December 2022 - Lawn Solutions Australia

Summer Lawn ‘Style’ Tips

The first rule when it comes to being a stylish ‘lawnie’ this summer is… well there are no rules. If you want to rock your budgies with crocs and a classy party shirt from your friends ‘at Lowes’, be our guest. The lawn is your domain.

In this blog, we share some style tips to guide your unique style without restricting you to a list of rules. Because when it comes to lawn style, a deviation is not only recommended, it’s celebrated.

A quick safety note: Safety always takes precedence over style. Enjoy your lawn in any attire your heart desires, but when it comes to mowing or maintenance, make sure you always wear the appropriate protective clothing or equipment.

Not everyone is brave enough to rock a mullet. But for those that are, mullets are back in vogue and for some of you, they never left. Nothing screams a day out on the grass more than the Aussie mullet. Short at the front, long and wild at the back. Just like your lawn, sometimes a nice, neat trim at the front is perfect for street appeal and a bit of length or ruggedness out the back that says ‘hey I like to party too’ can provide the ying to your yang.

Headwear

If you can’t wrap your head around a mullet, then a hat of your preference is also acceptable and may even be strongly recommended if the sun is at full blast.

Here are some iconic headwear options:

aussie hat
Cork Hat  
Terry towel hat
Terry towel hat
Legionnaires (Flap) hat
Legionnaires (Flap) hat
Bunnings Hat
Bunnings Hat

Footwear

Thongs, no shoes at all, some fresh or old New Balances that would make your father proud. All are acceptable when out on the lawn. If mowing or undertaking maintenance, refer to the safety message above.

Here are some iconic footwear options:

New Balance 452
New Balance 452
Grass Thongs
Grass Thongs
Thongs with bottle opener
Thongs with bottle opener
Bare foot
Bare foot

Eyewear

Sunnies can make your lawn style but will never break it. All options will provide a bit of flavour and are as important to your signature style as they are to actual eye protection.

Here’s some iconic eyewear options:

Aviators
Aviators
Pit Vipers or Speed Dealers
Pit Vipers or Speed Dealers
Skate/Surf brand of your choice
Skate/Surf brand of your choice
Ray Bans
Ray Bans

The Rig:

Unless you’re an exhibitionist, you are likely to be rocking a particular outfit on the rig. Comfort tends to take precedence over style in this department, you’re here to relax and be free with your lawn. Wear as little or as much as you like, but confidence is key.

Here’s some iconic options for the rig:

Footy shorts
Footy shorts
Budgy Smugglers
Budgy Smugglers
The Lowes special party shirt
The Lowes special party shirt
Bintang Singlet
Bintang Singlet
Blue Singo/Chesty Bond
Blue Singo/Chesty Bond
Flanno (Cold summer?)
Flanno (Cold summer?)

Accessories:

Now that you have your lawn style sorted, you just need to chuck in a couple of accessories to ensure your thirst is quenched and you are ready to get out on the grass.

Lawn Solutions Grass Stubby Holder
Lawn Solutions Grass Stubby Holder
Mower Mate Stubby Holder
Mower Mate Stubby Holder

For the ultimate style accessory this Summer, it’s got to be a new TifTuf lawn!

Enjoy your lawns!

Which Lawn Trends Are Worth the Hype?

If you are in the lawn care community, you may have heard of different product types and wondered if they are all there are talked up to be. In this blog, we look at a few popular lawn care trends and assess if they are worth the hype surrounding them.

Plant Growth Regulators (PGR’s)

Plant growth regulators will suppress your lawns vertical growth and increase the lawns lateral growth. This helps the grass to become denser while reducing the number of times you need to mow. This product is used throughout the warmer months when the grass is actively growing to help reduce mowing.

plant growth regulator

PGRs are only recommended for use in the warmer months and should be avoided in winter. As PGRs are more of a commercial-style product, you will need to calibrate your sprayer for application. Check out our blog here for more information on how to calibrate your sprayer.

If you struggle to keep up with regular mows in the warmer months or want to take your lawn to another level, PGRs are a great option. We recommend using PGR Primo Maxx.

primo maxx

Pre-emergent Herbicides

Pre-emergent herbicides will stop stubborn weeds before they appear in your lawn. They work by creating a barrier at the soil level, stopping any new weed seedlings in their tracks. They are ideal for controlling seasonal weeds like Winter Grass, Summer Grass, Crab Grass, and Creeping Oxalis. However, one thing to note – is that pre-emergents won’t treat weeds that are present in your lawn but will prevent further seasonal weeds from growing.

pre-emergent

Pre-emergents are perfect to use if you want to help prevent weed invasions in your lawn. We recommend using pre-emergent Oxafert.

oxafert

Battery Powered Fertiliser Spreaders

Battery-powered spreaders are another great popular lawn care trend. They will assist in spreading out granular lawn care products across your lawn, ensuring you have even product coverage. The advantage of battery-powered spreaders over manual handheld spreaders is that you don’t need to turn the handle to disperse the product, which may cause hand cramps over a larger area. When using a battery spreader, you will also be able to cover your area quicker than with a manual handheld spreader.

If you have a larger area size, battery spreaders like the Ryobi One+ fertiliser Spreader and the Ozito PXC 18V Fertiliser Spreader are ideal (batteries sold separately). However, a manual handheld spreader will still do an adequate job if you only have a small area.

Liquid Fertilisers

Liquid fertilisers can provide a quick boost of nutrients to your lawn. They do this as the leaves and roots of your grass absorb the fertiliser. However, when using liquid fertilisers you will need to apply them more frequently for results over a longer period.

Liquid fertilisers are ideal for lawns that are already in shape but are looking for a quick boost. For liquid fertilising, we recommend using Exceed Liquid Fertiliser.

exceed liquid fertiliser

If your lawn is in poor shape and you are wanting to help give the lawn a sustained boost over a longer period of time, we recommend using a granular fertiliser, like Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser.

lawn fertiliser

Ozito Cylinder Mower

If you are following any lawn care pages, you have probably seen the hype around this mower. The steel cylinder blades can provide a clean and precise cut like the bigger, much more pricey cylinder mowers on the market. The Ozito mowers adjustable cutting height is between 14-38mm, cutting a bit higher than larger cylinder mowers. The Ozito Cylinder Mower is battery-powered. Please note you do need to buy the rechargeable battery separately. This battery is also compatible with many other Ozito home and garden tools.

For its price point, it is a great alternative from the bigger cylinder mowers. It can provide a much cleaner cut than other rotary mowers around the same price point. It is easy to use, manoeuvre, clean, and store. Although the roller attached can be a bit light, we have seen a few people adding a steel roller attachment allowing for better stripes.

ozito cylinder mower

How to Stop Scalping While Mowing

Have you noticed patches appearing on your lawn from scalping after you have given your lawn a mow? In this blog, we look at why this occurs and how to avoid scalping your lawn when mowing.

Determine Why Your Lawn is Scalping

The first step is to determine why scalping is occurring. Scalping occurs when a lawn is mown too short. When too much of the leaf is removed, it will cause the grass to look brown in patches.

Here are some reasons why scalping might be occurring on your lawn.

  • Has the lawn been growing too long in between mows?
  • Are your lawns levels uneven? Are there high and low sections of the lawn?
  • Does your lawn have an accumulation of thatch?

How to Reset the Height of Your Lawn

If scalping occurs from your lawn growing too long in between mows or an accumulation of thatch it is best to reset the height if your grass.

To do this, give the lawn a low mow a notch or two below your normal/preferred mowing height. If your lawn has an accumulation of thatch, you may need to bring down the mower a few more notches to allow it to reach down into the thatch layer. (When lowering the mowing height on Buffalo it is best to ensure you are not mowing too low and cutting into the runner). After you mow the lawn, it won’t look great at first, but it will be able to recover over the coming weeks. During this recovery period, it is best to ensure you keep water up to the lawn. Raise your mower back up to your preferred mowing height on your next mow. This process is best done while the lawn is actively growing throughout the warmer months and should be avoided in the cooler months while your lawn is growing at a slower rate.

After this, you will need to ensure you are frequently mowing to help avoid scalping the lawn again. As a rule of thumb, mow your lawn frequently enough so that only one-third of the leaf is removed with each pass. This means you will need to mow more frequently in warmer months as the grass grows faster. Conversely, you won’t need to cut as often in the cooler months as the grass will grow slower.

dethatching

How to Fix Your Lawns Levels

If scalping occurs from mowing over high spots in your lawn, you can add soil/sand to amend the lawn levels. This process is known as top dressing. When top dressing to improve levels, we recommend using sand. Something like washed plasterers’ sand or washed river sand is ideal.

When top dressing, it is best to give the lawn a low mow beforehand to ensure the top-dressing material will reach the soil profile. Best to also ensure at most 5-10 mm thickness is applied at one time. The sand should be rubbed in evenly using a lawn-leveller bar or the back of a rake to work the sand into the profile.

Check out our blog here for more information on applying a top dressing here.

top dress

Other Mowing Tips 

Now you are fully equipped to help stop scalping from occurring. We have a few final tips to ensure you will get the best cut when mowing.

  • Ensure your mower has sharp mower blades.
  • Mow when the lawn is dry, and try to avoid mowing when the lawn is wet.
  • Mow at the same length and keep it consistent.
  • Switch mowing directions.
  • Mow in the mornings or afternoons. Avoid mowing in the middle of the day.
  • Keep at a constant pace.

New Year’s Resolution for a Better Lawn

With the new year comes many new year resolutions. If improving your lawn is on your list, we’ve put together a guide on what lawn care activities will see the best results to help get you on the right track.

Getting Your Soil Right

By ensuring your lawn’s soil base is in good shape, your grass will be able to establish its roots deeply and have access to nutrients required to stay healthy.

What pH Should My Lawn Be?

If your lawn has been struggling for a while, it is worth doing a soil pH test. Your lawn’s soil should be between 6 to 7.5. If your pH is out of this range, check out our blog here for how to amend it.

ph testing for lawns

When Should I Apply a Wetting Agent?

Over the last 12 months, most regions of Australia have experienced high rainfall. When excess rain is experienced, it can cause the soil to leach nutrients from the top layer of the soil. This can cause our lawns to dry out and compact very quickly.

To amend this, it is best to apply a wetting agent to help your lawn absorb water better and aerate the soil. We recommend using the wetting agent Lawn Soaker to help treat a water-repellent soil.

lawn soaker

When Should I Aerate My Lawn?

Aerating your lawn will help decompact the soil profile to allow the roots of the grass better receive air, water, and nutrients. Decompacting the profile will also aid in treating a hydrophobic lawn that struggles to drain away water. In addition, it will help make your lawn healthier by strengthening its roots. Aeration is also an important task to carry out if your area has frequent foot traffic from kids or pets.

Aeration can be carried out using a garden fork or tyne aerator over a small area. However, if you have a larger lawn, you may want to hire a motorised aerator to help you cover the area faster.

Check out our page for more information on aerating here.

aerating

How to Remove Weeds from a Lawn

After getting your lawn soil on the right track, it is best to get on top of any weeds. When removing weeds, you will need to use a herbicide that will target what you have growing.

For common broadleaf weeds like Clover, Bindii, Oxalis, Cudweed, and other broadleaf weeds, we recommend using a broadleaf herbicide like All Purpose Weed Control or Amgrow Bin Die. These herbicides are safe for common lawn varieties, including Buffalo, Couch, Zoysia, and Kikuyu.

all purpose weed control

Check out our blog here for more information on removing other common weeds from your lawn.

If you are looking for a preventative herbicide to help stop weeds before they grow, we recommend using Oxafert. Oxafert will prevent seasonal weeds, including Summer Grass, Crab Grass, Winter Grass, and Creeping Oxalis.

oxafert

When Should I Apply a Fertiliser?

Once weeds have been removed, we recommend applying fertiliser to help give the lawn a boost in nutrients. When looking at fertilisers, it is best to use a well-rounded NPK fertiliser that contains all the nutrients your lawn will need to thrive.

If your grass is in need of repair, it is best to use a granular fertiliser that will slowly release nutrients to the grass rather than a short boost. This will feed the lawn over a longer period for a sustained boost. When looking at granular fertilisers we recommend using our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser. It is best to use this fertiliser around three times a year, once in spring, summer, and autumn. We recommend using the October long weekend, Australia Day, and Easter as a general guide on when to apply it.

lawn fertiliser

If you want to give the grass a further boost in between fertiliser applications, we recommend applying a soil conditioner. A soil conditioner like our Lawn Kelper will promote root and shoot growth, helping improve turf vigour and strength.

lawn kelperlawn kelper hose on

How Regularly Should I Mow My Lawn?

Some love it, and some hate it, but with regular mowing your lawn will look and perform well. By mowing regularly throughout the year, you will help allow for consistent nutrients within the grass and will help reduce additional stress to the lawn caused by removing too much of the leaf.

When mowing, it is best to ensure you are cutting regularly enough so that only one-third of the leaf is removed with each pass. This means you will need to mow more frequently in warmer months as the grass grows faster. Conversely, you won’t need to cut as often in the cooler months as the grass will grow slower.

mowing height

Lawn Loving Gurus Combine

Celebrating TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda with Jason Hodges, Charlie Albone and Nigel Ruck

Three of the most respected lawn-loving, landscaping gurus that Australian television has produced combine to celebrate a very special lawn variety.

What is it you ask? ‘It’s TifTuf!’

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda has been taking the lawn and turf industry by storm in recent years. This grass has some exceptional qualities that make it unlike any other grass available on the market today.

Lawn Solutions Australia (LSA) is the exclusive supply network for TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda in Australia. LSA has experienced a wave of excitement for TifTuf and wanted to reflect on the day-to-day interactions that TifTuf lawn owners have been experiencing right across Australia.

To do this, LSA brought together the best of the best in the lawn and landscaping world, current brand ambassadors Jason Hodges and Charlie Albone, plus former ambassador for Sir Walter (another hugely successful LSA turf variety), Nigel Ruck. Jason and Charlie are currently proud ambassadors for LSA, working together to share their support and love for turf.

tiftuf tv commercial

Jason, Charlie and Nigel all have very successful businesses and tv careers and have joined together to celebrate their shared excitement for TifTuf. Plus, it was a good excuse for three good mates to catch up!

The result is a great new TV ad that shares a few lawn gurus commenting on how incredible ‘Hodgeys’ lawn is looking. What is it you ask? Just ask Hodgey. If you’re still not sure (yes we know we told you already), there are quite a few hints in the new commercial to look out for.

“It’s TifTuf!”

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda (couch) is an incredibly hard-wearing and drought-tolerant grass variety. Known as ‘The Smart Grass’ due to its formal recognition for its water efficiency – The Smart Approved WaterMark. TifTuf is the only grass to be awarded the Smart Approved WaterMark in Australia or anywhere in the world.

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is leading the way in innovation, and performance, plus it looks incredible.

Jason Hodges

Jason Hodges has worked on some of the biggest gardening tv programs Australia has produced and is a fan favourite for many. Jason is currently very busy with his highly successful Buxus business, Buxus Balls of Berry. Jason supplies his Buxus to the best landscapers right across the country, with business absolutely booming in recent years. Jason is also heavily involved with a number of hugely popular gardening brands and is the leading role in the new TifTuf commercial.

tiftuf jason hodges

Charlie Albone

Charlie Albone has a very successful landscape design business called Inspired Exteriors. Like Jason, Charlie has worked on two very popular tv programs, starting out on Selling Houses Australia and now Better Homes and Gardens.

charlie albone tiftuf

Nigel Ruck

Nigel Ruck got his start on Backyard Blitz which was one of the most watched tv programs of its time. Nigel too has a very successful landscaping business that he has operated for many years, Greenology. Nigel is currently a host on the Garden Gurus tv program on ABC and LSA is very excited to catch up with Nigel after working together for many years with Sir Walter.

Nigel Ruck TifTuf

Now that’s a special lawn guru line-up!

Watch it below!

For more information on this special collaboration or TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda, please get in touch with us here at Lawn Solutions Australia.

What is the Best Couch Grass?

The best couch grass in Australia is TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda (Couch).

tiftuf hybrid bemuda

TifTuf has proven itself as the best performer in independent trials both here in Australia and in the US compared to other couch grasses.

  • Best Winter Colour
  • Best Drought Tolerance
  • Best Strength and Density
  • Best Turf Quality

In Australia, the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) conducted a trial evaluating the “Performance of bermuda (couch) grass cultivars under different shade, irrigation and wear treatments”. The Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) conducts world-leading testing and research for developing innovative techniques and products to improve turfgrass and sports surfaces.

STRI Logo

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda was a clear stand-out performer in this trial outperforming all other available couch grasses.

tiftuf trial results

TifTuf was also the best performing couch grass in US turf trials called the NTEP (National Turf Evaluation Program). TifTuf led from the front and was in the top 25% of grasses across all states and measures trialled, over 92.9% of the time.

tiftuf in ntep

Which couch grass is the most drought-tolerant?

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is the world’s leading turf grass for superior water efficiency and drought tolerance. The only grass in Australia or the world to be awarded the Smart Approved WaterMark for drought tolerance is TifTuf.

the smart approved water mark

TifTuf was bred to be drought tolerant and save water. With TifTuf becoming the new benchmark when it comes to measuring the drought tolerance of turf. Read drought trial results here.

tiftuf drought tolerancegrass comparison

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What is the most hard-wearing couch grass?

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is the most hard-wearing and has incredible recovery and self-repairing qualities. When subjected to a range of trials under different shade, irrigation and wear treatments, TifTuf was the best-performing turf grass trialled.

tiftuf wear tolerance trial

tiftuf couch trials

What grass do they use on sports fields in Australia?

Most elite sporting surfaces in Australia are couch grass surfaces. Hybrid couch (Bermuda) grasses in recent years show superior qualities and are the go-to surface for installation on new and improved sporting turf facilities. For sports fields looking to install the best grass for their facilities, the best couch grass is TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda.

tiftuf grass
TifTuf at Redcliffe Dolphins Stadium

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is the product of almost 25 years of research and development from one of the world’s leading turfgrass breeders, the University of Georgia in Tifton. Tifton is famous for grasses like Tif Eagle, Tif Sport and now TifTuf.

Brighton Homes Arena TifTuf
TifTuf at Brighton Homes Arena

Out of tens of thousands of couch grasses, TifTuf was selected as the best performing and most drought-tolerant turf trialled.

There are new couch grasses that have entered the Australian market in recent years. But new grasses do not mean better. TifTuf also outperformed these grasses in the extensive trials conducted throughout the US National Turf Evaluation program and during trials here in Australia.

What grass has the best winter colour?

tiftuf winter colour
TifTuf features in the first and third plots in this image.

In the image above there are two different couch grass varieties, both subjected to the same difficult conditions. The first plot on the left and the third plot, are both TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda. This photo was taken on the winter solstice, the shortest daylight hours of the year, when sunlight is limited and temperatures are low.

TifTuf has been shining in all trials for winter colour. We have seen this domestically, commercially and in Australian trials. The data from the US National Turf Evaluation Program replicated this as well with TifTuf (and Tifway) leading the way.

winter colour tiftuf

australia's best couch grass

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is available exclusively through Lawn Solutions Australia.

Contact your accredited Lawn Solutions Australia turf supplier now to find out how quickly you can enjoy a brand new TifTuf lawn.

Get turf price quotes from up to 3 local suppliers for turf, delivery and/or installation via email. Submit a quote request here.

Our Favourite Christmas Decorations

Christmas spirit is in the air! It’s time to take out your Christmas decorations and set up your tree! We look at decorating and lighting options to help you and your home get ready this Christmas.

Inflatable Christmas Decorations

Inflatable Christmas decorations are a crowd favourite when decorating outside your home! They are big enough that you can see them when driving past and are a great staple to build your Christmas display around!

Inflatable decorations are best used on the lawn as they need to be pegged into the ground to avoid blowing away. During December, you may also need to take them down when mowing the lawn. When you set them back up after mowing, we recommend moving them around to allow the grass underneath to recover.

Here are a few of our favourite inflatable options that are on the market:

Arlec 6m Inflatable Low Voltage Greeting Santa

 inflatable santa

Arlec 1.2m Inflatable PVC Champagne Bauble

inflatable christmas decorations

Christmas lights and your lawn

When setting up your light display, it is best to avoid setting the majority on the lawn, as they will need to be moved when mowing. Installing your lights in trees, shrubs, and on house fixtures will allow passers-by to better see your light display as they are elevated from the ground. When choosing your lighting options for outside, it is always best to ensure your lights are suitable for outdoor use.

For shrubs and trees, net lights are a great option. These lights simply need to be placed over the tree like a blanket, and away you go.

When wrapping Christmas lights around trees, start at the bottom and work your way up and around the tree in a spiral.

Rope lights are an excellent option for outlining fixtures like a garden bed, driveway, or roof.

Christmas light set up tips

Keep your Christmas lights organised. When mowing, avoid moving your lights into piles as they can get tangled. Wrapping your lights around a rectangular piece of cardboard or even on a clothes hanger will help prevent tangling from occurring. If you have multiple sets of lights that will need to be moved throughout December, labelling them will help make putting them back out an easier task.

When connecting extension leads outdoors, we recommend using a weatherproof connector protector. These will help protect your cords from deterioration, including protection from rain, dust, and tampering. Connector protectors can be used for a single lead or a whole power board. Some of our favourites are the Ampfibian X1 Weatherproof Connector Protector and the Arlec 4 Outlet Weatherproof Electrical Enclosure Box.

Gutter hooks are ideal when setting up a wide variety of lights on your house. Gutter hooks will attach to your house’s gutters and allow you to clip up your lights.

LED projectors are also a great option to use if you don’t have the time to set up lights across your home. Outdoor LED projectors will commonly have a stake or a base option. Once plugged in, they will project lights onto the selected area.

Lawn Solutions Iron Guard Plus

TURFGRASS ENHANCING BIO-STIMULANT

Lawn Solutions Iron Guard Plus

Iron Guard Plus is a turfgrass-enhancing bio-stimulant that contains iron and amino acids, formulated to provide a boost in colour and turf strength. Iron Guard Plus will maximise turfgrass colour retention and promote lateral growth, making it ideal for improved winter dormancy transition.

You can apply Iron Guard Plus monthly when active growth is present or when nutrient deficiency symptoms are visible to maintain even growth and colour for your lawn.

iron guard plus label

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2.5L provides up to 1,250m2 of coverage.

PRODUCT BENEFITS

• Colour enhancement

• Increased lateral growth

• Improved grass density

• Quicker root growth

Before Iron Guard Plus
Before Using Iron Guard Plus

Iron Guard Product Brochure

Iron Guard Plus Application

When using Iron Guard Plus, make sure you wear gloves and protective eyewear to avoid contact with your eyes and skin.

To apply to your lawn, mix 200 to 500mls of Iron Guard Plus with 7-10 litres of water for 100sqm of coverage. The higher the rate used, the darker the colour will be.

If you are looking to use it for the first time or if you want to use it regularly as part of a lawn care program, it’s best to apply at a lower rate.

Make sure you apply Iron Guard Plus during the cool hours of the day, so early morning or evening.

You can apply monthly when active growth is present or when nutrient deficiency symptoms are visible to maintain even growth and colour for your lawn.

backpack sprayer

Knapsack Application Rate

Compound volume 200-500ml

Water volume 7-10lt

Area 100m2

Iron Guard Plus is a scientifically designed formula for use on all grass varieties including Hybrid Bermuda or couch, Zoysia, Buffalo, and Kikuyu grass. So it’s perfect for all Australian lawns.

iron guard plus back label

Compound Analysis

  • Sulphur (S) 6%
  • Iron (Fe) 4%
  • Magnesium (Mg) 2%
  • Manganese (Mn) 2%
  • Fulvic Acid 2%
  • Molybdenum (Mo) 1%
  • Zinc (Zn) 0.5%
  • Bio-stimulant 0.25g/L

Using Iron Precaution

Avoid applying to footpaths, driveways, and other hard surfaces. As this product contains Iron it’s very important it is washed off immediately as it can stain hard surfaces.

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Lawn Solutions Iron Guard Plus can be purchased on our online Lawn Store or from your local Lawn Solutions Australia Member or Reseller.

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