April 2026

How To Help Your Lawn Stay Healthy in Extreme Weather

Posted on April 1, 2026April 1, 2026 by Sarah

Has recent extreme weather left your lawn looking worse for wear? Wondering how to help it bounce back before the cooler months arrive? In this blog, we take a look at how extreme conditions can impact your lawn and share some practical tips to help it recover.

Skip to: How to Help Your Lawn in Hot and Humid Weather? How To Help Your Lawn in Hot and Dry Weather? How To Help Your Lawn in Wet Weather?

How To Help Your Lawn in Hot and Humid Weather?

Hot and humid weather can create some challenging conditions for your lawn, including increased disease pressure, heat stress, reduced evaporation, and rapid growth. However, there are a few simple management practices you can follow to help your lawn cope during these conditions.

How Should I Water My Lawn?

Water your lawn in the morning before the heat of the day. Avoid watering in the late afternoon or evening, as this can leave the lawn sitting damp overnight and create ideal conditions for disease to develop.

How Often Should I Mow My Lawn?

Although it is best to avoid mowing when the lawn is wet, it is still important to mow regularly when possible. If there is a break in the weather and the grass has had a chance to dry out, even later in the day when there has been no rainfall, take the opportunity to give the lawn a mow and keep on top of its growth.

How Can I Stop Soil Compaction?

When soil remains damp and foot traffic continues, compaction can occur much more quickly. If your lawn is struggling or certain areas are experiencing drainage issues, aerating the soil can help relieve compaction and improve soil structure. This can also assist the lawn in drying out more efficiently.

How To Help Your Lawn in Hot and Dry Weather?

When the weather turns hot and dry, lawns can quickly become stressed. Common issues that may occur under these conditions include heat stress, dry patches, and hydrophobic soils. Here are some tips to help your lawn cope during periods of hot and dry weather.

Should I Apply A Wetting Agent To My Lawn?

Wetting agents like Lawn Soaker help the soil absorb water more effectively. This will help moisture to move down into the soil profile where the grass roots need it most. This helps your lawn make better use of available water and reduces the risk of heat stress.

If water is still struggling to soak into the soil, aerating the lawn can help improve penetration and further assist with water absorption.

When should I water my lawn?

Using the right watering practices is key to helping your lawn manage hot conditions. Rather than watering lightly and frequently, it’s better to water for a longer period but less often. This encourages deeper root growth and helps the lawn access moisture further down in the soil.

Always aim to water in the morning before the heat of the day, using a sprinkler that provides even coverage across the lawn. We have some further tips on correct watering practices here.

How To Help Your Lawn in Wet Weather?

During periods of wet weather, lawns can remain damp for extended periods, which may lead to a range of issues. Some common problems associated with prolonged wet conditions include waterlogged soil, drainage issues, and increased disease pressure.

How Can I Improve the Drainage on My Lawn?

If drainage has been an issue during wet weather in the past, improving your lawn’s drainage can help the grass dry out more quickly and reduce the risk of damage.

For minor drainage problems, there are some steps you may be able to take yourself to help improve water movement through the soil. We have some further tips on how to do this here. However, in more severe cases, it is best to consult with a drainage professional to determine the most suitable solution for your area.

Can I Mow After Rainfall?

After periods of prolonged rainfall, it’s best to wait until the lawn has had a chance to dry before mowing. Mowing wet grass can lead to uneven cuts and may place additional stress on the lawn.

If the grass has grown taller than usual while waiting for the lawn to dry, consider raising your mowing height for the first cut. You can then gradually lower it back to your usual mowing height over the next few mows. We have some further tips on mowing a wet lawn here.

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

Attracting Native Wildlife to Your Lawn

Posted on April 1, 2026 by Sarah

Australia has an incredible diversity of wildlife with many of these native animals providing benefits to your garden like pollinating plants, helping to control pests, and improving the health of your soil. By attracting these animals to your lawn, you can receive these benefits while also helping to keep the local ecosystem balanced. In this blog we’ll cover a few ways that you can attract native wildlife to your lawn. For more information on how to attract native birds to your lawn, you can check out our blog.

Skip to: Plant pollinator plants around your lawn, Bird baths and water sources, Leaf litter in garden beds, Native trees and shrubs.

Plant Pollinator Plants Around Your Lawn

Growing a variety of pollinator plants in your backyard will create a food source for a range of native animals, attracting them to your lawn. The pollinator plants can attract native birds, bees, and butterflies. By having a variety of pollinator plants, you will provide several options for the native animals in your area.

Smaller insects like native bees and butterflies will prefer open flowers that they can easily access.

Native birds like lorikeets will prefer plants with blooms rich in nectar providing a tasty food source.

Native pollinator plants options include bottlebrush, banksias, and kangaroos paw. Some of these plants will be better suited to specific regions of Australia. Get in contact with your local nursery to find out which ones will be best suited to your garden.

Bird Baths and Water Sources

When it comes to supporting native wildlife, water sources are just as important as food sources, especially in the hot summer months. Bird baths can provide a place to bathe and drink for birds in your lawn. The best way to place these is to find a spot that is raised off the ground and near trees and shrubs, so that they feel safe from predators. Changing the water in the bird bath every few days will help to keep it clean and keep native birds visiting your garden.

If you have enough space in your lawn, a small pond can attract several different kinds of animal. Frogs, lizards, and dragonflies will all use ponds as a place to rest, breed, and drink. Surrounding a pond with some small rocks or dense plants provides shelter and protection, making it more enticing for the native wildlife.

Leaf Litter in Garden Beds

Leaf litter plays an important role in the ecology of your lawn. Leaves and debris create a habitat for insects. This, in turn, creates a food source for native birds, lizards, and frogs who will all be attracted to your lawn. This leaf litter can also provide shelter for smaller lizards and frogs. They will use it to hide from predators and regulate their temperature in hotter weather.

As it decomposes, the debris will improve the soil health in your lawn. It releases nutrients into the soil and helps retain moisture in the ground.

Instead of raking and throwing away leaf litter and debris, try to leave some in garden beds or in quiet corners of your lawn. You may even want to mix in some sticks and barks to make a functional habitat for reptiles and insects.

Native Trees and Shrubs

Native trees and shrubs provide wildlife with essential shelter, nesting sites, and protection from predators.

Dense shrubs and bushes like westringia or tea trees provide shelter for smaller birds like wrens and finches. These small birds prefer thick plant cover that allows them to hide from predators and build nests that are hidden.

Larger trees like eucalyptus and paperbarks provide nectar and seeds, and attract insects which many animals feed on. The canopy of these larger trees also provides perching and nesting spots for birds like cockatoos, kookaburras, and rosellas.

By filling your lawn with native trees and shrubs, you provide native wildlife with a safe, long-term home.

For more advice on how you can improve your lawn, check out our other blogs.

What is Slime Mould, and Do I Need to be Worried?

Posted on April 1, 2026 by Sarah

Have you noticed unusual or strange growths appearing on your lawn lately? It could be Slime Mould, a curious, harmless growth that can show up in wet and cool weather or hot and humid conditions, like we’ve been experiencing recently. So, what should you do if Slime Mould appears on your lawn? Let’s find out…

Scientific name: Myxomycetes

Skip to: What Are Slime Moulds? Why Do Slime Moulds Grow? What Do Slime Moulds Look Like in Lawns? Are There Different Types of Slime Moulds? Do I Need to Remove Slime Moulds?

What Are Slime Moulds?

Despite the name, Slime Moulds aren’t true moulds. They belong to the group Myxomycetes, part of the kingdom Protozoa, which means they are neither plants, animals, nor fungi.

Because slime moulds aren’t true fungi, they cannot cause lawn diseases and are completely harmless to your lawn.

Why Do Slime Moulds Grow?

Slime Moulds usually start to appear after periods of heavy rain, excessive irrigation, or high humidity. They are also more likely to thrive when the lawn contains plenty of organic matter and microorganisms, including decaying plant material, soil fungi and bacteria, or a thick layer of thatch in the turf profile.

What Do Slime Moulds Look Like in Lawns?

Slime Moulds can come in a variety of colours, including grey, white, orange, purple and black.

They can appear in a variety of forms. Some look like a powdery or crusty coating on the grass blades, others resemble thousands of tiny eggs, and some are compared to dog vomit!

Are There Different Types of Slime Moulds?

When it comes to Slime Moulds, there are two main types: cellular and plasmodial. Of these, plasmodial Slime Moulds are much easier to spot in nature.

Some of the most common plasmodial Slime Moulds include:

Fuligo septica – also called the “dog vomit” Slime Mould, yellow in colour.
Physarum cinereum – appears as black or grey spots.
Mucilago crustacea – forms a white or yellowish mass.

Facts:

There are over 1,200 known species of Plasmodial Slime Moulds.
Australia has the largest number of known Slime Moulds of any region of the southern hemisphere.

Do I Need to Remove Slime Moulds?

Slime Moulds usually look worse than they actually are! They won’t harm your grass, but they aren’t the most visually appealing thing to have growing in your lawn. To remove them, simply use a broom or garden rake to brush the slime off the lawn.

Once the weather dries out and the ideal growing conditions disappear, Slime Mould will usually clear up on its own.

If damp conditions persist longer than you’d like, aerating the soil and reducing excess irrigation can help keep Slime Mould at bay.

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

Can I Install a New Lawn in Autumn?

Posted on April 1, 2026 by Sarah

While most people think that they must install a new lawn in spring or summer, autumn can often provide better conditions for laying new turf. With cooling air temperatures but warm soil, conditions are primed for turf to establish. In this blog, we look at why you should install a lawn in autumn. For more information on the installation process, you can check out our blog on how to install a new lawn.

Skip to: Why lay a new lawn in Autumn? What if temperatures have dropped? What turf variety should I lay? What’s next?

Why Lay a New Lawn in Autumn?

Warm soil temperatures which encourage root growth, but cooler air temperatures that reduce heat stress on the grass.
Less irrigation is required in autumn due to the temperature being cooler than in summer and spring.
You allow the turf to establish before winter dormancy, ensuring a fast recovery and strong growth once spring arrives.

By laying your new lawn in autumn you can greatly reduce your water usage. As air temperatures are lower than in spring and summer, and rainfall is often far greater, you can significantly reduce the amount of watering the lawn requires. In some colder areas this can mean watering half as often as you would during spring and summer.

The autumn weather also provides ideal conditions for grass to establish. Warm soil temperatures allow the roots of the grass to develop before the cold of winter arrives and the grass becomes dormant, but cooler air temperatures reduce the stress on the grass. As temperatures begin to decline through the season, the risk of your lawn suffering heat stress and having its establishment stunted decreases.

What if Temperatures Have Dropped?

In many areas of Australia, towards the end of autumn temperatures can begin to drop rapidly. Though this may lead to some hesitancy regarding laying new turf, this is nothing to worry about. Laying turf once the weather is cooler and the grass is in dormancy means that the lawn won’t root down properly until the weather begins to warm again in spring. This doesn’t mean the grass is dead, simply that it is waiting until temperatures rise to properly establish itself. Keep traffic and mowing to a minimum and the lawn will be fine once spring arrives. You can check out our blog on installing a new lawn in winter for more information.

What Turf Variety Should I Lay?

There are many factors that affect which turf type will suit you best. Your climate, budget, sunlight, and the amount of wear the lawn receives are just a few.

If you have a lawn that receives direct sunlight throughout the whole day, you can take your pick of almost any grass variety. However, if your lawn is shaded during the day and only receives a few hours of direct sunlight, your options are restricted. Sir Walter DNA Certified, will be the best option for you as it is an industry leader in shade tolerance, requiring as little as 3-4 hours of direct sunlight a day. We also have our beautiful zoysia grasses Zoysia Australis and Sir Grange Zoysia, both of which have gorgeous soft leaves and a beautiful green colour which gives a lawn a lovely aesthetic. Alternatively, if you are looking for a hearty grass that is drought resistant and can stand up to the wear and tear of pets and kids, take a look at our fast-repairing TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda. TifTuf is the only grass to be SmartDrop Certified globally for its high drought tolerance and minimal water requirements. This, in combination with the cooler temperatures and higher rainfall of the autumn months, means you can significantly reduce the amount of water required for the establishment of your lawn.

Turf Selector

What Next?

Once you have decided on a turf type, the next step will be contacting your local Lawn Solutions turf supplier. All our turf suppliers are AusGAP certified, guaranteeing that you will always get turf of the highest quality. This certification requires constant monitoring and assessment of the grass, ensuring it is free of weeds, pests, and diseases.

Don’t wait, install your lawn this autumn and have the lawn of your dreams ready for spring.

Find your local Lawn Solutions turf provider here.