August 2023

Spring Planning with Charlie Albone

Posted on August 31, 2023October 13, 2023 by Sarah

Spring is finally here and if you are anything like me you can’t wait for the warmer weather to get the garden moving again and jump into some spring lawn care. Warmer days means more growth which equals pruning, deadheading, weeding, mowing and generally pottering around in the garden.

What I’ve Done Recently in My Garden

With spring comes a certain gusto, a reinvigoration to get out there and start a new project. I completed a new garden at my place last summer and it’s been settling in over autumn and winter. So I’m really excited to see the new growth starting and the gaps filling in. I designed the space for the whole family with the alfresco space out the back door. This area is complete with a BBQ, table, chairs and umbrella to protect us from the sun. This seamlessly flows onto the lawn, a TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda turf as I have two active boys and two active dogs I needed something that could handle the wear and tear.

Moving past this is the pool area and large surrounding garden beds with contemporary architectural plantings. I keep these safe behind the pool fence so the kids and dogs can’t bump into them and break them! In the pool area is a cabana complete with a roof top garden with spill over plants. This helps the space feel as lush and green as possible. I also have an infrared sauna that I use as an escape, I love the fact it’s in the garden so I can sit and look out enjoying the surroundings.

How You Can Help Your Garden Moving into Spring

Whatever your garden looks like there are a few things you can do right now to prepare the space for spring growth and moving into summer heat.

With my lawn, as its new I won’t dethatch it as it doesn’t need it yet. However I will aerate it and apply Lawn Soaker a soil wetting agent to ensure the water gets down to the roots. It’s very shallow soil in that part of the garden so getting water in and away quickly is a battle I’ll face moving forward. Top dressing with a sandy mix is a must to stop the holes from collapsing in on themselves too and helping with the soggy feet. Winter is a wonderful time for weed growth, especially in a lawn so applying All Purpose Weed Control is a must when it comes to spring lawn care to stop any smaller weeds from taking over before they take hold.

all purpose weed control — All Purpose Weed Control

When I notice the lawn starting to grow again, I’ll apply a fertiliser such as Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser and then look at feeding my garden beds too. As most plants have been living off the soil I improved when they were planted it’s time to supplement this with an all-purpose long lasting slow-release feed, I also apply a liquid fertiliser as it’s taken up quickly and has rapid effects.

After feeding the garden and lawn I’ll top up the mulch in the garden. All the predictions I’m hearing suggest we are in for a long hot summer (I’m glad I have TifTuf). To preserve moisture in the garden beds a layer of mulch 75mm thick. This will really make a big difference to the health of the plants. Don’t wait until you see signs of heat stress get on to it now as prevention is better than remedy. Applying mulch now is also great as your plants are about to put on growth. It is easier when they are a little smaller in size.

Regular Maintenance is Key

The more I garden the more I realise the importance of doing a little bit often rather than a lot sporadically. I have few pests in my garden as I’m always out there picking them off when they do occur. My clipped plants never get too bushy and out of control. The weeds are manageable – all because I do a little bit every couple of days. When I say a little bit, I mean 10-15 minutes every couple of days. It’s a great way to relax and too and something to look forward to when I’m working from home.

Having a space to relax, entertain, garden and enjoy time with my family and friends is something I aimed to create when I designed the space. It is something that I’m looking forward to enjoying in the new garden this summer.

For more spring lawn care tips and advice, check out our Spring Lawn Care Guide.

When Should I Apply a Pre-Emergent Herbicide?

Posted on August 31, 2023March 18, 2024 by Sarah

Pre-emergent herbicides are fantastic products to add to your lawn care regime. With these herbicides, your application timing can impact how well it will work to prevent weeds in your lawn. In this blog, we look at the optimal times throughout the year to apply a pre-emergent to get the best results.

How Does a Pre-Emergent Work?

Pre-emergents work by targeting weed seedlings during germination. They create a barrier at the soil level that affects the germination of any new seedlings. This means they will target weeds before they appear but will not be effective after weeds have started growing.

Why Should I Time My Application?

As pre-emergents work by targeting weeds before they appear, you will need to time your application just before weeds are set to start growing in your lawn. If you can create the barrier at the soil level before the weeds are set to start growing, you can stop them during their germination phase.

When Should I Apply a Pre-Emergent for Seasonal Winter Weeds?

Pre-emergents can also be used to help prevent seasonal winter weeds, including Winter Grass. Seasonal winter weeds will start to germinate once the average soil temperatures start to drop below approximately 14 degrees. Therefore, it is best to get your application on just before this is set to occur. The exact time this will occur will depend on your location and temperatures in your region. As a guide, this will usually happen around mid to late autumn.

When to Apply a Pre-Emergent for Seasonal Summer Weeds?

Some seasonal summer weeds that pre-emergents will help target include Summer Grass, Crabgrass, and Crowsfoot. Seasonal summer weeds will start to germinate when the soil temperatures begin to warm back up, usually when the average soil temperature is above approximately 14 degrees. So, it is best to get your application down before the temperatures are set to rise in your region. The exact time for your application will change depending on your location and temperatures in your region. As a guide, this will usually occur around early to mid-spring.

What Pre-Emergent Should I Use?

When it comes to using pre-emergents, we recommend using our Lawn Solutions Oxafert Pre-Emergent Herbicide and Fertiliser. Oxafert comes in a handy 3kg bag that will treat up to 100m2. It is safe for most warm season turf types, including Sir Walter DNA Certified, TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda, Sir Grange, Zoysia Australis and Kikuyu. This product also contains a balanced ratio of nutrients to help boost your lawn for healthier all-round turf. Oxafert will remain active on your lawn for up to 12 weeks, for protection of seasonal weeds.

If you have a larger area size, check out the Oxafert Plus available in a 20kg bag, treating up to 660m2.

What Weeds Will Oxafert Target?

Oxafert will help control the germination of Winter Grass, Summer Grass, Crowsfoot, Creeping Oxalis and Crabgrass.

What Should I Use for Weeds That Are Already Growing?

If you already have weeds growing in your lawn, it is best to get on top of them as soon as possible to help prevent their spread. Whem there are only a few weeds growing throughout your lawn, hand removal is an effective option. If the weeds are more widespread and there is too much to remove by hand you may need to look at using an herbicide for removal. For removing common broadleaf weeds like Clover, Bindii, Creeping Oxalis, Cudweed and Thistles, we recommend using a broadleaf herbicide like our All Purpose Weed Control.

If you are unsure of what type of weed you have growing throughout your lawn, make sure you either check out the LSA app for handy weed identification tools or check out our ultimate weed guide here.

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

How Early Is Too Early to Mow in The Morning?

Posted on August 31, 2023October 13, 2023 by Sarah

Did you know there is such a thing as too early to mow? Here at Lawn Solutions, we believe there is no better sound than a mower starting up on a Saturday morning, but your neighbours might disagree! In this blog, we look at what time each state allows you to start up your mower to help you keep the peace between you and your neighbours.

Just like power equipment and construction noise in residential areas, there are permitted hours for each region to run your mower. Your local environmental protection agency often puts these noise regulations in place to help ensure your neighbours are not woken up at dawn and can get a good early night’s sleep.

So, what are the regulations for your state? Let’s take a look…

New South Wales

In NSW, mow between 7am to 8pm Monday to Saturday. On Sundays and public holidays, you can mow between 8am to 8pm. In NSW these rules have been set out by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

Queensland

The Environmental Protection Act 1994 in QLD states that you can mow your lawn between 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday. On Sundays and public holidays, mow between 8am to 7pm.

Victoria

In Victoria, you can mow Monday to Friday between 7 am to 8pm. You can mow between 9am – 8pm on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, according to the Environmental Protection Authority Victoria.

South Australia

In South Australia, you can mow between 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and from 9am to 7pm Sunday and public holidays. These rules have been set out by EPA South Australia.

Tasmania

In Tasmania, you can mow between 7am to 8pm Monday to Friday. On Saturdays you can mow between 9am to 8pm and Sundays and public holidays between 10am to 8pm. These rules have been set out by EPA Tasmania.?

Northern Territory

In the NT, you can mow between 7am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 8pm Sunday and public holidays, according to the NT EPA.

Canberra

In the ACT, lawn mowing can be done 7am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 8pm Sundays and public holidays, according to Access Canberra.

Western Australia

In WA, generally lawn mowers can be used between 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 7pm Sundays and public holidays. This is for most regions within WA.

Mowing Tips

Now that you have got what time you can mow down packed let’s take a look at a few tips on how you can sure you get the best cut:

Mow regularly enough so that only one third of the leaf is removed with each pass.
Ensure your mowers blades are nice and sharp.
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 consistent pace.

If you would like more lawn mowing tips and advice, you can check out our other mowing blogs here.

Treating Common Broadleaf Weeds

Posted on August 31, 2023October 13, 2023 by Sarah

Many weeds that appear in our lawns are known as broadleaf weeds. In this blog, we discuss what broadleaf weeds are, provide some common examples and explain how to treat them in your lawn.

How to identify broadleaf weeds

Broadleaf weeds are a group of plants that generally have broad, flat leaves. They come in a range of sizes, shapes, and textures. These weeds are often easily distinguishable from the grass in your lawn.

Some common examples include creeping oxalis, clover, chickweed, plantain, and catsear. These weeds can look very different to each other but will have significant contrast in appearance to that of your lawn or other invading grass-type species.

Properly identifying the weeds in your lawn first is essential for selecting the appropriate treatment methods and will help to ensure the products or methods used are successful.

How do broadleaf weeds invade your lawn?

Broadleaf weeds can invade lawns for various reasons but usually occur due to a lack of lawn care, compacted soil, or due to worn-out or thin and sparse lawns. Weeds can quickly take advantage of this weakened or thin grass, as well as areas where the grass is struggling to compete and thrive due to environmental factors like shade or poor drainage. The weeds can be brought in through rain, wind, pets and foot traffic, and will be more likely to successfully germinate if there is space to penetrate the profile of the lawn to the soil and there is space to grow.

How to prevent broadleaf weeds

Preventing broadleaf weeds from invading your lawn is essential for long-term weed control.

Mowing

Keep your lawn at the recommended height for your grass type, as taller grass shades out weed seeds, reducing their germination.

Watering

Water deeply and less frequently to encourage deeper root growth in your grass, making it more resilient and competitive against weeds.

Fertilising

Apply the right amount and type of fertilizer for your lawn’s needs. Healthy, well-fed grass is better equipped to compete with weeds.

Aeration

Aerate your lawn seasonally or as required to alleviate soil compaction and improve nutrient and water absorption by the grass.

How to eradicate broadleaf weeds once they appear

For a few scattered weeds, hand-pulling or spot-treating with a non-selective herbicide, carefully avoiding contact with the grass is a quick and easy solution. If the weeds have spread profusely or difficult to pull out by hand, a broadleaf herbicide may be required. Broadleaf herbicides are a type of weed killer specifically designed to target and control broadleaf weeds.

There are two main types of herbicides that will help you treat these broadleaf weeds…

Post-emergent herbicides

Post-emergent herbicides are applied directly to the weeds, as the name suggests, after they have emerged. They are most effective on young, actively growing weeds. Post-emergent herbicides containing active ingredients like Bromoxynil and Dicamba are commonly used for broadleaf weed control.

All Purpose Weed Control is a broad-leaf herbicide containing bromoxynil, designed to control many of these broad-leaf weeds. All-purpose weed control is safe to use on all common grass varieties. Unlike many herbicides that contain Dicamba, is safe to use on buffalo grasses like Sir Walter DNA Certified as well.

Pre-emergent herbicides

Pre-emergent herbicides are applied to the lawn before weed seeds have a chance to germinate, so as the name suggests, before the weeds have a chance to emerge. They create a barrier in the soil, preventing weed seeds from sprouting. Pre-emergent herbicides are more effective against annual broadleaf weeds. Common active ingredients include Oxadiazon like in Oxafert, Prodiamine and Pendimethalin.

Remember to always read and follow the label instructions on any herbicide product. It is best to avoid using herbicides on windy days or during extreme heat to prevent drift and damage to non-target plants.

If you need help identifying what weeds you have, please reach out to us here at Lawn Solutions Australia or check out the Lawn Solutions Australia App. The LSA App has an extensive library of broadleaf weeds that you can utilise for identification and treatment advice.

You can download the Lawn Solutions Australia app on the App Store here and the Google Play Store here.

The Global Turf Community Unites Down Under

Posted on August 7, 2023August 7, 2023 by Nathan Edwards

Lawn Solutions Australia’s Monumental Conference

Celebrating Excellence, Innovation, and Camaraderie in the Turf Industry

Lawn Solutions Australia (LSA) proudly hosted its highly anticipated Global Turf Conference and Awards Dinner in the beautiful Tweed Heads, New South Wales. This year’s conference was truly global, with esteemed guests and speakers from the UK, USA, and Southeast Asia converging to share insights and expertise. As the largest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere, the conference offered an incredible opportunity for LSA’s national network of accredited turf Members to learn, network, and be inspired by an impressive array of speakers.

The conference kicked off with a warm welcome on Monday, 31st July, with a canapes and drinks welcome function. The event was graced by industry partners, whose support played a pivotal role in making the conference a resounding success. Among LSA’s long-standing Platinum partners, Husqvarna Australia stood tall, renowned for their pioneering gardening and lawn equipment that has been taming the wild since 1689. Similarly, Trimax Mowing Systems left attendees amazed with their innovation in producing industry-leading commercial mowing equipment.

Industry Partners at the Forefront

LSA’s collaboration with a range of industry partners has been vital in advancing the turf sector. Partners such as Greenway Turf Solutions, Finlease, Nuturf, Firefly Automatix, ICL Specialty Fertilizers, Turf Biosolutions, Syngenta, Living Turf, Equipment Solutions, Envu, STRI, AusGAP, and Lawn Lovers contributed significantly to the conference’s success.

Event Overview

The two-day conference, held on 31st July and 1st August, was packed with a blend of entertainment, insightful business content, and thought-provoking sessions from both local and international guests.

Keynote Speakers

Andrew Daddo was our MC for the event, the celebrated Australian television personality, delivered an engaging opening keynote, sharing his genuine interest in the turf industry and captivating the audience with his own lawn experiences.

Gavin Rogers, Lawn Solutions Australia Director and CEO, reflected on LSA’s achievements, future goals, and the collective impact they aim to achieve in the years to come.

The conference featured an esteemed lineup of speakers from around the world.

Jonathan MacDonald, a strategic changemaker, award-winning author, and keynote speaker, shared valuable insights into change, digital transformation, and mindset. Jonathon provided some big-picture assessments of what it takes to create success in our businesses but also provided some really direct and tangible advice that could be taken on board and actioned.

Brandon Eubanks from Patten Seed Co./Super-Sod (USA) highlighted their journey of growing the business to 10 turf production facilities and over 20 retail stores, providing the supply of turfgrasses across several US states. Super-Sod is arguably the largest turf production company in the US, with production and harvesting capacities unmatched in the US, but quite possibly the entire world.

Dr Ambika Chandra, a leading researcher from Texas A&M University (USA), showcased her role in breeding warm-season turfgrass species for various applications, particularly the ones brought to Australia through LSA’s collaborations. We were so pleased to have Dr Chandra with us here in Australia, with a range of newly developed buffalo grass species from Dr Chandra’s program currently being under assessment here in Australia.

Dr Christian Spring, the lead scientist at STRI (UK), revealed the institute’s extensive services, including stadium designs, sports turf R&D, and consultancy, emphasising the quality of sports turf engineering. Dr Spring has an impressive resume as a self-professed ‘turf geek’, where he gets to be involved in the scientific aspects of preparing and maintaining world-class sports turf surfaces like those featured at facilities like Wimbledon and Wembley Stadium in the UK.

Scott Rowe, the Open Spaces Manager at Shellharbour City Council, shared his passion for creating quality open spaces within budget constraints, with turf playing a pivotal role. New and improved varieties like Sir Grange Zoysia and TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda have provided solutions in his council region that save their teams time and ultimately allow them to allocate their resources more efficiently.

Brad Burgess, the founder of Sports Turf Solutions (STS), presented his journey of setting up successful turf farms and sports field construction businesses in Southeast Asia. Brad has supplied new and improved zoysia varieties like Sir Grange Zoysia, to some of the world’s best golf courses in the region and continues to adopt best practices for creating highly sustainable and low-input golf courses.

Simon Hutton, a leading figure in the Sports Turf Industry from Tillers Turf (UK), showcased his vast experience in turf farming, supplying turf and maintenance services to most of the top stadiums and sports across the UK. Referred to as the ‘UK Turf Master’, Simon started his career at a very young age and continues to grow his impressive resume of projects and innovations within his sector of the UK turf industry.

Tommy Dean, the renowned American comedian, provided a light-hearted yet insightful take on the cultural differences between Americans and Australians, bringing laughter to the audience. Tommy has featured at three Lawn Solutions conferences now, with his comprehension and assessment of our industry providing plenty of laughs to everyone in the crowd.

Lawn Solutions Australia invites a range of turf industry guests each year to the conference and this year we invited the very best of those who represent lawns in Australia on social media. In a testament to the growing influence of these lawn enthusiasts, LSA invited top representatives from Australian Lawn Fanatics AUSLF, Lawn Tips, The Aussie Lawn, and Lawn Care Australia. These “Lawnfluencers” (a term I’m sure many of them are still becoming comfortable with) have significantly contributed to online lawn communities, offering valuable insights and expertise.

The conference culminated with the LSA Awards night, recognising outstanding achievements and dedication of LSA Members and their teams. The awards celebrated excellence in various aspects, setting high standards for the industry across the country.

The Lawn Solutions Australia Global Turf Conference 2023 was an unforgettable event that brought together the global turf community in a spirit of camaraderie, excellence, and innovation. The conference’s impact will undoubtedly resonate within the industry for years to come, as LSA and its Members continue to adopt and seek out innovation, foster collaboration as a network, and continue to set the standard for the turf industry and the future of Australian lawns.