nathe, Author at Lawn Solutions Australia - Page 7 of 11

5 things you didn’t know you could compost

Composting is a great way to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and also a way of creating nutritious material that is ideal for your garden and lawn.

Compost Structure

A good layered compost will have a combination of both green waste products and brown waste products.

Green Waste (nitrogen) – These include fresh plant waste, grass, vege scraps, and coffee grounds – items generally high in nitrogen.

Brown Waste (carbon) – These include dried or aged plant material such as dead leaves, newspaper, straw, wood shavings and cardboard. These items add carbon to your compost.

A good combination of both is ideal, with a higher amount of brown material to ensure your pile doesn’t get too wet and smelly. On the flipside, if it’s too dry, then more green waste is required.

Banana peels, vege scraps and spoiled food waste from the kitchen are your usual suspects that go into the household compost bin, but there are some items you may not realise can also go in.

Here’s 5…

Hair

Pet hair, human hair from a hairbrush, it can all go in! Hair contains nitrogen which helps the decomposition process. Spread the hair throughout the green items in your compost to help it break down quicker.

Beer

Geez, I hope there aren’t any half empty beer bottles going to waste, but if there are, don’t just pour them down the drain! Beer can be added to your compost pile as well. Beer will help speed up the composting process, as it’s biodegradable. In addition, the yeast in the beer will feed microbes within the soil.

Tea Bags

Believe it or not, tea bags increase the speed at which your compost decomposes. But make sure your tea bags are compostable as some contain polypropylene and won’t decompose properly. The organic matter from the tea leaves provides moisture which promotes earthworms.

Eggshells

When tilled into the soil, ground eggshells provide your plants with calcium. Though nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are most vital for healthy growth, calcium is also essential for building healthy “bones”— the cell walls of a plant. It’s important the eggshells are finely ground as they won’t decompose well otherwise.

Fireplace Ashes

Green waste breaking down can create an acidic environment. Wood ash from your fireplace is more alkaline. This means that ashes from your fireplace can provide a neutralising effect on your compost pile. Ashes also provide nutrients in the form of lime and potassium, which can improve soil health.

Compost for top dressing a lawn

When your compost is broken down and is mostly soil-like in appearance, without much of an unpleasant odour, it will be ready for use.

A good aged compost material for top dressing your lawn will provide organic nutrients and moisture to your lawn. It will provide your lawn some of the key ingredients it needs to stay healthy and creating a beneficial soil environment for microbial activity. Compost for top dressing will also improve the ability for your soil to hold moisture, which is really important for drought proofing your lawn.

Lawn Solutions Australia - Jason Hodges



African Black Beetle | Lawn Grubs

African Black Beetle

Scientific name: Heteronychus arator

Black beetles can be a common sight in and around your lawn. They are a natural part of the ecosystem and play an important role. We sometimes hear from people who have noticed them in their lawn and are concerned that they may be damaging their grass.

Here’s what you need to know…

It is rare that adult black beetle will cause much harm worth worrying about, it’s the root feeding black beetle larvae that cause the most damage. So, it’s important to understand their lifecycle and signs of infestation, so that you can take prompt action when they become active.

Description

Black beetle eggs are laid in spring and early summer. After several weeks the eggs hatch and the larvae or grubs emerge that then feed on the grass roots. It is when large numbers of these eggs hatch that it is a serious problem for some lawns. These larvae develop through 3 stages, the fully-grown larvae at the end of the third stage are around 25mm long. You will need to be particularly vigilant as the weather warms up, usually September to March, and after heavy rain.

The larvae then move into pre-pupae and pupae stages which cause no damage to your lawn, before developing into adults after about 2 months, in late Summer or early Autumn.

lawn grubs

Adult beetles are black and shiny, about 15mm long, with brown serrated legs. The beetles are dormant or semi-dormant through the winter before laying eggs again in spring where the cycle repeats.

black beetle

Symptoms

As a result of extensive root damage caused by these larvae, your lawn can no longer take up the moisture and nutrient it requires efficiently. This causes the grass to become dry and straw like, as it would during severe drought conditions.

When at its worst, the grass will actually be able to be peeled back easily from the soil surface as the roots have been eaten away. This is when you will inevitably find a large number of feeding larvae.

Treatment for Lawn Grubs

Due to the rate at which the grubs feed and move across your lawn, the number of eggs they lay, and the sheer numbers involved in an infestation, delaying treatment can be disastrous. Your local turf farmer can supply advice and treatment options.

You can also source fast-acting insecticide products here on our website as well, such as Lawn Solutions Battle Insecticide to get the job sorted quickly and easily. Always remember to follow the manufacturer’s handling and safety instructions.

battle insecticide bifenthrin
Battle Insecticide

The most effective time to apply the treatment is as late in the day as possible while the adults are active.

To ensure the grubs are eradicated, apply the treatment again in two weeks. This is an especially important timeframe because eggs take 2-5 weeks to hatch and more grub’s will become present. A re-application at this point will ensure that any missed eggs or grubs are eliminated.

Prevention for Lawn Grubs and Pests

Unfortunately attack by these grubs can happen to any lawn and can occur numerous times during a season.

This is why we recommend Grub Guard Ultimate, Acelepryn GR, and Acelepryn Liquid. These products provide safe and effective control of black beetle while minimising the impact on the environment and non-target organisms, such as bees and earthworms.

Grub Guard Ultimate Acelepryn
Grub Guard Ultimate

Acelepryn targets pests such as black beetle, stem weevil, cut worm and army worm. The great thing about Acelepryn in comparison to other pesticides, is that it’s preventative. This is why spring is a great time to spread it out and protect your lawn for up to six months.

Can your lawn thrive with chickens?

The short answer? Yes. The long answer follows, starting with it depends on how big your lawn is and how many chickens you have.

If you have a lush, thick lawn with no bare areas, then your chickens (providing there aren’t too many) and your lawn can both thrive together. Chooks eat slugs, bugs, leaves, weeds and grass clippings, plus aerate the soil. If there are some bare patches in your lawn you can put some wire mesh over them to stop your chickens exacerbating the problem and allow time for repair. Of course, selecting the right grass variety for your area is extremely important to give you the best possible chance of success if you want chickens roaming on it. Ultimately, you’ll have to monitor your lawn to determine if action is required.

Coop or free range?

Chickens like to dig holes and take dust baths, which could lead to your lawn looking more like a chipping zone on a golf course. However, you can largely avoid this by using some sort of enclosure or deterrent.

Perhaps the simplest method is to fence off areas you don’t want your chickens on or in. If that doesn’t suit, you could install a large coop for them to run about in. This will likely kill off the lawn inside, however you’ll provide your feathered friends a fixed home that’s separated from your garden beds.

Chooks will pick at your veggies and fruit, plus their fresh manure contains pathogens, so if you’re thinking of free-range, place some wire cages over these areas to prevent damaging attacks and contamination problems.

If you do notice your chickens are digging where they’re not welcome, you can construct a kitty litter area or box containing coarse sand. This then acts as a place for them to scratch about and have a dust bath.

Another alternative is to employ a lawn tractor (also known as a chicken mower). This gives you maximum control over your chickens’ access to your lawn. Many chicken lovers adopt this approach, as it offers a good compromise. These movable pens, often with wire at the base, allow you to supply your chooks with fresh grass, while the pens prevent excessive digging.

Free lawn food 

Chooks eat many damaging pests and create a free, nutrient-rich organic fertiliser. Beware though, due to its high nitrogen content, fresh  manure can burn your lawn if it’s too concentrated in one area. Plus, the manure harbours pathogens, so beware if you have children, or pets apart from chickens. It’s for this reason fresh chook poo is no good for applying to your veggie patch, either. It must be composted first.

Chooks and lawn fertiliser

Granular fertiliser and chickens don’t mix. Chickens can peck and pick at granules buried in your lawn. The best idea is to not spread granular fertiliser where your chickens roam. If you do want to fertilise in these areas, you must make sure the granules have completely dissolved before you allow your chickens to return to these areas.

How to add value to your home

You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to increase your home’s appeal. Simply investing a little time in a clean and tidy can do wonders for your home’s street appeal and value. Of course, sometimes a small outlay can make further substantial improvements.

Let’s focus on the front of your house, which is where the first, and lasting impression may be made.

Easy wins

Your garage door makes up a fair percentage of your home’s frontage. So you can achieve a large gain with a quick brush off of any cobwebs and removal of any dust and grime. If you’re preparing for a house inspection, turn your attention to the rollers and running tracks of the door as well to really impress would-be buyers.

add home value

Walkways, your driveway and concrete verandahs are further easy wins. Who doesn’t get a kick out of a bit of pressure washing?

Windows

A clear, uninterrupted view of your garden from indoors not only makes you feel good, it’s easily achievable. The secret? A little methylated spirits mixed in water. Squeegee your windows inside and out and lap up the praise you receive from your visitors.

Gutters

Gutters that do their job go unnoticed, but importantly, add to the impression of a well-maintained home. A scoot up the ladder for a quick tidy means rainwater will collect where it’s supposed to – in your tank – and not spill over, leaving your freshly cleaned porches puddle free. A clean of your gutters also means you’re better prepared for possible bushfires.

Furniture

Your outdoor furniture gets a lot of use for barbecues, parties and general good times. A splash of furniture oil on your wooden tables and chairs will give them a lift and keep them in top condition year-round.

Lawns and gardens

Here’s where you can really make a big difference to your home’s appeal. A lush, thick lawn looks amazing and isn’t hard to pull off. A fifteen-minute facelift is the perfect place to begin. To make your lawn really come alive (instantaneously!) you can apply a little bit of magic in the form of ColourGuard. This inexpensive lawn paint will green your lawn, give it a health kick and transform your front yard if your lawn’s looking a little tired. To top it off, you’ll get a greater sense of space and allow more light onto your renewed lawn by shaping your hedges and shrubs.

Need a new lawn?

For more information on the different turf varieties available and the characteristics that would be best suited for your lawn area click here.

grass that needs less water

Once you have an idea of which turf varieties you prefer, contact your local turf supplier directly or submit an online quote. With an online quote, you will receive up to three quotes from your local Lawn Solutions Australia accredited turf suppliers within 48 hours. Easy as. You can submit a free quote request here.

Finishing touches

A front door dressed in a modern colour looks smart and inviting. And while you’ve got your painting gear out you can revitalise your fences, fascia and window frames, too. So cheap for a high-class result!

If you’re not the gardening type, it doesn’t get any easier than this – potted, low-maintenance plants. There are two great benefits to these: an immediate pay-off, plus you can take them with you if you move.

There’s not just a financial gain to a spruce up of your home. Easily seen numbers on your letterbox means you’ll receive the right mail, and pizza when it’s still hot. A buff up also makes it super easy for home buyers to find your address for your open home inspections.

Lastly, some ornamental lighting in your garden beds will really make your handiwork pop, but before you take your sunset shot for Instagram, stand back and appreciate what you’ve achieved: an increase in your home’s value.

2019 must-have items for your backyard

Who doesn’t want to sit about and soak in the sun’s rays while reading, meditating or having a few quiet drinks? Here are some hot backyard furniture items that will get you out into the garden this spring.

Get comfy in style. Enjoy the outdoors in this spectacular looking lounge – great for you and great for your garden.

Outdoor Hammock Bed

This outdoor hammock bed is great for laying about in.

Start a new novel, or … siesta all afternoon, then watch movies on your outdoor projector set-up into the small hours. Wake at sunrise, rinse and repeat!

Swinging Egg Chair

Cocoon yourself in this luxury, swinging egg chair and enjoy some time out with the latest Booker-Prize winner.

You’ll need a flat stretch of lawn for this one. If you can beat the kids (or even dog or cat) to this retreat, hours of contemplative thought and relaxation await. Perhaps you’ll just admire your garden for a while.

Festive Lighting

You can create a carnival feel or modify the mood to fun and colourful to accompany your movie watching with these lights.

These lanterns are easy to install and add an instant lift to your outdoor space.

Don’t wait for birthdays or special events, make it happen today, or more importantly, tonight – and then every weekend.

Lawn Rugs

Hang on a minute. Do you need furniture at all? How about a rug?

Dust off your guitar and play in the sunshine or perhaps your kids would like to host their own picnic?

The Built-In Lawn Seat

OK, DIYer, you’re saying ‘What about me’? Well, may we present the built-in lawn seat?

Get out your shovel, get to your local LSA turf supplier for a couple of slabs of TifTuf or Sir Walter and plonk it onto your custom-built, in-ground chair.

These beauties are tricky to mow, but the longer the lawn grows the comfier the seats get.

How about a cantilever umbrella? One of these allows you to remain outside in the heat of the day. And it can shade your lawn (or lawn seat!), too.

Oversize Cushions

Oversize outdoor cushions. Your kids will love jumping onto these or maybe you just want to spoil your pooch?

Just because it’s getting warmer it doesn’t mean every evening is T-shirt and shorts weather. Some nights you may still need (or simply want) a fire pit. Make sure you check out your local rules and regulations.  Check out our safety tips for using a fire pit here and stock up on marshmallows.

Before you set off to grab a new piece for your backyard, here’s a few final lawn care tips: remember to shift the position of the furniture on your lawn periodically to keep it looking pristine. If the area around the furniture is compacted, aerate with a garden fork or aerating sandals to allow air, water and nutrients to the grass’s roots.

If you’re relocating your furniture, try to place it on an area of the lawn that minimises how much shade the lawn will receive.

How long can my lawn survive without water?

Drought conditions are impacting a lot of areas at the moment and being environmentally responsible with water use is more important than ever. At the same time, many of us would also like to install or maintain a beautiful green lawn. Fortunately, it is only in the most severe of conditions, over a considerable amount of time, that your lawn could suffer to the point where it would completely die off due to lack of water.

Warm season turfgrass species commonly used in Australia need very little water to survive and are very hardy.

How long can my lawn survive without water?

Despite grass being generally soft and delicate, it’s actually very resilient. Most common lawn types in Australia can survive extended periods of drought. They will lose colour, become brown and dry, with little to no leaf growth, but they will generally sit dormant until the next rain or irrigation event.

In summer when temperatures are really high, grasses will enter a state of dormancy where they shut down tissue growth to preserve moisture loss. You can usually tell if a lawn is dormant rather than dead by looking at the crown at the base of the leaves. If the crown is white to off white, it is likely that it is still alive. A dead lawn will be dry, brown and brittle across the entire plant – the leaves, the roots and the crown.

The point where turf grass really starts to suffer and wilt, is referred to as its permanent wilting point (PWP).

As the soil becomes drier, plant roots need to work harder to extract water. Eventually the plant is unable to extract any further water from the soil – its PWP. Turf grasses with some level of drought tolerance will not die when the turf plant reaches its permanent wilting point. Many grasses can stay in dormancy for 3-4 weeks without beginning to deteriorate to the point of plant death. When the prolonged period without rain ends, the turf is able to regenerate from rhizomes and stolons.

To prevent the death of your grass you will eventually need to provide the moisture that it desperately needs. This, however, is difficult when your area is suffering an extended period of drought and has strict water restrictions in place that you need to adhere to. But there are still ways you can help your lawn.

What can I do to help my lawn survive a drought?

  • Remove thatch – Removing dead material from the lawn profile will help the living plant to absorb all the available moisture.
  • Aeration – Improving the ability for water to penetrate to the roots will be important to take best advantage of water when it is available, but also to improve moisture in the soil where it is needed during the next dry spell.
  • Stay off the lawn – Your grass is already having a hard time and the drier it is, the more it is likely to be damaged and not be able to recover from foot traffic or additional wear.
  • Effective watering – When you can water, do so for longer, less frequently. Encourage deeper roots that can delve deeper into the soil to find moisture. This will allow your lawn to stay hydrated for longer, even if there has been an extended period without rain.

How much water does grass need?

Water is fundamental for grass to transport nutrients, maintain cell structure and for it to create its own food through the process of photosynthesis.

For the most part, this water requirement will be met through rainfall or soil moisture storage. This available moisture is lost over time through the leaf of the grass. If the roots cannot maintain this level of moisture to the leaf, the leaves will close their stomata. Stomata are cells that form the pores of the leaf surface. When the stomata are closed, there will be limited growth due to its inability to take in carbon dioxide.

During water restrictions that were in place in the Sydney area during 2003-2009, public areas, sports fields and the like were able to survive on very limited rain without additional irrigation. Areas with deep loam soils performed best, with the grass able to rely on water reserves stored within the soil.

When should I irrigate?

The simple answer is – when your lawn needs it. It is important that you only irrigate your lawn when there is not enough rainfall to meet the needs of your lawn. When you do water, do so within the rules outlined by local water restrictions.

Turf researchers are continually testing new strains of grass for superior traits that are critical for a sustainable environment. Drought tolerance is one of the most important factors for Australian turf growers. With new, improved, more drought-tolerant varieties becoming available that are much better equipped to handle these prolonged periods without rain.


Lawn Solutions R&D programs have a strong focus on bringing lawn to Australian consumers that not only look great but use much less water than older varieties and once established will need little to no water to stay alive.

New turf varieties such as TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda (couch), have been selected and released to the market because of it’s superior drought tolerance.

tiftuf - Lawn Solutions Australia

For more information on the best turf varieties to suit your local conditions, you can contact Lawn Solutions Australia directly here.

Which veggies will you nurture this spring?

Butter on barbecued corn … from the veggie patch in your garden. Mmmmm.

What? You don’t have a veggie garden? Well, lets get planning!

Prepare your patch

Even with just a small area size, you and your family can be harvesting the benefits of eating home grown veggies!

When it comes to planting your veggie gardens, raised gardens are a much-loved option for veggie gardens. Raised garden beds will allow you to plant your veggies earlier than usual as they tend to be warmer than the earth, providing you with a longer growing season. Raised garden beds will also help reduce the need to bend and kneel when tending to your crop. For larger plants like corn or for climbing vegetables, you may want to consider planting directly into the soil.

For your veggie patch it is best to use a soil that is rich in organic matter. Something with a compost mixture or manure will also help make your soil rich in nutrients.

soil

Let’s grow!

Once you’ve prepared your veggie patch, it’s time to plant. But of course, you need to grow what’s suitable for your climate.

What you can plant:

  • For warmer locales you could try zucchini, eggplant, corn, pumpkin or rocket.
  • Cooler climates perhaps peas, spinach or turnip.
  • More temperate regions you may consider broccoli, eggplant, silverbeet or carrots.

Consult your nursery as to what’s best in your area and remember that if you’re still suffering frosts or your soil temperature is still too cold, hold off for a little longer.

Mmmmm, corn  

We can’t cover all your favourite vegetables here, but because we love grass, we’ve chosen a grass vegetable.

As with lawn, corn likes a loamy soil, which comprises sand, silt, organic matter and clay. Guess what pH corn likes? Same as grass, of course: 6 to 7. Consult your seed variety packet for how far apart to plant, but remember to plant in blocks, rather than rows, as wind pollinates the corn. And just like your lawn, corn thrives on chicken manure, so ensure to mix some into your soil before planting.

Similar to lawn, less frequent, deep watering is best. Water your corn once a week as opposed to a light watering several times. In a little over two months your corn will be ready to harvest. Sweet!

growing corn

Count on clippings

Apart from the gastronomical benefits of a veggie garden, it provides a great place to recycle your lawn clippings, either as mulch or as compost. Grass clippings have a high nitrogen content and decompose quickly. When they’re combined with brown organic material (such as the leaves you raked up in your spring clean) to decompose, they provide a compost that’s fit for your veggies.

When used as mulch, grass clippings help to keep your garden moist, keep weeds out and add nutrients to the soil. The clippings also help to provide nitrogen and potassium. Both compost and mulch improve your soil structure but remember not to use clippings if you’ve recently applied herbicides or other chemicals such as fertilisers on your lawn.

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

Lawn Solutions enewsletter

How do I make my grass grow thicker?

Feel like your grass grows quickly, but never really looks that great because it’s too sparse?

You might notice your neighbour’s lawn always looks thick and lush, but yours, even though it’s the same variety, just doesn’t quite look the same.

There are many factors that could be contributing to your lawn’s poor performance. The main culprits are shade, compaction or a pest related issue. Look as these potential issues first to rule these out as the problem. If you don’t, the underlying problem will continue to cause you headaches and you will never get the result you are looking for.

If you have ruled out shade, compaction and pests, it could simply boil down to a difference in mowing techniques. A few tweaks to the way you mow your lawn and the frequency can make all the difference.

How do I make my grass grow thicker?

Let’s start with mowing:

Regular mowing – Regular mowing promotes lateral growth. If you don’t let your lawn get too long, more sun can penetrate to encourage growth.

Mowing in different directions – If you mow in the same direction all the time, the grass tends to stay pointed in that direction. Going over your lawn in different directions will help the grass to grow straight up, leaving more room for blades to grow next to it.

Mowing short – If you mow short (not too short), your grass will learn to grow thicker with more lateral growth.  If you leave it too long, once again sun can’t penetrate as easily, and you end up with a patchy lawn, particularly when you end up cutting off more than a third of the leaf to bring the level back down.

In addition to mowing, it is important not to forget the overall health of your grass. The healthier your lawn is, the more likely it is to grow thicker and spread.

Key principles that are important to lawn health:

Fertilise – Most lawn fertilisers contain a balance of nutrients ideal for grass health. One of these nutrients is potassium. Potassium functions within the cell of the grass and provides strength to the whole plant. It helps with the internal processes, including photosynthesis, respiration and protein production creating thicker cell walls.

Water – When your lawn runs out of water and ability to draw moisture from the soil, it reaches its permanent wilting point (PWP). This is where your lawn will start to suffer, and wilt and growth will slow to an almost complete stop.

Dethatching – Excessive thatch in the turf profile makes it difficult for your lawn to take in nutrients, creates moisture loss and causes a barrier that makes it difficult for the living matter to thicken and spread.

Eliminating all weeds and invading turf species – It goes without saying really, but if there’s space in your lawn for more grass to grow, it’s likely there is space for weeds to appear as well. Hand weed what you can, spray with herbicides when required and allow your grass to spread into these areas instead.

Limit wear and unnecessary stress – Less stress will also ensure grass is in top health which will also improve density.

Plant Growth Regulators (PGR’s) – You might have heard of a treatment that will reduce the frequency you need to mow your lawn. These chemicals were designed primarily to slow vertical plant growth to reduce clippings and mowing requirements in commercial situations like on sports fields or golf courses. Energy is then redirected to the roots and towards lateral growth. The end result is a grass that is more tightly knit, thicker, and more capable of handling stress.

lawn solutions newsletter

Dynamic Lifter – Good for your lawn?

A staple product in many backyard sheds around the country, Dynamic Lifter is an organic product packed with good stuff for your garden.

If it’s good for your garden, then it must be well suited to your grass as well, right?

Well, you would be right.

Dynamic Lifter is an organic, poultry manure-based product. Chicken manure just so happens to be a common fertiliser used on turf farms. Your standard Dynamic Lifter products are 100% chicken manure in an aged and pelletised form. Poultry based manures are great for promoting growth due to the high amount of nitrogen they contain. Not only does Dynamic Lifter contain nitrogen, it also contains a good amount of phosphorus. Phosphorus supports strong root growth and development.

There are also Dynamic Lifter plant foods, which along with chicken manure, contain fish meal, blood and bone, and seaweed. In the form of a pellet, these ingredients slowly release into the soil for your lawn to take up nutrient.

Chicken Manure

When using an organic based fertiliser like chicken manure, it’s important you don’t use raw manure. The manure should be at least six months old. It will contain less contaminants and ammonia and have a much less offensive odour. Buying this ready to go from your local nursery will ensure it is aged and ready for use.

One of the key benefits you will find with Dynamic Lifter is its ability to improve soil structure through its organic composition. A good percentage of organics in your soil helps it to hold moisture better. Micro-organisms and earthworms will go to work, turning it into processable nutrient for the grass to take up through its roots.

Dynamic Lifter pellets can be difficult to manage if you are mowing your lawn regularly during the warmer months. It is best to apply it in early spring or autumn when the grass isn’t growing as quickly. This will give it more time to break down for a longer period of time before mowing. If you do need to mow and the pellets are still visible, leave the catcher off the mower. There are liquid versions available, but as a result of this there isn’t the same long-lasting benefit that you would get from the break-down of pellets over time.

Conclusion

We will stop short of saying that you should use Dynamic Lifter on your lawn as your primary fertiliser, but there are definitely some benefits and times when your lawn will respond well to a treatment. Slow release granular fertilisers like Lawn Solutions Fertiliser are specifically formulated with the amounts of nutrient recommended for turf grasses. Additional micronutrients and trace elements are also added to the composition which ensure a consistent slow release of nutrient over a long period.

If you would prefer an organic fertiliser for your lawn and garden or are looking for a way to improve the organic structure of your soil, then Dynamic Lifter is certainly a good option as part of a broader treatment program.

5 kids’ lawn activities for the holidays (4 that benefit you)

“I’m bored!”

Solve the exhausting chant of the school break with these great gardening projects for you and your kids.

Weeding

Grab some gloves for your kids and make a game of this. Reward your kids with a treat for every ten weeds pulled, say. Set a time limit for a bigger reward. You could also give prizes for the largest or heaviest weed of the day. Hand out bonuses for finding out the types of weeds; then you’ll know what pre-emergent herbicide to use in the future to prevent them popping up.

Cricket pitch

This one’s for spring or summer, as mowing your lawn really low when it’s not actively growing is not a good idea.

First, get your kids to pick the most appropriate spot in your back or front yard – preferably in front of the garage, a fence or wall, so they can have an automatic wicketkeeper for one-on-one games. They need to keep in mind the rules when they’re marking out the pitch – where will four runs or six and out be; where is it best to bowl from, etc.

Once they’ve picked a spot, have them mark the length of the pitch they want. If you have older kids, have them build a pitch as long as your yard allows. Younger kids may want to make a pitch a bit shorter.

Get the mower out and drop the height lower than usual. You need to mow the pitch into the existing lawn, nice and short so you’ll get more bounce. Plus, it will look more like the pitches you see on the TV, with nice contrast to the rest of the yard. Don’t mow right down to the dirt so the grass doesn’t come back, though. It may have to be mown a few times, depending on how thick your grass is. Remove all of your clippings if you don’t have a catcher so there is nothing left on the surface.

Select your stumps. If you have wooden stumps and bails, hammer them into the ground. If you don’t, metal stump sets are perfect. If you want to get even more creative, try a council bin, Esky, stack of buckets or even tape a set of stumps onto the wall or the fence (these require a bit more honesty from the bowler!). After this, get some marking paint out and mark the crease at either end so you know where to bowl from and the batsman knows where to stand. Make the crease as long as the length of your bat plus its handle.

You’re set for play. To get even more creative, and if you’ve got the room, you can mow a strip for the boundary. Remember, on really hot days, give the pitch a drink of water so it doesn’t dry out for the next day’s play.

Plant a tree

Firstly, hide your sapling somewhere on your property and make a treasure map or play ‘hotter and colder’ for your child to locate it.

This is a chance for your child to do something great for the environment. Perhaps one day their own child will swing from its branches!

To set up for this one and to add an incentive, pre-dig your hole and bury a prize with a mobile phone in a sealable, lockable container. Set the mobile on its loudest ringtone and don’t bury the container too far down! Dig a hole at least twice as wide as the root ball of your tree and as deep as the root ball. Remove any rocks from the earth you dig up.

Have your child locate the planting spot by ringing the buried mobile phone. Let them unlock the container once they’ve helped you plant your tree.

Take the tree from its container and inspect the root ball. If the roots look pot bound, tease them out carefully.

Place your tree in the hole so that the root flare sits just above the ground. Back fill some of the earth you set aside earlier, patting it down as you go. Stake your tree so it doesn’t topple over in strong wind. Water your tree in well after planting.

A word about your lawn: Trees and lawns compete for water and nutrients and thin grass at a tree’s base is common. A shade tolerant grass can help, but all lawns have their limits. Deciduous trees can help in winter, though the trade-off is you’ll have to rake up leaves each autumn.

It’s often best to leave an area at the base of the tree free of lawn and spread mulch instead. This reduces competition, stops ring barking from whipper snipping, and damaging roots from mowing. For better lawn health, keep it a bit longer under the tree’s canopy.

Science experiment (pH test)

Kids love a bit of science.

Grab a pH testing kit from your local hardware store, nursery, or Lawn Solutions Australia’s website. A kit should cost less than $30. Have your child collect a few soil samples from a number of locations in your lawn by digging down about 10 to 15 centimetres with a hand spade. This could also be marked on a map for your child, to make it a bit more like a game. You could incentivise it by offering prizes following each completed stage. Pull out any grass or root matter, then mix the samples in a bucket to get an average reading of your soil’s pH. Take a little soil and follow the instructions in your test kit.

Tent / teepee (disguised compaction test)

Here’s how to determine if compaction is a problem in your lawn – the fun way. Grab a kids’ tee-pee or tent and get your child to set it up. If they have trouble driving the pegs into the earth check how far the pegs penetrate your soil (ensure you avoid irrigation or electrical wiring). They should be able to push the pegs in 10 to 15 centimetres without much effort; if they can’t, it’s time to aerate your lawn. Kids love setting their things up in tents – the bonus for you is you’ll have a few hours free of hearing ‘I’m bored’.