Sarah, Author at Lawn Solutions Australia

Robot Lawn Mowers

Posted on March 28, 2023October 13, 2023 by Sarah

Are you in the market for a new lawn mower? Or are you looking for an option that will provide your lawn with the best results with minimal effort? In this blog, we look at a range of robot lawn mowers that can look after your lawns mowing requirements.

What are the advantages of robot lawn mowers?

But first, let’s look at some of the benefits of using a robot lawn mower.

Time-saving – they can help you save a lot of time compared to a traditional equipment.
Convenience – with most brands and models you can program to mow at a specific time or on a selected day.
Cost-effective – While the initial cost can be higher than some traditional equipment, it can be cost-effective in the long run. They require less maintenance and energy, leading to lower operating costs over time.
Energy efficient – they are typically electric-powered, so they are more energy efficient than petrol-powered equipment.
Low maintenance – they require very little maintenance compared to other equipment.

Are there any disadvantages of using a robot lawn mower?

There can be a few disadvantages that should be considered when using a robot lawn mower.

Limited mowing area – some models are only designed to cover a small space. If you do have a larger area, you will need to look at using a model that can cover your area size. If your lawn has a steep incline, you will also need to account for this when looking at different machines.
Higher upfront costs – they will often have a higher upfront cost compared to a regular lawn mower.
Installation – installation will differ between the brand you use. Most types require the installation of a boundary line across the whole area. Setting up this boundary wire can be a bit of a labour-intensive task.
Potential for theft – they are relatively small and can be stolen easily from your property. Some will have added security measures, including alarms and GPS tracking; however, these features may not prevent theft entirely.

MoeBot S20

The MoeBot S20 is another robot mower currently available. The S20 model covers a large 2500m2 at a lower price point than other models and brands that cover a similar area size. Let’s look at some of the MoeBot S20 key features:

Will mow up to 1400m2 in 2 hours
Easy-to-use app for programming and scheduling. The app will also send you update notifications to your phone
Can set up to 5 separate working areas
25mm to 55mm adjustable cutting height
Includes instillation wire

Reviews have liked that it is at a lower price point of $1,275, compared to other models and brands that are a bit pricier. In addition, users did like that it was quiet when in use and efficient. Although some reviews did note that there were some initial issues when using the app.

Gardena Sileno Minimo 250 Robotic Lawnmower

The Gardena Soleno Minimo 250 Robotic Lawnmower is best suited for smaller lawns up to 250m2 , but has some great features for its price of $999. Some of the key features we like include:

Easy-to-use install process with the GARDENA Bluetooth app
Quiet to use
Lift sensor and PIN code protection
Delivers a clean cut
Lower price point

Reviews loved the easy set-up of this product, the ability to operate at night, and the cut it provided! Users did note that the upfront cost was a bit more than a regular mower but worth the investment. However, reviews did state that this model is not ideal for use when there are sticks or lots of leaves on the lawn.

Victa RM100 Robot Mower

The Victa RM1000 Robot Mower is another great option to consider when looking at robot mowers. Victa is an iconic and trusted Australian brand that has existed over the past 6 decades. Some of the key features of the Victa RM 100 include:

Easy to set up and run
Covers up to 600m2
60 Minutes run time
60 Minutes charge time
18cm Cutting width
20mm – 60mm adjustable cutting height

Reviews liked its programmable run time features, anti-theft alarm, and rain and bump sensors. However, one downfall of the Victa RM 100 is that it doesn’t connect to either a smartphone or have app connectivity. All programming for run times needs to be adjusted on the machine directly.

Husqvarna Automowers

Husqvarna has a great range of auto mowers at various price points. Their mowers can operate over both small and larger lawns, on both level and steep inclines, and have smart home integration, app connectivity, and more!

Husqvarna Automower 405 X

The Husqvarna Automower 405 X can mow lawns up to 600m2 and is suitable for slopes with an incline of up to 40%.

Some other key features of the 405 X Automower include:

50 Minutes typical mow time per charge
60 Minutes charge time
Height of cut 20mm – 50mm range
22cm Cutting width
Smart home integration, app-controlled and Bluetooth connectivity
Includes GPS theft tracking, alarm, lift and tilt sensor

Reviews on this product loved that the Automower could keep lawns manicured to a high standard and adjusted its mowing schedule to suit the weather conditions. Others also noted that it was well suited to difficult terrains and covered a good area size. The only downfall that consumers noted were its high price point of $2,679 RRP.

Husqvarna Automower 430 X

The Husqvarna Automower 430 X covers a larger area than the 405 X model, mowing up to 3200m2, and can mow on inclines of up to 45%. Some of the key features of the Husqvarna Automower 430 X include:

145 Minute typical mow time per charge
50 Minute charge time
Height of cut 20mm – 60mm range
24cm cutting width
Smart home integration, app-controlled and Bluetooth connectivity
Includes GPS theft tracking, alarm, lift and tilt sensors

Reviews loved that this is a reliable robot mower that covers a larger area, and cutting blades are cheap and easy to replace. Users also liked that once it was set up, it didn’t require much maintenance to keep running. However, these reviews noted that it requires some effort to install the boundary wire, but you will have to do this with most robot lawn mowers.

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

Common Fungal Diseases in Lawns

Posted on March 2, 2023October 13, 2023 by Sarah

Does your lawn have a disease, but you’re not sure what it is or how to remove it? In this blog, we look at some common lawn diseases and recommend the best ways to remove them.

Skip to

Grey Leaf Spot
Dollar Spot
Brown Patch
Fungicides

Why Do I Have Lawn Disease?

Prevention is key in stopping turf diseases from appearing. So, in most cases, we recommend addressing the cause of the disease first before applying fungicides.

Prevention and techniques to eliminate disease can include aeration, thatch removal, fertilising and watering adjustments, and shade reduction.

If your lawn’s disease persists after around two weeks of removing the cause, you may need to consider using a fungicide for removal.

Do I have Dollar Spot?

As its name suggests, the appearance of this disease is usually identifiable as dollar sized spots of discoloured grass appearing within your lawn. Up close, the discoloured leaves will have straw-coloured lesions with red/brown edges to them. If left to spread, the spots will get larger and form bigger patches of affected grass.

Another identifying feature of Dollar Spot is the web like fine threads. These form through the leaves of your lawn on colder mornings. These webs will disappear as the day warms up, but these threads are called mycelium threads and are a product of the fungal pathogen known as Sclerotinia Homoeocarpa.

Dollar Spot can occur when there is additional moisture present on warmer days and cool nights. Excessive amounts of thatch build up, poor drainage and watering your lawn too often are common factors that can result in the spots appearing.

Usually, dollar spot will go away on its own when the cause of disease has been addressed, however if it doesn’t go away on its own you can look at using a fungicide for removal.

When removing Dollar Spot, we recommend using Tombstone Fungicide.

Do I have Grey Leaf Spot

Grey Leaf Spot first appears as small brown leaf and stem lesions. These spots will then grow rapidly into round oblong spots. When these lesions mature, they will have a tan to grey colour with brown to purple borders.

To remove Grey Leaf Spot, we recommend using a fungicide like Mancozeb.

Do I Have Brown Patch?

Brown Patch is a fungal disease found in warm, wet conditions which produces brown, circular patches ranging in size from very small up to a few metres in diameter. The patches are sometimes surrounded by a grey, smoky outer ring, or sometimes there is just an outer ring surrounded by green grass in the middle. This ring is caused by mycelium fungus. Leaf blades have thin brown edges and yellow spots and lesions.

To remove Brown Patch, we recommend using Tombstone Fungicide or Heritage Maxx.

Fungicide Products

Heritage Maxx

Heritage Maxx is a liquid broad-spectrum fungicide for the control and prevention of turf diseases including – Pythium, Anthracnose, Brown Patch and Spring Dead Spot. This fungicide provides consistent protection of new growth for up to 28 days after application. This makes it a great option as part of a preventative plan.

Begin applications before symptoms occur when conditions first favour disease and continue applications while conditions remain favourable for disease development.

Mancozeb

Mancozeb is a dry flowable preventative fungicide formulation for the control of certain fungal diseases including – Fusarium, Rhizoctonia and Grey Leaf Spot.

Apply as a protective spray schedule at 7-day intervals throughout the susceptible season or climate.

Tombstone

Tombstone Fungicide is a broad-spectrum fungicide. It can be used on Lawns, Azaleas, Roses, other general ornamental garden plants.

Tombstone provides systemic and contact disease control, both on a preventative and curative basis, controlling Anthracnose, Brown Patch, Winter Fusarium, Leptosphaerulina, Curvularia and Dollar Spot in lawn situations.

Whenever you are using products like these fungicides, it is always important that you follow the safety directions provided on the product and wear the recommended protective clothing. So, make sure you take some time to read the instructions in full before opening the product for application.

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

Why Does My Lawn Have Brown Patches?

Posted on February 24, 2023March 19, 2024 by Sarah

Does your lawn have brown patches? Unsure what is causing them or uncertain of the best way to help it recover? In this blog, we look at common causes of brown patches in lawns and look at the best ways to help get your lawn back in shape.

Lawn Grubs in Lawns

If you have noticed that your lawn has quickly developed brown patches that are spreading, a possible cause is lawn grubs. If you are unsure if your lawn does have grubs, we recommend doing a quick grub test. To do this, use a few drops of dishwashing liquid into a bucket and fill with water. Then pour this over the edge of an affected area.

Watch the area for around 10 minutes or so and see if any grubs rise to the surface. This is best done at dawn or dusk when they are more likely to be active.

If any grubs or caterpillars do rise to the surface we recommend using a quick knockdown product like Battle Insecticide or Baythroid Advanced for Lawns to remove what is there. To help prevent another grub attack from occurring, we recommend using a preventative insecticide, like Grub Guard Ultimate. Grub Guard Ultimate will help prevent another grub attack from occurring to the lawn up to 6 months.

How to Stop Fungal Diseases in Lawns

Are your lawns brown patches caused by disease? Often if you remove the conditions that cause lawn diseases, it will go away on its own. Some tell-tale signs that your lawn has a fungal disease are discolouration, brown and yellow patches, mushrooms and other fungal growth.

Some factors that can cause disease include soil compaction, shade, over watering, over fertilising, poor mowing habits, and weather conditions (particularly temperature and humidity).

If you have noticed a fungal disease in your lawn, try removing the cause of the disease. This can include:

Aerating your lawn to alleviate soil compaction and assist in draining away excess water.
Increase sunlight to the area where possible by pruning back any surrounding trees and shrubs.
Avoid over-watering your lawn. If you do need to water your lawn, water in the morning before the heat of the day to avoid evaporation. We also recommend avoiding watering in the afternoon/dusk to help prevent the lawn sitting damp overnight.
Mow your lawn regularly at the same height. We recommend mowing regularly enough so that only one-third is removed with each pass.

If this doesn’t assist you may need to look at using a fungicide.

How to Stop Urine Burn

Does your dog’s urine cause burn marks on your lawn? As your dog’s urine can contain a high concentrate of nitrogen, our lawns can become burnt and die off.

Here are a few indicators that your lawns brown patches are from urine burn:

Patches stay isolated to the affected area and don’t spread.
The patches can sometimes be greener around the outside of the burn.
Patches occur in an area where your pets usually go to wee.

There are a few different methods you and your pets can try to help stop these patches from occurring. Check out our blog for more information here.

Brown Patches from Scalping Your Lawn

If your lawns brown patches only start to show after mowing, you have likely scalped your lawn. Scalping occurs when a lawn is mown too short. When too much of the leaf is removed, it will cause the grass to look brown in patches.

If your lawn has uneven levels or has gone too long in between mows, scalping can occur. If your lawn has uneven levels, you may need to look at top dressing to amend. Please have a look at our blog for more information here.

Dry Spots in Lawns

If your lawn does have dry patches, the best solution is to give your lawn a good aerate with a garden fork or aerator to help decompact and loosen the soil profile. We then recommend applying a wetting agent, like our Lawn Soaker to the whole lawn. This will help the soil better absorb water making it available for your grass to use. After applying a wetting agent, water the area heavily every morning until you see signs of recovery. Once your lawn shows signs of recovery, apply a fertiliser to help give the lawn a boost. A fertiliser like our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser is ideal.

For more information on dry spots in lawns, check out our blog here.

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

3 Golden Rules for a Better Lawn

Posted on February 24, 2023October 13, 2023 by Sarah

If you are wanting the most effective but simple ways to help keep your lawn looking great, then you have come to the right place. In this blog, we share three simple tips to help you get the most out of your lawn.

So, let’s get into it.

Mowing Regularly

Ensuring you are mowing your lawn regularly will bring many benefits to your lawn, including making each time you mow an easier task!

Mowing regularly will help improve the health of your lawn. When too much of the grasses leaf is removed at one time, the grass will go under stress as it needs to replace the nutrients lost when mown. In addition, when your grass is mown irregularly, it will become more susceptible to weeds compared to a healthy turf that is mown regularly. Another benefit is that it will help stop you from scalping, which can affect the appearance of your turf.

From this, you may be wondering, how frequently do I need to mow? The answer to this question will depend on how fast your lawn is growing. When mowing, we recommend only removing one-third of the leaf blade with each pass. So, if you are in a warmer climate like Queensland, you will need to mow more frequently than someone on a cooler climate like Victoria. The time of year will also be another factor in how often you will need to mow. In summer, the grass will grow faster and slower in winter.

Fertilising Your Lawn

Fertilisers contain a mix of nutrients that your grass needs to stay healthy and perform well. Our soil can contain some of these nutrients, however sometimes our soils can be poor or not contain all the nutrients that your lawn needs. This is where a fertiliser can come in handy.

Fertilisers will usually contain a ratio of NPK.

N – Nitrogen

P – Phosphorus

K – Potassium

These nutrients are the 3 main nutrients that a lawn fertiliser will contain, as well as other trace elements. These trace elements can include Calcium, Iron, Manganese, Zinc, and Fulvic Acid just to name a few.

By applying a granular fertiliser 2-3 times a year, or a liquid fertiliser at regular intervals throughout the year, your lawn will have all the nutrients it needs to perform to a high standard.

When it comes to using a granular fertiliser, we recommend using our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser.

When looking at liquid fertilisers, we recommend Exceed Liquid Fertiliser.

Watering Your Lawn

Water is another essential component of your grasses health. Your lawn will absorb water through its roots, and then it is transported throughout the plant. Water is also required for your lawn to photosynthesise, which is an essential function.

So, how much water should you be providing your turf?

For a well-established, healthy turf, the answer is when your grass needs it. You can tell your lawn needs water by the following factors.

Leaf wilting or losing colour
If a footprint is left behind on the turf after walking on it
If the grass looks dry and crusty during hot weather.

When you are trying to repair areas of your lawn, increasing watering’s will help the area thicken out and recover.

When you are watering your lawn, we have a few tips to ensure you will use your water more effectively, plus see the most benefit for your grass.

Water less frequently for longer. By watering this way, you will help ensure the water is reaching the roots of your lawn. This will encourage your lawn to grow its roots deeply into the soil.
Water in the mornings. It is best to water in the mornings before the heat of the day to avoid evaporation. It is best to avoid watering in the afternoon/night as your lawn will sit damp for longer, which can lead to fungal diseases.
Use a sprinkler that covers your area evenly.

Hopefully with these tips, you will be well on your way to achieving a better lawn! For more lawn care tips and advice, make sure you check out our other lawn care blogs here.

Anatomy of Grass

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

Have you ever been curious about the anatomy of grass or wondered what each part of the plants function is? In this blog, we dissect grass and examine each part’s role in creating a lush and healthy lawn.

What Are Rhizomes?

Below the surface of your lawn, there are stems known as Rhizomes. A common misconception is that the rhizomes below the surface are roots, when in fact they are a stem.

Rhizomes grow below ground for a short distance, then rise to the soil surface to form new shoots. In some grass species, rhizomes produce growing points (often called nodes) which give rise to roots and shoots forming new or ‘daughter’ plants. Rhizomes are usually white.

What Are Stolons?

When discussing our lawn spreading or establishing, we tend to talk about the runners or stolons that run above the surface. Stolons are stems, that produce nodes from which new plants form. Stolons will help to spread into bare spots and thicken a lawn.

Stolonising or sprigging is the process of planting stolons of grass. These stolons are broken up to a singular runner and are planted into the ground. The nodes on the stolon will then grow and produce a root system. Over time the grass will thicken up and cover the area. This process is mostly used on sporting surfaces like fields and golf greens.

All warm-season grass plants have stolons (above-ground runners), while some varieties, such as Kikuyu, Couch, and Zoysia have stolons and rhizomes (underground runners).

Primary and Secondary Roots on Turf

Another part of your grass’s anatomy is the primary and secondary roots. Primary roots are the first roots that develop from the embryo or grass seed. When installing turf, you are looking for secondary roots for establishment which come from nodes on horizontal stems (stolons).

Where Are Nodes on Grass?

The nodes on grass can be identified as the bulbous points along a runner of grass. These are the points where there is lots of cellular activity and growth occurs. The nodes are the points from which the grass can recover if the plant becomes damaged. Nodes also have the ability to create new turfgrass plants.

Where are the Internodes on Grass?

Another part of your grasses’ anatomy is the internodes. The internode is the plant material between each node. The internode is responsible for transporting nutrients throughout the plant.

What is a Sheath on Turf?

The sheath is the lower portion of the grass’ leaf blade that usually surrounds a node and stolon.

What are Lawn Seed Heads?

When seed heads start to appear on your lawn, your first reaction might be to worry something is wrong, or stress that the seed heads are weeds! However, seed heads are a perfectly normal occurrence, and in most cases, they will go away on their own within a few weeks.

Seed heads can be easy to avoid for the most part, by sticking to a consistent lawn care program. If you do have seed heads growing, you can simply give the lawn a mow to remove them. If they are sticking around for a bit longer, make sure the lawn is getting watered and mown regularly and give the lawn a fertilise if you haven’t recently.

The appearance of seed heads will differ between lawn types.

Buffalo seed heads have a very similar appearance to asparagus. They usually grow at the same height or just above your lawns leaf height.
Couch seed heads can be green to purple in colour and will grow on a stem above the grass level. At the top of the stem, there will be a cluster of spikes (usually two to six spikes) that hold the seeds. These spikes are around two to five cm long.
Zoysia seed heads will either be white or purple in colour. They will feel ‘tough’ to touch and will come from one stem with small flowers that hold the seeds.

Seed heads produced with common grass varieties like Sir Walter Buffalo, Sir Grange Zoysia, TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda, and Eureka Kikuyu are sterile. This means that the seed it produces won’t grow a new plant. Therefore, these grasses can only be spread by vegetative sprigs or stolons.

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

Lawn Fanatic Lingo

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

Have you been hearing your mates who are lawn fanatics talk about their lawns but have no idea what lingo they are using or need a quick refresher?

What NPK is your fertiliser?

NPK are the primary nutrients that are commonly found in fertilisers. N Nitrogen, P Phosphorus and K Potassium.

Nitrogen is mainly responsible for the growth of leaves and is the most talked about nutrient when it comes to lawns. Nitrogen is usually the highest percentage of your NPK ratio.

Phosphorus is largely responsible for root growth and is low in the overall NPK ratio.

Potassium is a nutrient that helps the overall functions of the plant perform correctly. Potassium is an essential macro-nutrient used in large quantities by plants for vigour and growth.

Just about to put a PGR down on my lawn

Plant Growth Regulators, commonly known as PGR’s, can be used to help slow down the growth of your lawn, particularly throughout the warmer months when the lawn is actively growing. Some other benefits of using PGR’s include promoting healthier & denser turf, reduction of seed heads, and increased durability, just to name a few. When looking at using a PGR, we recommend Primo Maxx.

How’s my domination line looking?

A domination line is referred to as the ending of your property boundary line and the start of your neighbour’s property. This line is often spoken about when one lawn clearly looks better than the other, with a defined line of difference between properties.

What HOC do you mow your SWB?

The answer to this one comes in two parts, let’s break it down. HOC refers to your height of cut. This is the height which your lawn is been mown. SWB is also known as the Aussie favourite Sir Walter Buffalo.

Just put in my new SGZ and its looking great!

SGZ is one of the newer zoysia grasses on the market, Sir Grange Zoysia. Sir Grange is known for its stunning fine-bladed leaf, beautiful dark green colour, and slow-growing nature. You can find more information on this beautiful grass here.

We just finished a reno on the lawn, can’t wait to see how it looks in a few weeks!

Now you might be thinking, what on earth is a lawn reno? Well, there is such a thing! A lawn renovation is the process of removing weeds, removing thatch, aeration, fertilising, and top dressing typically conducted in spring. Check out our blog and video series for more information on what a lawn renovation is and the steps required here.

Just finished giving the lawn a feed!

Giving the lawn a feed is in reference to fertilising your lawn.

I can see why TifTuf is the alpha grass

Well, the answer to this question will depend on who you ask! We believe that TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is in fact the ‘Alpha Grass’. Why? TifTuf has proven itself as the best performer in independent trials in Australia and the US. You can check out both the Australian and US trial results here.

The lawn just got some much needed sky beers

Rainfall is often referred as sky beers for some lawn fanatics. More often than not, your lawns watering requirements will be met by rainfall alone!

Just finished giving the lawn a mow with the SB45

A Scott Bonnar 45, also called SB45, is one of the more popular cylinder mowers for people to use. These mowers were first in production in 1968 through to 1980. Now more commonly, these mowers have become a restoration project for lawnies.

Just gave the mower a quick back lap

Back lapping is the process of maintaining the sharpness of a cylinder mowers cutting blades. This helps to ensure the reel and bed knife are bedded together and cut evenly, providing a sharp and even cut. Check out our page on back lapping for more information here.

The lawns going to thrive after I give it a core!

Coring is a type of aeration for your lawn. Unlike regular aeration, where solid tines punch holes in the ground, core aeration simultaneously removes a plug of soil from your lawn. Plug or core aerators use hollow tines that puncture the surface and then pull the plugs from the ground on their way back out. The process of coring helps create more space in the soil for your lawn to breathe, absorb nutrient and increases soil permeability.

We just gave the lawn a scalp

Scalping is when most of the leaf is removed with a mower. This can either be done on purpose, when dethatching your lawn in a renovation or by accident when the lawns levels are uneven or when the lawn has grown too long in between mowing.

The lawns going to come up a treat after scarifying it!

Scarifying a lawn is done to help remove the thatch layer of dead plant and organic matter that has developed within the profile of your lawn. After scarifying your lawn, it won’t look great for the first few weeks, however the lawn will be able to come back stronger.

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

How You Can Make Mowing Actually Fun This Summer

Posted on January 30, 2023October 13, 2023 by Sarah

Some love mowing, while others hate it. Whether you are a lover or a hater of mowing, there are some gadgets and knick-knacks out there that can help make your time out mowing fun!

Have You Heard of Bluetooth earmuffs?

Safety comes first! Wearing protective earmuffs is important to help prevent your ears from damage. But why wear regular earmuffs when you can take it one step further and listen to your favourite tunes!

There is an excellent range of Bluetooth ear muffs available on the market, but one readily available from Bunnings is the 3M Work Tunes Call Connect Bluetooth Ear Muffs. Reviews rave about their battery life, easy setup, and excellent earmuff quality, making mowing a more fun and enjoyable experience.

Do You Need a Mower Beer Holder

Have you ever wanted to enjoy a nice cold bevvy when mowing but had nowhere to put it? With the Mower Mate, you can now enjoy your beer when you are on the go, mowing your lawn! The mower mate attaches to any mower handle with its sturdy clamp with no fiddly attachments.

Getting a Good Cut With a Smaller Cylinder Mower

If you are following any of the lawn care pages, you have probably seen the hype around this mower. The Ozito Cylinder Mowers are cheap, fun to mow with plus provide a great result which is pleasing to the eye.

The Ozito mowers adjustable cutting height is between 14-38mm, cutting a bit higher than larger cylinder mowers. The Ozito Cylinder Mower is battery powered. Please note you do need to buy the rechargeable battery separately. This battery is also compatible with many other Ozito home and garden tools.

Need a Wearable Fan to Help Keep Cool?

When mowing on those hot summer days, you can work up quite a sweat! So to help combat the heat, why not use a wearable fan to help you keep your cool!

The O2COOl Deluxe Necklace Fans sit around your neck like a necklace, providing a strong vertical airflow, and it has three-speed settings while being quiet and lightweight.

Using a Wearable Umbrella to Help Keep Cool

While we are on the topic of staying cool, blocking out the sun and sun safety is a top priority. Wearable umbrellas will provide you with some of the best protection when mowing on a hot summer’s day, while helping you keep cool.

Is a Bunnings Straw Hat More Your Style?

However, we do understand wearable umbrellas might not be everyone’s style, but a more conventional option like the iconic Bunnings Straw Hat might be more your cup of tea when shielding the sun off your face on those hot summer days.

Want to Mow Lawn Stripes?

Adding a roller to your mower will help you get some stripes on your lawn, even when using a standard rotary mower! Stripes will show more after regularly mowing in the same pattern when using a roller.

The Toro Lawn Striping Kit will attach to most brands of 18” and 22” walk-behind mowers. If you are after some tips on perfecting your lawn stripes, check out our blog here.

Do You Want to Mow Less?

If mowing still isn’t your thing, why not look at using a plant growth regulator (PGR). A PGR will help reduce the number of times you need to mow throughout the warmer months while your lawn is growing at its fastest! PGR’s work by suppressing your lawn’s vertical growth and increasing the lawn’s lateral growth. When it comes to PGR’s we recommend using Primo Maxx.

Hopefully these tips will help make your time mowing a more fun and enjoyable experience! For more lawn care tips and advice, check out our lawn care page here.

Summer Lawn ‘Style’ Tips

Posted on December 22, 2022October 13, 2023 by Sarah

The first rule when it comes to being a stylish ‘lawnie’ this summer is… well there are no rules. If you want to rock your budgies with crocs and a classy party shirt from your friends ‘at Lowes’, be our guest. The lawn is your domain.

In this blog, we share some style tips to guide your unique style without restricting you to a list of rules. Because when it comes to lawn style, a deviation is not only recommended, it’s celebrated.

A quick safety note: Safety always takes precedence over style. Enjoy your lawn in any attire your heart desires, but when it comes to mowing or maintenance, make sure you always wear the appropriate protective clothing or equipment.

Not everyone is brave enough to rock a mullet. But for those that are, mullets are back in vogue and for some of you, they never left. Nothing screams a day out on the grass more than the Aussie mullet. Short at the front, long and wild at the back. Just like your lawn, sometimes a nice, neat trim at the front is perfect for street appeal and a bit of length or ruggedness out the back that says ‘hey I like to party too’ can provide the ying to your yang.

Headwear

If you can’t wrap your head around a mullet, then a hat of your preference is also acceptable and may even be strongly recommended if the sun is at full blast.

Here are some iconic headwear options:

Footwear

Thongs, no shoes at all, some fresh or old New Balances that would make your father proud. All are acceptable when out on the lawn. If mowing or undertaking maintenance, refer to the safety message above.

Here are some iconic footwear options:

Eyewear

Sunnies can make your lawn style but will never break it. All options will provide a bit of flavour and are as important to your signature style as they are to actual eye protection.

Here’s some iconic eyewear options:

Skate/Surf brand of your choice

The Rig:

Unless you’re an exhibitionist, you are likely to be rocking a particular outfit on the rig. Comfort tends to take precedence over style in this department, you’re here to relax and be free with your lawn. Wear as little or as much as you like, but confidence is key.

Here’s some iconic options for the rig:

Accessories:

Now that you have your lawn style sorted, you just need to chuck in a couple of accessories to ensure your thirst is quenched and you are ready to get out on the grass.

For the ultimate style accessory this Summer, it’s got to be a new TifTuf lawn!

Enjoy your lawns!

Which Lawn Trends Are Worth the Hype?

Posted on December 22, 2022October 17, 2023 by Sarah

If you are in the lawn care community, you may have heard of different product types and wondered if they are all there are talked up to be. In this blog, we look at a few popular lawn care trends and assess if they are worth the hype surrounding them.

Plant Growth Regulators (PGR’s)

Plant growth regulators will suppress your lawns vertical growth and increase the lawns lateral growth. This helps the grass to become denser while reducing the number of times you need to mow. This product is used throughout the warmer months when the grass is actively growing to help reduce mowing.

PGRs are only recommended for use in the warmer months and should be avoided in winter. As PGRs are more of a commercial-style product, you will need to calibrate your sprayer for application. Check out our blog here for more information on how to calibrate your sprayer.

If you struggle to keep up with regular mows in the warmer months or want to take your lawn to another level, PGRs are a great option. We recommend using PGR Primo Maxx.

Pre-emergent Herbicides

Pre-emergent herbicides will stop stubborn weeds before they appear in your lawn. They work by creating a barrier at the soil level, stopping any new weed seedlings in their tracks. They are ideal for controlling seasonal weeds like Winter Grass, Summer Grass, Crab Grass, and Creeping Oxalis. However, one thing to note – is that pre-emergents won’t treat weeds that are present in your lawn but will prevent further seasonal weeds from growing.

Pre-emergents are perfect to use if you want to help prevent weed invasions in your lawn. We recommend using pre-emergent Oxafert.

Battery Powered Fertiliser Spreaders

Battery-powered spreaders are another great popular lawn care trend. They will assist in spreading out granular lawn care products across your lawn, ensuring you have even product coverage. The advantage of battery-powered spreaders over manual handheld spreaders is that you don’t need to turn the handle to disperse the product, which may cause hand cramps over a larger area. When using a battery spreader, you will also be able to cover your area quicker than with a manual handheld spreader.

If you have a larger area size, battery spreaders like the Ryobi One+ fertiliser Spreader and the Ozito PXC 18V Fertiliser Spreader are ideal (batteries sold separately). However, a manual handheld spreader will still do an adequate job if you only have a small area.

Liquid Fertilisers

Liquid fertilisers can provide a quick boost of nutrients to your lawn. They do this as the leaves and roots of your grass absorb the fertiliser. However, when using liquid fertilisers you will need to apply them more frequently for results over a longer period.

Liquid fertilisers are ideal for lawns that are already in shape but are looking for a quick boost. For liquid fertilising, we recommend using Exceed Liquid Fertiliser.

If your lawn is in poor shape and you are wanting to help give the lawn a sustained boost over a longer period of time, we recommend using a granular fertiliser, like Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser.

Ozito Cylinder Mower

If you are following any lawn care pages, you have probably seen the hype around this mower. The steel cylinder blades can provide a clean and precise cut like the bigger, much more pricey cylinder mowers on the market. The Ozito mowers adjustable cutting height is between 14-38mm, cutting a bit higher than larger cylinder mowers. The Ozito Cylinder Mower is battery-powered. Please note you do need to buy the rechargeable battery separately. This battery is also compatible with many other Ozito home and garden tools.

For its price point, it is a great alternative from the bigger cylinder mowers. It can provide a much cleaner cut than other rotary mowers around the same price point. It is easy to use, manoeuvre, clean, and store. Although the roller attached can be a bit light, we have seen a few people adding a steel roller attachment allowing for better stripes.

How to Stop Scalping While Mowing

Posted on December 22, 2022December 21, 2023 by Sarah

Have you noticed patches appearing on your lawn from scalping after you have given your lawn a mow? In this blog, we look at why this occurs and how to avoid scalping your lawn when mowing.

Determine Why Your Lawn is Scalping

The first step is to determine why scalping is occurring. Scalping occurs when a lawn is mown too short. When too much of the leaf is removed, it will cause the grass to look brown in patches.

Here are some reasons why scalping might be occurring on your lawn.

Has the lawn been growing too long in between mows?
Are your lawns levels uneven? Are there high and low sections of the lawn?
Does your lawn have an accumulation of thatch?

How to Reset the Height of Your Lawn

If scalping occurs from your lawn growing too long in between mows or an accumulation of thatch it is best to reset the height if your grass.

To do this, give the lawn a low mow a notch or two below your normal/preferred mowing height. If your lawn has an accumulation of thatch, you may need to bring down the mower a few more notches to allow it to reach down into the thatch layer. (When lowering the mowing height on Buffalo it is best to ensure you are not mowing too low and cutting into the runner). After you mow the lawn, it won’t look great at first, but it will be able to recover over the coming weeks. During this recovery period, it is best to ensure you keep water up to the lawn. Raise your mower back up to your preferred mowing height on your next mow. This process is best done while the lawn is actively growing throughout the warmer months and should be avoided in the cooler months while your lawn is growing at a slower rate.

After this, you will need to ensure you are frequently mowing to help avoid scalping the lawn again. As a rule of thumb, mow your lawn frequently enough so that only one-third of the leaf is removed with each pass. This means you will need to mow more frequently in warmer months as the grass grows faster. Conversely, you won’t need to cut as often in the cooler months as the grass will grow slower.

How to Fix Your Lawns Levels

If scalping occurs from mowing over high spots in your lawn, you can add soil/sand to amend the lawn levels. This process is known as top dressing. When top dressing to improve levels, we recommend using sand. Something like washed plasterers’ sand or washed river sand is ideal.

When top dressing, it is best to give the lawn a low mow beforehand to ensure the top-dressing material will reach the soil profile. Best to also ensure at most 5-10 mm thickness is applied at one time. The sand should be rubbed in evenly using a lawn-leveller bar or the back of a rake to work the sand into the profile.

Check out our blog here for more information on applying a top dressing here.

Other Mowing Tips

Now you are fully equipped to help stop scalping from occurring. We have a few final tips to ensure you will get the best cut when mowing.

Ensure your mower has sharp mower blades.
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 constant pace.