January 2023 - Lawn Solutions Australia

Anatomy of Grass

Have you ever been curious about the anatomy of grass or wondered what each part of the plants function is? In this blog, we dissect grass and examine each part’s role in creating a lush and healthy lawn.

What Are Rhizomes?

Below the surface of your lawn, there are stems known as Rhizomes. A common misconception is that the rhizomes below the surface are roots, when in fact they are a stem.

Rhizomes grow below ground for a short distance, then rise to the soil surface to form new shoots. In some grass species, rhizomes produce growing points (often called nodes) which give rise to roots and shoots forming new or ‘daughter’ plants. Rhizomes are usually white.

What Are Stolons?

When discussing our lawn spreading or establishing, we tend to talk about the runners or stolons that run above the surface. Stolons are stems, that produce nodes from which new plants form. Stolons will help to spread into bare spots and thicken a lawn.

Stolonising or sprigging is the process of planting stolons of grass. These stolons are broken up to a singular runner and are planted into the ground. The nodes on the stolon will then grow and produce a root system. Over time the grass will thicken up and cover the area. This process is mostly used on sporting surfaces like fields and golf greens.

Stolon and rhizome

All warm-season grass plants have stolons (above-ground runners), while some varieties, such as Kikuyu, Couch, and Zoysia have stolons and rhizomes (underground runners).

Primary and Secondary Roots on Turf

Another part of your grass’s anatomy is the primary and secondary roots. Primary roots are the first roots that develop from the embryo or grass seed. When installing turf, you are looking for secondary roots for establishment which come from nodes on horizontal stems (stolons).

primary and secondary roots turfgrass

Where Are Nodes on Grass?

The nodes on grass can be identified as the bulbous points along a runner of grass. These are the points where there is lots of cellular activity and growth occurs. The nodes are the points from which the grass can recover if the plant becomes damaged. Nodes also have the ability to create new turfgrass plants.

Where are the Internodes on Grass?

Another part of your grasses’ anatomy is the internodes. The internode is the plant material between each node. The internode is responsible for transporting nutrients throughout the plant.

What is a Sheath on Turf?

The sheath is the lower portion of the grass’ leaf blade that usually surrounds a node and stolon.

nodes sheath and leaf blade turf grass

What are Lawn Seed Heads?

When seed heads start to appear on your lawn, your first reaction might be to worry something is wrong, or stress that the seed heads are weeds! However, seed heads are a perfectly normal occurrence, and in most cases, they will go away on their own within a few weeks.

Seed heads can be easy to avoid for the most part, by sticking to a consistent lawn care program. If you do have seed heads growing, you can simply give the lawn a mow to remove them. If they are sticking around for a bit longer, make sure the lawn is getting watered and mown regularly and give the lawn a fertilise if you haven’t recently.

The appearance of seed heads will differ between lawn types.

  • Buffalo seed heads have a very similar appearance to asparagus. They usually grow at the same height or just above your lawns leaf height.
  • Couch seed heads 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.
  • 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.

Seed heads produced with common grass varieties like Sir Walter Buffalo, Sir Grange Zoysia, TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda, and Eureka Kikuyu are sterile. This means that the seed it produces won’t grow a new plant. Therefore, these grasses can only be spread by vegetative sprigs or stolons.

seed heads

For more lawn care tips and advice, check out our lawn care page here.

Lawn Fanatic Lingo

Have you been hearing your mates who are lawn fanatics talk about their lawns but have no idea what lingo they are using or need a quick refresher?

What NPK is your fertiliser?

NPK are the primary nutrients that are commonly found in fertilisers. N Nitrogen, P Phosphorus and K Potassium.

Nitrogen is mainly responsible for the growth of leaves and is the most talked about nutrient when it comes to lawns. Nitrogen is usually the highest percentage of your NPK ratio.

Phosphorus is largely responsible for root growth and is low in the overall NPK ratio.

Potassium is a nutrient that helps the overall functions of the plant perform correctly. Potassium is an essential macro-nutrient used in large quantities by plants for vigour and growth.

Just about to put a PGR down on my lawn

Plant Growth Regulators, commonly known as PGR’s, can be used to help slow down the growth of your lawn, particularly throughout the warmer months when the lawn is actively growing. Some other benefits of using PGR’s include promoting healthier & denser turf, reduction of seed heads, and increased durability, just to name a few. When looking at using a PGR, we recommend Primo Maxx.

primo maxx

How’s my domination line looking?

A domination line is referred to as the ending of your property boundary line and the start of your neighbour’s property. This line is often spoken about when one lawn clearly looks better than the other, with a defined line of difference between properties.

lawn domination line meme

What HOC do you mow your SWB? 

The answer to this one comes in two parts, let’s break it down. HOC refers to your height of cut. This is the height which your lawn is been mown. SWB is also known as the Aussie favourite Sir Walter Buffalo.

mowing height

Just put in my new SGZ and its looking great!

SGZ is one of the newer zoysia grasses on the market, Sir Grange Zoysia. Sir Grange is known for its stunning fine-bladed leaf, beautiful dark green colour, and slow-growing nature. You can find more information on this beautiful grass here.

sir grange zoysia

We just finished a reno on the lawn, can’t wait to see how it looks in a few weeks!

Now you might be thinking, what on earth is a lawn reno? Well, there is such a thing! A lawn renovation is the process of removing weeds, removing thatch, aeration, fertilising, and top dressing typically conducted in spring. Check out our blog and video series for more information on what a lawn renovation is and the steps required here.

lawn renovation

Just finished giving the lawn a feed!

Giving the lawn a feed is in reference to fertilising your lawn.

fertilise

I can see why TifTuf is the alpha grass

Well, the answer to this question will depend on who you ask! We believe that TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is in fact the ‘Alpha Grass’. Why? TifTuf has proven itself as the best performer in independent trials in Australia and the US. You can check out both the Australian and US trial results here.

what is the best couch grass

The lawn just got some much needed sky beers

Rainfall is often referred as sky beers for some lawn fanatics. More often than not, your lawns watering requirements will be met by rainfall alone!

Just finished giving the lawn a mow with the SB45

A Scott Bonnar 45, also called SB45, is one of the more popular cylinder mowers for people to use. These mowers were first in production in 1968 through to 1980. Now more commonly, these mowers have become a restoration project for lawnies.

Just gave the mower a quick back lap

Back lapping is the process of maintaining the sharpness of a cylinder mowers cutting blades. This helps to ensure the reel and bed knife are bedded together and cut evenly, providing a sharp and even cut. Check out our page on back lapping for more information here.

backlap cylinder mower

The lawns going to thrive after I give it a core!

Coring is a type of aeration for your lawn. Unlike regular aeration, where solid tines punch holes in the ground, core aeration simultaneously removes a plug of soil from your lawn. Plug or core aerators use hollow tines that puncture the surface and then pull the plugs from the ground on their way back out. The process of coring helps create more space in the soil for your lawn to breathe, absorb nutrient and increases soil permeability.

should i core my lawn

We just gave the lawn a scalp

Scalping is when most of the leaf is removed with a mower. This can either be done on purpose, when dethatching your lawn in a renovation or by accident when the lawns levels are uneven or when the lawn has grown too long in between mowing.

dethatching

The lawns going to come up a treat after scarifying it!

Scarifying a lawn is done to help remove the thatch layer of dead plant and organic matter that has developed within the profile of your lawn. After scarifying your lawn, it won’t look great for the first few weeks, however the lawn will be able to come back stronger.

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

How You Can Make Mowing Actually Fun This Summer

Some love mowing, while others hate it. Whether you are a lover or a hater of mowing, there are some gadgets and knick-knacks out there that can help make your time out mowing fun!

Have You Heard of Bluetooth earmuffs?

Safety comes first! Wearing protective earmuffs is important to help prevent your ears from damage. But why wear regular earmuffs when you can take it one step further and listen to your favourite tunes!

There is an excellent range of Bluetooth ear muffs available on the market, but one readily available from Bunnings is the 3M Work Tunes Call Connect Bluetooth Ear Muffs. Reviews rave about their battery life, easy setup, and excellent earmuff quality, making mowing a more fun and enjoyable experience.

bluetooth earmuffs

Do You Need a Mower Beer Holder

Have you ever wanted to enjoy a nice cold bevvy when mowing but had nowhere to put it? With the Mower Mate, you can now enjoy your beer when you are on the go, mowing your lawn! The mower mate attaches to any mower handle with its sturdy clamp with no fiddly attachments.

mower beer holder

Getting a Good Cut With a Smaller Cylinder Mower

If you are following any of the lawn care pages, you have probably seen the hype around this mower. The Ozito Cylinder Mowers are cheap, fun to mow with plus provide a great result which is pleasing to the eye.

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.

ozito cylinder mower

Need a Wearable Fan to Help Keep Cool?

When mowing on those hot summer days, you can work up quite a sweat! So to help combat the heat, why not use a wearable fan to help you keep your cool!

The O2COOl Deluxe Necklace Fans sit around your neck like a necklace, providing a strong vertical airflow, and it has three-speed settings while being quiet and lightweight.

wearable fan

Using a Wearable Umbrella to Help Keep Cool

While we are on the topic of staying cool, blocking out the sun and sun safety is a top priority. Wearable umbrellas will provide you with some of the best protection when mowing on a hot summer’s day, while helping you keep cool.

wearable umbrella

Is a Bunnings Straw Hat More Your Style?

However, we do understand wearable umbrellas might not be everyone’s style, but a more conventional option like the iconic Bunnings Straw Hat might be more your cup of tea when shielding the sun off your face on those hot summer days.

bunnings hat

Want to Mow Lawn Stripes?

Adding a roller to your mower will help you get some stripes on your lawn, even when using a standard rotary mower! Stripes will show more after regularly mowing in the same pattern when using a roller.

The Toro Lawn Striping Kit will attach to most brands of 18” and 22” walk-behind mowers. If you are after some tips on perfecting your lawn stripes, check out our blog here.

toro lawn striper

Do You Want to Mow Less?

If mowing still isn’t your thing, why not look at using a plant growth regulator (PGR). A PGR will help reduce the number of times you need to mow throughout the warmer months while your lawn is growing at its fastest! PGR’s work by suppressing your lawn’s vertical growth and increasing the lawn’s lateral growth. When it comes to PGR’s we recommend using Primo Maxx.

primo maxx

Hopefully these tips will help make your time mowing a more fun and enjoyable experience! For more lawn care tips and advice, check out our lawn care page here.

Zoysia Australis – Coming Soon!

Lawn Solutions Australia is excited to announce the upcoming release of a brand new turf grass variety – Zoysia Australis!

Zoysia Australis is a new breed of zoysia japonica and is like no other zoysia we have seen before. It’s Zoysia Redefined.

 

zoysia australis logo

Lawn Solutions Australia is continually researching and developing new strains of turf to find grasses that offer real points of difference. Zoysia Australis is the perfect example of a grass that offers unique traits and characteristics unlike any other, which is why we are so excited we are now able to launch this incredible new variety.

Zoysia Australis is the zoysia for Aussie families and we can’t wait to share it with you all.

Zoysia Australis has a medium texture, blue/green leaf, has superior wear tolerance and recovery when compared with other zoysia and is a great alternative to other commonly available warm season grasses.

zoysia australis coming soon
Medium leaf / Average width 4-5mm – Mid-dark green

Zoysia Redefined

Zoysia Australis is tough and hardy, providing a zoysia solution for Aussie families that can go in a wide range of areas. It can stand up to the stresses of a family and pets and has shade tolerance to thrive where other grasses falter.

  •  Full sun to heavy shade (minimum 3 – 4 hours direct sunlight per day).

  •  Suitable for all types of soil, but free draining soils recommended.

  •  Can be mown as low as 10mm or left unmown.

Zoysia Australis has some unique qualities when it comes to the changing of the season and during dormancy can even develop a beautiful red hue.

The Zoysia for Families

zoysia australis turf farm
Zoysia Australis looking sensational ready for harvesting

Key traits:

  • High shade tolerance
  • High Wear Tolerance and recovery for a zoysia grass
  • Soft medium leaf
  • Versatility in a range of conditions and climates
  • Fast establishment
  • Good colour (green/blue)
  • Strong rhizome growth
  • Deep root system
  • Less mowing requirements
  • Disease resistant
zoysia australis trial plot
Zoysia Australis Foundation Plot

Bred by the World’s Best!

Zoysia Australis was bred at the world famous University of Georgia, Tifton Campus by Dr Brian Schwartz. Dr Schwartz is renowned as the scientist behind the release of the highly successful TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda. Zoysia Australis arrived in Australia back in 2018 with a range of other elite zoysia grasses. After extensive trials in a range of conditions and applications, Zoysia Australis was selected for commercial release. Zoysia Australis offers significant benefits and a real point of difference from the other turf varieties available to consumers.

zoysia australis coming soon
Stolon and leaf structure

Independent Australian Trials by World’s Leading Turf Research Institute

In a recent independent trial conducted by the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) ‘Screening new Zoysia turfgrasses under Australian conditions‘, Zoysia Australis showed some exceptional qualities.

For speed of establishment, Zoysia Australis (cultivar ZJ-19-017) was one of the fastest cultivars to reach establishment in the first 12 months of evaluation reaching 95% of establishment.

STRI Zoysia establishment trial

Zoysis Australis also showed exceptional speed of recovery after spring renovation.

stri zoysia trial speed of recovery

These results demonstrate the unique characteristics that Zoysia Australis has, traits that are not normally associated with zoysia grasses.

If you like the idea of zoysia grass, but the existing offerings don’t provide the characteristics you need, Zoysia Australis may just be what you are looking for.

zoysia australis coming soon

Zoysia Australis is currently being grown in a number of locations, with availability anticipated in the coming months.

zoysia australis coming soon
Zoysia Australis Establishment

For more information please reach out to us here at Lawn Solutions Australia or your local Lawn Solutions Australia Member.

Turf Talk – Lawn Solutions Australia Podcast

lawn solutions podcast

Turf Talk by Lawn Solutions Australia, hosted by Joe Rogers.

Join us in celebrating all things lawns! Our podcast provides lawn tips and advice on all things lawns and gardening. Whether you are looking for lawn care advice, lawn care products or turf variety information – we have you covered. Lawn Solutions Australia is a group of Australia’s best and most experienced turf growers. We have a national network, so we can provide knowledge relating to varying climates and conditions, about the different grass varieties available and recommend lawn care products to help you get the amazing lawn you have been dreaming of.

turf talk podcast

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