March 2025

Need a Break? Happy National “Gardening” Day

Posted on March 28, 2025March 31, 2025 by Sarah

Happy National Gardening Day! Did you know that the Lawn Store is for gardeners too? We stock a wide range of lawn care and gardening products to help you get the most out of your outdoor space. In this blog, we share some of our favourite products you can use in your whole garden.

Can I Use Lawn Kelper in My Garden?

Lawn Kelper is a soil conditioner packed with seaweed kelp, fulvic acid and other trace elements. Lawn Kelper helps stimulate new root and shoot growth, increasing plant health and leaf growth. This is not only a great product to use on your lawn but can be used across your garden and other plants.

Lawn Kelper is now available in both a 2L hose-on bottle and a 2.5L concentrate.

Shop Online Now

What is Trimmit and Where Can I Use It?

Trimmit is a growth regulator that can be used to maintain a more uniform look for hedges. This will help reduce the need to regularly maintain and trim the plant, resulting in less green waste for disposal, all while achieving a better look. Trimmit will also help improve your plant’s drought tolerance, promoting a deeper, greener colour and more dense foliage.

For more information on how Trimmit can be used to help improve your garden hedges, check here.

Shop Online Now

Treating Disease in Lawns and Gardens

Mancozeb can be used across your lawn and garden to help manage and control disease. This effectively controls turf diseases, including Helminthosporium, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, and Grey Leaf Spot. Mancozeb will also control Downy Mildew, Rust, Brown Rot, Black Spot, Anthracnose, Botrytis, Blights and Leaf Spot and Mites in certain registered crops.

Shop Online Now

Are You Encountering Issues with Damage Causing Insects in Your Lawn and Garden?

Battle Insecticide provides a quick knockdown from damage-causing insects including Armyworm, Lawn Grubs, Whitefly, Cutworm and other harmful insects. Battle is a versatile insecticide that can be used across lawns, roses, carnations, ornamental plants, apple trees, banana trees, and pear trees. It can also be used as a barrier spray on buildings and structures.

For more information on using Battle Insecticide in your lawn, garden and home, click here.

battle insecticide bifenthrin — Battle Insecticide

Shop Online Now

Did You Know the Lawn Store is Also Home to a Range of Equipment That Can Be Used in the Garden?

What Sprinkler Should I Use for My Lawn and Garden?

The Wobble Tee Sprinkler is an effective way to slowly and evenly water your lawn and garden. This sprinkler distributes water in large droplets – like rainfall, minimising wind drift and evaporation.

Shop Online Now

What Can I Use to Decompact Soil in my Lawn and Garden?

The 3 Tyne Aerator is not just a great tool to use on your lawn, but you can also use it in areas of your garden where soil is compacted. This aerator is especially great to use as it will remove plugs from within the soil, helping create more space for your plants to breathe, absorb nutrients and increase soil permeability.

Shop Online Now

Spraying Concentrate Products to Both Lawns and Gardens

The Lawn Store is also home to the Husqvarna sprayer range. These sprayers are great for use in both small and large areas across your lawn and garden. For small spaces or for spot treating, we recommend using the Husqvarna Manual 1.5L Sprayer. Larger areas will be more suited to the Husqvarna Battery Backpack 15L Sprayer.

To see what other products are available to use on your lawn and garden, make sure you check out the Lawn Store product here.

What Are Spider Mites, and How Do I Remove Them?

Posted on March 21, 2025March 21, 2025 by Sarah

Tetranychus urticae

Key Symptoms of Spider Mites:

Bleached-like appearance on grass leaf
Fine spider-like web on grass
During large infestations, damage will occur in ring shapes

As the name suggests, Spider Mites create a fine-like web structure on your lawn that is commonly seen in the morning when there is more moisture in the air. In this blog, we focus on what Spider Mites are, how they can impact your lawn and how to remove them.

What Are Spider Mites?

Spider Mites are native mites that are on average around 0.4mm long and, on close inspection can be seen by the naked eye. When present, they will usually stay on the underside of the leaf as this is where they will feed. These mites will usually feed around the vein of the leaf and will pierce the cell wall of the grass.

When there is an infestation of mites, this will often cause a bleached appearance to affected areas. These mites will also create a fine spider-like web. When large populations are present, the bleached grass and webbing will occur in a ring shape.

What Conditions Do Spider Mites Like?

Spider mites prefer hot and dry drought-like conditions. When hot and dry conditions are present, their lifecycle will speed up, and they can go from an egg to an egg-laying adult in as little as two weeks.

Spider Mite Lifecycle

Spider Mites have five stages in their lifecycle: egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph, and adult. The newly hatched larva will only have six legs; once they are fully developed in their adult phase, they will have eight.

How to Deter Spider Mites

As Spider Mites prefer dry drought-like conditions, long and frequent irrigation can deter them. If you are concerned that they may be present, we recommend irrigating your lawn two to three times a week for around half an hour. This will help bring moisture back into the turf, helping to deter the mites.

How Can I Treat Spider Mites in My Lawn?

When it comes to treating Spider Mites in lawns, there are a few different miticide products that you can use.

A readily available and eco-friendly option is Eco-Neem. This controls various sucking and chewing pests. While these are still present, it is best to reapply every 7 days until they are controlled.

Other miticide options with the active ingredient Abamectin, safe for use in common lawn types including kikuyu, buffalo, couch, zoysia and rye grass include:

Agador
Kill a Mite
Malice Duo
Voyager Miticide

Shop Online Now

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

Purge the Spurge | How to Remove Spotted Spurge from Your Lawn

Posted on March 21, 2025March 21, 2025 by Sarah

Chamaesyce maculata

Key Features:

Dark green coloured leaves, with red spots
Opposite arranged leaves
Taproot

Do you need to purge your lawn of Spurge? Spurge is a low-growing weed commonly found in thin, sparse lawn areas or pathways between paving and pebbled areas. In this blog, we look at what Spotted Spurge is and the best way to remove it from your lawn.

Spotted Spurge Characteristics

Spotted Spurge is a weed that has small dark green leaves with red spots that are arranged opposite each other on the stem. This weed has a milky sap, which can be toxic to animals. However, the sap will only show when the plant is disturbed. The low-growing plant will grow in a dense mat that can spread up to three feet in diameter at maturity. This weed also has a central taproot that can grow more than 2 feet into the soil base.

When Does Spotted Spurge Grow?

Spotted Spurge’s seeds will generally grow when temperatures are between 24 to 29 degrees. It will prefer areas with full sun but will also grow in lightly shaded areas. This weed is commonly found in areas with compacted soil, including gravel, roadsides, walkways and sparse lawns and gardens.

How Does Spotted Spurge Spread?

Spotted Spurge in Spring and Summer will produce small pink flowers that hold its seeds. These flowers will continually produce large quantities of viable seeds, so getting on top of this weed before it has a chance to seed is important.

When these seeds are wet, they will become sticky and will spread easier.

How Do I Remove Spotted Spurge?

As Spotted Spurge can spread rapidly, if you do notice it growing in your lawn or garden, it is best to act quickly.

If there is only a small amount of Spotted Spurge growing there, the best and easiest way to remove it will be to pull it out by hand. You will need to find the centre of the plant, as this is where the taproot will be. Then, gather the weed stem with one hand, and in the other, use a narrow trowel or a long knife to help loosen the soil around the taproot. After this, you should be able to pull the weed out gently.

If there is a bit too much to remove by hand, or you are looking for a herbicide option, we recommend using a broadleaf herbicide like Estate Herbicide, safe for use on common grass types including couch, zoysia, kikuyu and buffalo. Estate Herbicide comes in a 250ml concentrate, which needs to be mixed up in a knapsack or pressure sprayer for application.

estate herbicide — Estate Broadleaf Herbicide

Shop Online Now

Usually, when Spotted Spurge is growing in turf, it is a sign that the lawn is sparse and bare. Once you remove the Spurge, we recommend keeping up with your regular lawn maintenance to encourage strong growth and repair. This includes aeration (if the soil is compacted), regular mowing and watering, and a fertiliser application if you haven’t done so in recent months. If you are after a fertiliser to give your lawn a good boost in nutrients, we recommend using our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser.

lawn fertiliser — Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser

Shop Online Now

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

The Garden Gurus | Developing New Turfgrass Varieties

Posted on March 17, 2025March 17, 2025 by Nathan Edwards

The Garden Gurus Presenter Simon Holloway looks at the research and development work behind bringing a new turfgrass to market. Plus, he touches on a few different products you can use to help ensure your new lawn looks and performs its best after install.

Learn more about an exciting new turf variety, a direct result of this research and development program, coming in 2026 here –

How Long Do I Need to Wait Between Applying Products to My Lawn?

Posted on March 10, 2025March 12, 2025 by Sarah

Are you looking to apply multiple lawn care products to your lawn, but you’re unsure which product to use first or how long to wait between applications? In this blog, we look at the best way to apply multiple lawn care products.

Ensure You Read the Application Instructions

When using products alongside each other, it is important to ensure you apply each as per the label instructions. Some products need to be watered in, other products need to be applied to a dry lawn, and others may need to be applied when there is no expected rainfall for a few hours after application so that the product can dry and absorb into the plant.

The specific application information can be found on your products label.

Should I Weed or Feed My Lawn First?

The answer to this question will differ depending on who you ask. Some prefer to apply fertiliser to your lawn first in order to give the lawn and weeds a bit of a growth spurt, then once the weeds have grown, apply the herbicide, usually about a week later to remove them. If growth is already strong, remove the weeds first, and then once they have gone, apply a fertiliser to boost the overall health of the lawn.

Can I Apply Herbicides and Other Products Together?

Generally, when using herbicides on your lawn, it is not recommended to mix them with other herbicides or lawn care products in the same knapsack. Some chemicals may clash with others, impacting the product’s efficacy.

If you are looking to treat weeds and apply other products simultaneously, we recommend using these products a few hours apart. This will allow the herbicide to dry and absorb into the leaf, before applying the next. It is important not to use the second product immediately after, as this may cause the first to wash off the plant before it can be absorbed.

When using herbicides always ensure you are following the application specifications.

Can I Apply Products for Soil Health Together?

Generally, you can apply products to help improve your lawn’s soil health, e.g. Lawn Soaker, and Lawn Kelper simultaneously.

Shop Online Now

Can I Apply Granular Products Together to My Lawn?

Granular products are generally ok to apply at the same time. However, it is always best to check the products application instructions regarding irrigation are the same.

We recommend spreading each product out separately to ensure there is even coverage. After each product has been applied, then water in the granules.

*Please note, applying a granular fertiliser and Oxafert or Oxafert Plus together is not recommended. This is due to Oxafert and Oxafert Plus both having a fertiliser component. When used with a fertiliser, you can over-fertilise the lawn. If you are wanting to apply a fertiliser and an Oxafert product, it is best to wait 3 weeks between applications.

Shop Online Now

There are many factors to consider when applying multiple products to your lawn, but if you are in doubt, apply separately or consult with the product manufacturer for their specific advice.

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

Three Autumn Lawn Care Essentials

Posted on March 10, 2025March 12, 2025 by Sarah

Are you looking for the best lawn care products to use this Autumn? While there are so many different types of products available, knowing which ones to use and when can be difficult to know! In this blog, we share three of our favourite products to use on your lawn this season.

Why Preventative Products Are a Must

Over recent years, new preventative lawn care products, particularly pre-emergent control for weeds and Acelepryn technology for grub prevention, have made caring for our lawns much easier. These products are helpful if your lawn or local region is prone to ongoing weed or pest pressures, like Winter Grass and Armyworm. Let’s look at how you can get the most out of pre-emergents and grub prevention technology this Autumn.

What Are Pre-Emergent Herbicides?

Pre-emergent herbicides like Oxafert 3kg and Oxafert Plus 20kg work by targeting weed seedlings during germination. Pre-emergents are particularly handy if you have had Winter Grass growing in your lawn previously. With Winter Grass, it will drop its seeds into the soil over winter and stays there till next Autumn when the temperatures cool. Once the soil temperature is cool enough, the seeds in the soil will start germinating and growing.

You can stop the weed invasion entirely by timing your pre-emergent herbicide application before the temperatures cool. Although we are only at the start of Autumn, we recommend having this product ready so you can apply it before the cooler temperatures begin. For most regions, the cooler temperatures will start around mid-Autumn.

We recommend using our Oxafert 3kg, covering up to 100m². If you have a larger area size, we also have Oxafert Plus 20 kg.

Shop Online Now

Should I Apply Acelepryn in Autumn?

Acelepryn-based products like Grub Guard Ultimate are fantastic at preventing pest-related issues on your lawn. Lawn Grubs and Armyworm can go through your lawn in a matter of days, resulting in widespread damage. However, a preventative product like Grub Guard Ultimate can stop them entirely.

Shop Online Now

When applied at the higher application rate, Grub Guard Ultimate will provide your lawn with 6 months of protection, so two applications per year will provide you with seasonal control. As a general guide, Grub Guard Ultimate is best used in March/April and again in September/October when pest pressures are at their highest.

Acelepryn-based products are also one of the safest insecticides currently available on the market. Grub Guard Ultimate is safe for use around bees, earthworms, cats, dogs, birds, fish and mammals.

What Fertiliser Should I Apply to My Lawn in Autumn?

Along with preventative products, Autumn is an ideal time to apply fertiliser to get your lawn at its healthiest. In March, your grass will still actively grow, and repair can still occur. So, addressing any nutrient issues before the cooler temperatures start is important.

When choosing a fertiliser, we recommend looking for one with a balanced NPK ratio and micronutrients. Our favourite lawn fertiliser options include:

Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser

The Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser has both a fast and slow-release granule, giving your lawn a quick upfront boost while continuing to feed your lawn for the following 12 weeks. This will aid in a sustained boost for best all-round results. Our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser is available in a 4kg and 10kg bucket.

Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser

Shop Online Now

Pro Plus Mini Prill Fertiliser

The Pro Plus Mini Prill Fertiliser has a controlled-release granule that will release nutrients to your lawn over 90 days for a consistently supplied nutrient. One of its main benefits is its mini prill. This prill can go down into the lawn’s canopy and into the soil, where the plant’s roots can absorb it. This is especially advantageous for short-cut, highly manicured lawns.

Shop Online Now

Should I Use a Liquid Fertiliser in Autumn?

If liquid lawn care products are more your style, or you want to provide a quicker boost, something like our Exceed Liquid Fertiliser will give a faster uptake in nutrients. Exceed is now available in a 2L Hose-on Bottle and a 2.5L Concentrate.

Shop Online Now

exceed liquid fertiliser hose on — Exceed Liquid Fertiliser Hose-On

Shop Online Now

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

How to Help a Waterlogged Lawn After Heavy Rain

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Sarah

Does your lawn become waterlogged during periods of heavy rain, and you are unsure how to help stop it from occurring? In this blog, we look at common reasons why waterlogging can happen and the best way to help get your lawn back on track.

Why Is a Waterlogged Lawn Bad?

Water is an essential element when it comes to caring for your lawn. Regular rainfall and irrigation help prevent your turf from drying out and becoming heat stressed. However, when there is a large amount of rainfall, and this moisture sits in the soil for an extended period, it can cause more harm than good.

Some waterlogged-related issues include:

Root rot
Disease
Turf discolouration
In extreme cases, turf death

How Does a Lawn Become Waterlogged?

Waterlogging will occur when drainage is poor or when there is excess rainfall over a short period. The soil underneath the grass will either reach its natural drainage capacity or the soil base will be unable to absorb more water.

If your soil has trouble draining away moisture after short periods of rainfall, other contributing factors may be at play. These include:

Compacted soil base
High clay content in soil base
Excess thatch buildup within the turf profile
Poor grading (area not sloped correctly)

If you haven’t been experiencing rainfall, and your lawn is waterlogged, this may be a sign that your irrigation system is leaking and needs to be addressed quickly.

What Should I Do When My Lawn Is Waterlogged?

When your lawn is waterlogged, it is important to keep traffic to a minimum until the area has a chance to dry out. This will help prevent compaction and divots within the soil profile.

After allowing a few days to pass and evaporation has taken place, you can then fix the underlying issue.

How Can I Fix a Waterlogged Lawn?

Waterlogging from Compaction

If waterlogging has resulted from soil compaction, we recommend aerating your soil. Aeration can be carried out in numerous ways, but one of the easiest and most effective options is to use a garden fork. To aerate, drive the fork into the profile and give it a good wiggle. Then, repeat this process across the affected area. This will help water absorb further down into the soil profile. If your lawn regularly receives foot traffic, consider adding this to your yearly lawn care schedule to help prevent further compaction-related issues.

Waterlogging from High Clay Content Soil

Use a clay breaker like gypsum if your waterlogging issues stem from high amounts of clay within your soil profile. Applying gypsum will help break up the clay into a ‘crumbly’ texture, better allowing for water movement within the soil.

Waterlogging from Excess Thatch Buildup

When waterlogging stems from an excess buildup of thatch, look at dethatching your lawn. Dethatching your lawn can be completed in a few different ways. Some popular options include:

Mowing low
Using a dethatching rake
Specialised dethatching machine

For more information on dethatching your lawn, please check out our blog here.

Please note, dethatching is best done in Spring and Summer and should be avoided in the cooler months while growth has slowed.

Waterlogging from Poor Grading

Poor grading will impact where excess water runoff will pool. Ideally you want to ensure the levels gently slope away from your house, towards a drainage system. This process will often require the help of a landscaper or drainage expert who can assess your property’s drainage needs.

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

How to Prepare Your Lawn for Winter

Posted on March 4, 2025March 4, 2025 by Sarah

As the temperatures cool, it’s easy to assume your lawn can take a backseat until Spring. However, the steps you take now will impact your lawn’s performance throughout the cooler months ahead. In this blog, we look at what lawn care activities you can do now to get the best results this Winter.

Should I Aerate My Lawn in Autumn?

If your lawn received lots of foot traffic and wear over the last few months, or you have noticed your soil is compacted, look at soil aeration. Aeration is the process of helping create more space in the soil profile to better allow for water, nutrients and air to move throughout.

When soil becomes hard and compacted, your grassroots may become nutrient deficient, have difficulty accessing water, and struggle to grow deeper into the profile. This all affects your lawn’s overall health. Aerating your lawn now in Autumn will allow it to repair itself while it is still actively growing and help the grass be at its healthiest for the cooler months ahead.

Is It Worth Applying a Fertiliser to My Lawn in Autumn?

Did you know that Autumn is arguably one of the most important times to apply a fertiliser to your lawn? Addressing any nutrient deficiencies now will allow the lawn to recover before the cooler weather begins.

We recommend using our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser or Pro Plus Mini Prill for granular fertilisers.

The Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser is packed with both a fast and slow-release granule, providing your lawn with a good upfront boost, while continuing to feed your lawn over the coming weeks for best all-round results.

If you have a shortcut or a highly manicured lawn and need a granule that can make its way down into the profile, we recommend using our Pro Plus Mini Prill Fertiliser. This contains a control-release granule that will constantly provide nutrients to the lawn over 90 days.

If you prefer to use liquid lawn care products, Exceed Liquid Fertiliser will provide your lawn with a quick and upfront boost. Exceed Liquid Fertiliser is now available in a 2L Hose-on Bottle and a 2.5L Concentrate.

Do I Need to Apply Iron to My Lawn in Autumn?

Autumn is an ideal time to apply iron-based product like Iron Guard Plus to your lawn. Iron products are great to use when your grass is either heading into Winter or heading out of Winter, helping with colour enhancement, grass density and increased lateral growth.

Should I Use a Pre-Emergent in Autumn?

Autumn is one of the best times of the year to apply a pre-emergent herbicide like Oxafert or Oxafert Plus to your lawn. Pre-emergents work by targeting weed seedlings during their germination phase. Usually, pesky seasonal Winter weeds like Winter Grass will germinate in mid to late Autumn or when the average soil temperature reaches below 14°.

Therefore, it is best to time your Oxafert application just before the temperature drops, stopping Winter Grass from appearing on your lawn.

Do I Need to Be Mowing My Lawn Regularly in Autumn?

The short answer to this question is yes, but let’s consider why it is important. Although growth will start to slow over the coming weeks, this doesn’t mean you will need to stop mowing completely. Mowing regularly enough so that only one-third of the leaf is removed will help ensure your lawn stays thick and healthy heading into the cooler months.

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