establishment. In this blog, we will look at why you should lay a new lawn now and how to do it!

Why lay a new lawn in spring?

  • Less irrigation is required as temperatures are not too hot, reducing the amount of heat related evaporation.
  • Instal turf now for an established lawn for summer.
  • The lawn will be actively growing, helping your turf establish a deep root system ready for summer.

Measuring out how much turf is needed

When measuring out an area for turf, it is best to sketch out the area first. With your sketch, then break up the area into basic shapes, then measure and record your measurements. You can then calculate the amount of turf needed by using our online calculator. We recommend adding an extra 5% to factor in cutting the turf into odd shapes around your lawn.

measure lawn

Soil preparation

The first step when preparing your soil is to remove any existing vegetation. We recommend using a non-selective herbicide containing glyphosate such as Roundup or Zero. After applying this it can take a few days to take effect. Then give the area a low mow over to remove the dead plant material. Follow up with a repeat application of glyphosate. With some lawns, you may need to 3-4 repeat applications of glyphosate to fully remove all the vegetation. On your final application, hoe and turn over the existing base to de-compact the soil profile.

For most turf varieties, a 100ml underlay of sandy loam (80% sand, 20% loam) is recommended. Before you do start to lay your lawn, level out the soil underlay with a rake or a lawn leveller.

The thickness of the turf also needs to be considered, especially if you are wanting your lawn to sit flush with concrete or another surface. Turf will usually be cut 30-40mm thick, so you will need to leave this much space for the turf. For more specific information on how thick your turf will be cut at, it is best to have a chat with your local turf supplier.

soil test

Laying turf

After your turf arrives, it is best to start laying it down as soon as possible to prevent it from drying out. If you are installing your turf on a hot day, we recommend that you water each section as soon as it is laid to avoid it drying out.

Lawn starter fertilisers like Lawn Launcher can be spread out onto the soil before the new turf is laid to help give the lawn an extra boost.

*When installing TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda in spring and summer we don’t recommend using a starter fertiliser as it is a fast-growing grass.

lawn launcher

Start off laying the turf furthest away from your exit to avoid walking over the freshly laid turf. Lay the lawn in a brickwork pattern with the edges butted up against each other while ensuring the roll has good contact with the soil underneath.

If you need to cut turf to fit around trees and corners, use either a spade or shears. With the excess pieces, do not throw them away until the whole area has been covered.

After the lawn is laid, give it a good water.

laying turf

Aftercare

For the first few weeks, the most important thing to look out for is the roots drying out. Keep the roots of the lawn damp and not waterlogged or dry. If you are unsure how often you should water a new lawn, dunk a tea towel into water when you water your lawn and hang it on the line when you are done. When the tea towel is dry again it’s time to water your lawn!

After the lawn is fully established, it is best to only water the lawn as it needs. Watering in the morning for longer around 30 minutes less frequently will help encourage your lawn to grow down further into the soil profile.

Your new lawn should be ready for its first mow once the roots of the grass grow down into the soil profile. To see if it is ready, try to lift the corner of a roll of turf from the ground. If you can’t lift the roll from the ground, it is ready to mow. With your first mow, raise the height of the mower on a slightly higher setting than what you would normally mow at. Over the next few mows then slowly bring the height back down.

Once the lawn has been down for 6 weeks, it should be ready for its first feed. We recommend using a slow release granular fertiliser like our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser.

best lawn fertiliser

Water Night 2021

Lawn Solutions Australia is proud be a sponsor of Water Night 2021, brought to you by the Smart Approved WaterMark.

Thursday 21 October 2021 | 12pm – 12am

No taps. One night only.
Improve your water mindfulness

 

smart approved watermark

 

Did you know that TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is the first and only turf grass to be awarded the Smart Approved WaterMark? For more information on this incredible water efficient grass, click here.

bunnings turf

Do you know how many times a day you reach for your taps? Well, Water Night is the perfect opportunity for you to find out.

Will you take the Water Night Challenge?

See if your household can avoid using taps and survive without running water from 12pm to 12am on Thursday 21 October, 2021 during National Water Week.

Register for Water Night 2021 today!

Here’s some fun resources to help get the whole family involved!

maze LSA

tap guardian LSA_Part1

tap guardian LSA_Part2

findaword LSA

brake bracelet LSA

colouring LSA_Part4

colouring LSA_Part3

colouring LSA_Part2

Turf Talk – Sept 2021

Turf Talk Digital

 

TurfTalk is suitable for all turf professionals, from turf growers to landscapers, golf courses and sports ground curators, to government and related industry organisations.

TurfTalk is here to share with you the latest information on the turf industry, the exciting developments in turf research and to keep you up to date with everything you need to know about turf.

Some topics in this issue include:

  • The Turf of Tokyo 2020
  • Queensland Country Bank Stadium
  • The History of ‘Tif’ton Turf
  • ASTMA Conference 2021
  • North QLD Turf Trials

Click here to download a pdf copy.

For any enquiries, submissions or to subscribe to either our digital edition or mailing list to receive a hard copy, please contact us at the following:

Phone – 1300 883 711

Email – [email protected]

 

 

Talking Turf with Jason Hodges

Talking Turf with Jason Hodges – Welcome to Spring!

Live on Friday 17th September at 3.30pm AEST | EVENT NOW OVER

Facebook Live Educational session on all things turf and landscaping with Lawn Solutions Australia and Jason Hodges.

– Tips on how to get your lawn looking great now that the warmer weather is here

– What lawn variety is best for your area

– Key turf management tips over the next few months

– Some advice from Jason on your plants and gardens as well

– Q&A to ask Jason whatever you wish!

Watch the video of the event below…

Make sure it’s Genuine Sir Walter DNA Certified

Sir Walter DNA Certified is Exclusively available from Lawn Solutions Australia

Sir Walter DNA Certified buffalo grass is exclusively available from Lawn Solutions Australia. This means that only Lawn Solutions Australia accredited turf suppliers grow and supply Sir Walter DNA Certified.

sir walter dna certified

Anyone selling something that is called ‘Sir Walter’ that isn’t accredited by Lawn Solutions Australia, quite literally could be selling anything. There are no protections in place to stop them selling any old buffalo (or any grass at all for that matter, even kikuyu!) and calling it Sir Walter. Which is what many non-accredited turf suppliers have been doing. Buffalo grasses can all look very similar, so it is almost impossible to know for certain that the grass that is supplied, is what they say it is…

That is unless you contact a Lawn Solutions Australia accredited supplier.

These suppliers are the best of the best. All Lawn Solutions Australia members submit samples of their turf for testing. These samples are tested alongside the original Sir Walter plant that has been kept pure without modification or off types at the home of Sir Walter, where it was originally bred over 20 years ago. This testing and accreditation provide these growers of Sir Walter with DNA Certification and an Original Breeder Guarantee.

sir walter dna certified

The Sir Walter DNA Certified turf you buy has this guarantee – it’s the real deal. Sir Walter from anyone without this, is not DNA Certified against the original and cannot provide a breeder guarantee. It also doesn’t come with a 10-year turf product warranty like you get with Sir Walter DNA Certified.

Along with the DNA certification of Sir Walter, all Lawn Solutions Australia growers produce their turf under the only national turf accreditation program in Australia, AusGAP. AusGAP certification guarantees that your DNA Certified Sir Walter is produced under the strictest quality standards and will perform as intended.

If your supplier is not listed on www.lawnsolutionsaustralia.com.au, then they are not Sir Walter DNA Certified and Breeder Guaranteed suppliers and Lawn Solutions Australia cannot guarantee the product you receive.

To help you identify real Sir Walter DNA Certified from imitators, look for both the Sir Walter DNA Certified logo and Original Breeder Guarantee logo. These logos are registered trademarks and can only be used by accredited suppliers. If a supplier doesn’t have these exact logos, they don’t have Sir Walter DNA Certified.

 

sir walter dna certified

 

How do you know it’s genuine Sir Walter?

To ensure you are purchasing DNA Certified Sir Walter, always:

  • Be sure you are purchasing from a Lawn Solutions Australia member or accredited Lawn Solutions Centre
  • Look for the Sir Walter DNA Certified logo and Original Breeder Guarantee logo
  • Be sure to check you have received a copy of Lawn Solutions Australia’s 10-year product warranty certificate with your order

 

Is a Rotary Mower Right for You?

Are you in the process of buying a new mower and not sure where to start looking? We’ve put together an overview of different types of rotary mowers plus a few mowing tips to help you get started…

Rotary mowers are one of the top choices for mowing Aussie backyards. There are quite a few different options including self-propelled, mulching mowers, battery powered mowers, and robot mowers. With so many options available it can be hard to know what choice is right for you.

How do rotary mowers work?

Firstly, let’s look at how rotary mowers cut grass. Rotary mowers have a cutting deck with rotating blades on a singular vertical pivot point. The size of your cutting deck will determine how much grass is cut with each pass. The typical mowing deck is usually around 40 – 55 cm in diameter.

Rotary mowers will usually have 2 blades but sometimes more. Over time, like any blade, it can become blunt, so you will need to either sharpen or replace your blades every so often. Rotary mowers will work best when cutting at a medium height.

lawn mower

Rotary mowing tips

  • Keep your mowing blades sharp
  • Keep a consistent pace when mowing
  • Only remove one third of the leaf blade with each mow
  • Mow in different directions
  • Only mow when the lawn is dry
  • Mow your lawn regularly

Size of your lawn

When choosing a new mower, it is important to consider the size of the area that you are wanting to cut. For smaller areas you can get away with a smaller mowing deck and a heavier mower. For medium to large backyards, you will want to look for a larger mowing deck and possibly self-propelled to help get the job done faster with less effort.

So, let’s look at a few different mower options.

Mulching mower

Mulching mowers will cut grass clippings into small and fine pieces. These clippings will fall onto the grass and can be left to decompose. These clippings can hold nitrogen and can reduce the amount of fertiliser your lawn needs.

When using mulching mowers, it is best to ensure you are mowing frequently to ensure the clippings stay small. Only mowing when the lawn is dry will help prevent clumps of damp clippings sitting on your lawn.

There are a variety of mulching mowers available on the market. There are a few popular mulching mowers from the Honda and Victa mower range.

Self-propelled mowers

Self-propelled mowers have a drive system that allows the mower to move forward when a trigger is squeezed. This means the mower will move itself and you will simply need to steer it in the right direction. This can be particularly helpful when mowing up hill, if you have a larger area to mow or are simply wanting to make cutting your lawn a bit easier.

The Honda and Toro mower range has a few popular self-propelled options.

Battery powered mowers

Battery powered mowers are an eco-friendly option when it comes to mowing. With these mowers you will simply need to charge them before mowing. These mowers are also popular as you don’t need to pull starting cable to turn the mower on; most battery powered mowers will come with a simple push start button.

Popular options when looking at battery powered mowers are Victa and Bosch.

Robot mowers

One of the newer mowing options to hit the market is the robot mower. Robot mowers work similarly to robot vacuums. These mowers will work within a parameter set by you. These mowers will also have a charging station. The mower will automatically return to the charging station once the lawn is cut or if it is battery is low. There are a few different options on the market. Some can be controlled by your phone; some can mow up steep inclines while delivering excellent cutting results.

The Husqvarna Automower range is a popular option when looking at robot mowers. They have a great range available to suit all lawn sizes. You can find more information on the Automower range here.

For more information on lawn mowing, check out our other blogs here.

Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser

What is the best lawn fertiliser?

Premium Slow-Release Granular Lawn Fertiliser

Packed with both fast and slow-release granules with essential nutrients and trace elements to encourage strong growth and rich colour. Ideal for Sir Walter DNA Certified, TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda, Sir Grange Zoysia, Eureka Kikuyu, and all other lawn types. Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser is an ideal lawn fertiliser for home lawns, sports fields, and golf courses.

The combination of both fast and slow-release granules provides an initial boost soon after the fertiliser is applied and will continue to release nutrients to the lawn for up to 12 weeks after application. This will aid in a sustained growth pattern for a better lawn. Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser is conveniently available in both a 4kg & 10kg bucket.

Key Strengths

  • Lawn fertiliser suitable for use on all lawn varieties
  • Perfect for use on new and established lawns
  • Provides your lawn with a sustained boost to improve the overall health of your lawn
  • Has a careful balance of NPK to provide health and colour

lawn fertiliser

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Lawn Fertiliser NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium)

16-0.7-4

  • Nitrogen (N) 16%
  • Phosphorus (P) 0.7%
  • Potassium (K) 4%
  • Sulphur (S) 20%
  • Calcium (Ca) 1.5%
  • Iron (Fe) 2%

The careful balanced ratio of NPK will provide health and colour to your lawn.

Coverage

Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser has been designed to provide the best results when applied at a rate of 20 to 25 grams per square metre. To calculate your coverage, simply multiply your lawn area (m2) by this rate (20 to 25g).

Directions for use

  • Apply evenly over lawn surface using the above rate with a spreader or apply by hand
  • If applying by hand, a handful of fertiliser should approximately cover 2 metres squared. Use a smooth motion when spreading by hand
  • Walk across the area in a ‘criss-cross’ pattern whilst spreading to obtain an even distribution
  • Water in well immediately following application to avoid burning

Quick Tips

  • For best results apply at least three times per year during spring, summer, and autumn
  • Can be used at six-week intervals
  • Avoid applying to new lawns until after mowing first
  • Water in well after application
  • Avoid using when the temperature is expected to exceed 30 degrees Celsius

Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser Product Brochure

With a combination of both liquid and granular fertiliser applications throughout the year, your lawn will have everything it needs for healthy leaf growth and root development.

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For specific information for your turf variety and climate, contact your local Lawn Solutions Australia turf supplier.