Turf Talk is suitable for all turf professionals, from turf growers to landscapers, golf courses and sports ground curators, to government and related industry organisations.
Turf Talk is here to share with you the latest information on the turf industry, exciting developments in turf research and to keep you up to date with everything you need to know about turf.
Articles include:
Growing a Sporting Future for Echuca
Tafe NSW Students Front-Row at the NRL & NRLW Grand Final
Stampede – A New Standard in Buffalo Grass Performance
For any enquiries, submissions or to subscribe to either our digital edition or mailing list to receive a hard copy, please contact us at the following:
What is the best lawn fertiliser to use on my lawn and how should I apply it? This is a common question we get as there are so many different types and kinds of lawn fertilisers available. In this blog, we look at what exactly fertilisers are, the different types of premium quality lawn fertilisers that are available here in Australia, and when you should use them on your lawn.
Your lawn is like any other plant. It needs oxygen, water, sunlight, and nutrients to thrive. If your soil is lacking in nutrients, it won’t be able to perform to its full potential. Lawn Fertilisers can be used to help replace missing nutrients.
The 3 main macro-nutrients your lawn needs to thrive are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium otherwise known as NPK.
Nitrogen is largely responsible for the growth of the leaves and is the most talked about nutrient when it comes to lawns.
Phosphorus is largely responsible for root growth.
Potassium is a nutrient that helps the overall functions of the plant perform correctly. Potassium also helps the plant use nitrogen efficiently.
Lawn Fertilisers usually contain other micro-nutrients like iron, calcium, sulphur, zinc, manganese… the list goes on!
Different Types of Lawn Fertilisers
There are many different types of lawn fertilisers available, from liquids to granular, slow release, fast release, and controlled release.
Granular lawn fertilisers are a popular option and are easy to apply. Granular options are usually available as a slow release and will deliver nutrients to the lawn over a certain period. Spread fertiliser with a fertiliser spreader to ensure even application.
Liquid lawn fertilisers deliver quicker results because the grass blades absorb them directly. Apply them with a knapsack or pressure sprayer for the best coverage.
When to Apply a Lawn Fertiliser
For the best results, apply granular lawn fertilisers two to three times each year. Once in Spring, Summer, and Autumn. We recommend using the long weekends as a guide on when to do this, October long weekend, Australia Day, and the Easter long weekend.
Liquid lawn fertilisers can be applied more frequently as they are absorbed and used by the plant faster. Monthly applications of liquid fertilisers are usually recommended when active growth is present or when nutrient deficiency symptoms are visible.
What is the Best Fertiliser for My Lawn?
Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser is a granular lawn fertiliser that contains a combination of slow and fast release granules that will give your lawn a quick initial boost and will continue to feed the lawn for up to 12 weeks. This is a well-balanced lawn fertiliser that contains all the essential nutrients your lawn needs to stay healthy and is suitable for all lawn varieties.
Lawn Solutions Australia’s ProPlus Natural Carbon Fertiliser is a professional extended-release fertiliser in a mini-prill. This newly developed natural carbon based fertiliser minimises leaching by binding nutrients to naturally occurring carbon and is suitable for all grass types. If you cut your grass short with a cylinder mower, if you manage your nutrient inputs closely or maintain a specialised program, this is a great fertiliser for you.
Exceed Liquid Fertiliser is a great liquid lawn fertiliser option. Your grass absorbs this liquid fertiliser through its leaves, which gives it a fast boost. Exceed Liquid Fertiliser is available in both an easy to use hose-on product, as well as a concentrate for mixing in a garden sprayer or knapsack.
The Garden Gurus come to Lawn Solutions Australia!
Trevor from The Garden Gurus recently caught up with us at Lawn Solutions Australia to see how you can transform your yard into a vibrant oasis, by selecting the perfect grass for your home.
The Smart Approved WaterMark (SAWM) by the Water Conservancy is the first water efficiency accreditation scheme in the world to recognise drought-tolerant turf.
The Smart Approved Watermark was established by the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), Irrigation Australia, The Nursery and Garden Industry Association and the Australian Water Association, to provide an identifiable label for consumers so that they can make informed choices when choosing products, services and organisations that use water efficiently, reducing per capita water consumption and helping in the end goal of preserving such a precious resource.
In 2017, Lawn Solutions Australia applied for TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda to the Water Conservancy for Smart WaterMark Approval. TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda has led the way with independent testing through the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) with significant trial data provided in its application demonstrating its superior drought tolerance characteristics. As a result, TifTuf was awarded the Smart Approved WaterMark, but with an exemption for Western Australia and the Northern Territory with data yet to be finalised for performance in these states and territories at the time.
Additional testing data was submitted to SAWM on the 23rd of February 2024 and was presented to the SAWM Expert Panel for deliberation.
TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda Grass has now been approved by Smart Watermark’s Independent Expert Panel Nationally within Australia. The restriction has been lifted in Western Australia as well as in the Northern Territory from further testing results received.
TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is the first turf grass to receive this for drought tolerance in Australia or anywhere in the world.
About Smart Approved WaterMark
Smart Approved WaterMark (SAWM) is the one-stop shop for water efficiency in Australia. Through its Smart Water Advice program, SAWM delivers a range of educational, interactive water-saving resources for councils and water utilities to take to communities about saving water around the home, garden, and business. SAWM certifies water-efficient products and services in Australia. With Smart Water Solutions, SAWM helps businesses reduce their water use and save money by delivering water audits and recommendations. SAWM has also published the ‘Water Efficient Australia’ 2019 report and ‘Water Efficiency 2017’ in partnership with Water Services Association Australia (WSAA). Smart Approved WaterMark works towards a blue future that celebrates the many amazing qualities of water, its strength, and its vulnerability.
Smart Approved WaterMark is now Smart Drop Certified
After careful consideration, The Water Conservancy’s Advisory Panel has made a decision to rebrand the Smart Approved WaterMark in order to build consumer awareness. TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda has now adopted the new Smart Drop Certified Logo.
In the US, TifTuf has now also been certified under the program which means TifTuf is the first turf grass not just in Australia, but throughout the world, to receive recognition to this level of water saving efficiency.
There are a range of different types of lawn fertilisers, both granular and liquid. Check out our videos on the different products we have available, plus some tips on how to use and apply them.
What is the Best Type of Fertiliser for my Lawn?
Help Your Lawn Exceed! | Exceed Liquid Fertiliser
ProPlus Professional Fertiliser | Natural Carbon Mini-Prill Fertiliser
The Low-Down on Liquids | Liquid Fertiliser Products
How to Apply Granular Lawn Fertilisers with a Spreader | Fertiliser Spreader Settings
ColourGuard Plus is a grass pigment that is a great way to instantly restore the colour of your lawn during the cooler months. Once applied to the leaf, the pigment is absorbed into the plant providing a significant improvement to colour, and it works year round.
In this video, we look at how to use turf pigments on your lawn.
If you are a tennis fan, you have most likely been in awe of the grass courts at Wimbledon. These grass courts are meticulously maintained throughout the year to ensure they look their best and perform well. The grass courts play from May to September (excluding courts used for the championships). One aspect that makes this a truly unique lawn is that the soil base of the courts must be hard and dry. This helps allow the ball to bounce correctly. The courts are rolled and kept covered throughout competitions to ensure they are kept dry and firm for play.
There is a strong sense of tradition in all aspects of the preparation, with the turf surfaces maintained to an astonishingly high calibre. All the courts to this day are still marked out manually using string lines. The grass surfaces are made up of a combination of four different strains of ryegrass. The strains are reviewed and changed every single year in collaboration with the team at the Sport Turf Research Institute (STRI) to ensure the courts can perform at the highest standards possible. All courts are hand-mown using DeWalt Cylinder Mowers at a cut height of 8mm for Championship play.
Membership at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (AELTC) is notoriously exclusive. Head of Courts and Horticulture, Neil Stubley stated that the easiest way to become a member is to win The Wimbledon Championship. Even as a champion player like Rafael Nadal, if the practice courts are booked by AELTC Members, you must wait your turn to play. All members are required to reserve their practice court times. Maintaining control over the use of all turf surfaces is critical to delivering grass courts of the highest standard in world tennis.
Turf Talk is suitable for all turf professionals, from turf growers to landscapers, golf courses and sports ground curators, to government and related industry organisations.
Turf Talk is here to share with you the latest information on the turf industry, exciting developments in turf research and to keep you up to date with everything you need to know about turf.
Some topics in this issue include:
New Buffalo Grass: Expansion Update for Stampede Hybrid Buffalo
For any enquiries, submissions or to subscribe to either our digital edition or mailing list to receive a hard copy, please contact us at the following:
AusGAP stands for the Australian Genetic Assurance Program. It’s an industry-led certification program developed to ensure that turfgrass varieties sold to the Australian market meet the highest standards of genetic purity, quality, and performance.
What is AusGAP?
AusGAP was established to give consumers, landscapers, and turf managers confidence that the turf they are purchasing is:
Genetically pure and true-to-type
Free from weeds, disease, and pest contamination
Grown and harvested under strict production standards
Sourced from licensed and audited turf farms
Why Lawn Solutions Australia Suppliers Provide Certified Turf
Lawn Solutions Australia (LSA) is a national group of turf producers committed to supplying premium turfgrass varieties. LSA ensures its turf suppliers supply AusGAP certified turfgrass for the following key reasons:
Quality Assurance
Certification guarantees that every roll or slab of turf meets high standards of health, consistency, and appearance. This aligns with LSA’s mission to offer premium, reliable lawn solutions across Australia.
With AusGAP certification, LSA can confidently promote its turf as being authentic and superior, building trust with homeowners, landscapers, and sporting facilities who expect consistent results.
Independent Certification
AusGAP audits are carried out by independent third parties. This external oversight helps reinforce transparency and accountability in the supply chain. By supporting AusGAP, LSA contributes to raising the bar for the entire Australian turf industry. It sets a professional standard and demonstrates leadership in quality control and environmental responsibility.
