Author: Sarah

Do you want to know our favourite tips on how to help keep your lawn in tip-top shape? In this blog, our lawn expert Joe Rogers shares his knowledge on how you can better care for your lawn, plus tips on how you can take your turf to the next level.

What Are Your Two Best Tips When Caring for a Lawn?

The number one thing I always tell people when it comes to lawn care is the importance of regular mowing. If you want a neat, dense, manicured lawn you have to mow regularly. The more you mow, the better your lawn will be! Regular mowing encourages lateral growth making your lawn thicker, denser and better able to withstand wear and weeds. It also looks neater and better to walk and play on.

The second tip is to utilise new technology. Embrace new products that are on the market, in particular preventatives like Oxafert and Acelepryn, like Grub Guard Ultimate. These new technologies solve so many problems for lawn owners and they will end up saving you so much time and money to help your lawn look better. I always encourage people to embrace these new, safe, user-friendly products as they will give you and your lawn all kinds of wonderful benefits.

What is Your go-to Lawn Care Product?

My go to lawn care product is Oxafert. Oxafert stops the most difficult to control weeds like Winter Grass, Summer Grass and Creeping Oxalis from germinating and gives you a little lift with the fertiliser. It’s so easy to use for a pre-emergent as it is available in a granule rather than a spray.

What is Your Best Piece of Advice for Someone Who is New to Caring for Lawns?

Keep it simple. With so much lawn-related info on the web, it is important for people to keep it as simple as possible. Mow regularly, apply preventatives as part of a simple program, and fertilise into and out of the growing season. It is so easy to get lost in the hundreds of products that are on the market when, in reality, you only need 2-3 products and a bit of consistency with application.

How Can Someone Take Their Good Lawn to a Great Lawn?

I’ve said it earlier but a lot of this is in regular mowing. By mowing a little more regularly, your lawn will change an awful lot for the better. If you really want to take your lawn to the next level though, I would strongly encourage you take a look at Plant Growth Regulator’s (PGR) like Primo HG Turf Growth Regulator. Primo HG can really improve the look and feel of your lawn, particularly those that are looking for a short-cut manicured lawn.

How Often Should You Apply Fertilisers to Your Lawn?

The frequency of applying fertilisers will be dependent on the variety. But as a minimum, I would look at granular fertiliser applications, something like our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser at the start and end of your lawn’s growing season. For most people this will be October long weekend and Anzac Day. If your lawn needs it, you could also look at another application around Christmas time. These are nice and easy dates to remember.

What is the Best Way to Remove Weeds from a Lawn?

Always by hand where possible. Only use herbicides if the problem gets totally out of control. For more information on what herbicides to use for treating the weeds in your lawn, check out our Ultimate Weed Guide here for more information.

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

The 2024 Paris Olympics are just around the corner, and turfgrass will be the playing surface for many games! Let’s take a look at some of the sports that will be played on turf and the unique venues where they will be taking place.

Skip to: What venue will be hosting the athletics at this years olympics? Where is the Archery Staged at This Years Olympics? What Stadium will Feature the Soccer (Football) Match ups at the Olympics in Paris? Where Can I Watch the Rugby 7’s in Paris? Which Golf Course is Hosting the 2024 Olympics in Paris?

What Venue Will Be Hosting the Athletics at This Year’s Olympics?

This year’s athletics events will be held across four venues in Paris: the Hôtel de Ville, Invalides, Stade de France and Trocadèro, with most events at the Stade de France.

Stade de France is the largest stadium in France, with a capacity of 80,698 people. It was originally built in 1998 for the FIFA World Cup and has since hosted many international sporting events.

Where is the Archery Staged at This Years Olympics?

This year’s Archery events will be held at the Esplanade des Invalides. This historically rich venue boasts beautiful gardens and buildings visited by both Parisians and tourists. The Invalides complex was originally built as a retirement home and hospital for French Military veterans. The venue is popularly known as Napoleon’s final resting place.

The venue is going to host three Olympic sports, including Archery, Athletics and Road Cycling. The Archery event will take place within the gardens with rows of trees surrounding the west and east sides.

What Stadium will Feature the Soccer (Football) Match ups at the Olympics in Paris?

The men’s and women’s football are set to be a highlight at this year’s games! As many matches are to be played throughout the tournament, football games will commence a few days before the opening ceremony!

The number of matches played also influences the number of pitches needed. For this year’s games, football will take place across seven venues in France, including Bordeaux Stadium, Geoffory-Guichard Stadium, La Beaujoire Stadium, Lyon Stadium, Marseille Stadium, Nice Stadium, and Parc des Princes. Both the Men’s and Women’s Gold Medal Matches will take place at the Parc des Princes Stadium.

Where Can I Watch the Rugby 7’s in Paris?

The rugby 7’s game will be played at the Stade de France as well. Due to the short nature of the game, only one stadium will be needed, unlike Soccer, which will be played across seven venues.

Which Golf Course is Hosting the 2024 Olympics in Paris?

This year’s Olympic golf tournament will be played at one of Europe’s most prestigious golf sites, The Golf National. The Golf National has previously hosted the Ryder Cup in 2018, the French Open, and the World Amateur Team Championship. The venue is home to three golf venues, two 18-hole courses and a 7-hole beginner course. The L’Albatros 18-hole course is the more well-known course at the facility, commonly used for competitive competitions.

If you are heading out to the Olympics and are an avid golfer, you can play on the same sporting turf after the 13th of August once the games are complete.

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

Now that your lawn has slowed down in growth, it can become more vulnerable to weed invasions. So, if weeds are growing, it is best to get on top of them now to help prevent their spread. In this blog, we look at common winter weeds, Winter Grass, Bindii, Chickweed, Richardia and Clover, and how to remove them from your lawn.

Skip to: How to remove Winter Grass? How do I remove Bindii? How to remove Chickweed from my lawn? Tips on removing Richardia and How to remove Clover from my lawn.

How to Remove Winter Grass?

Winter Grass is a pesky weed, and if you have it in your lawn this year, it will return almost every winter if left untreated. Getting on top of the winter grass now will help prevent it from spreading further.

To remove Winter Grass, we recommend using a post-emergent herbicide like Amgrow Winter Grass Killer (safe for use on most grasses including, buffalo, couch and zoysia. Not safe for use on kikuyu, rye, and fescue lawns). If you do have a kikuyu lawn, another herbicide option is the Munns Winter Grass Killer.

To help prevent winter grass from returning, we recommend using a pre-emergent herbicide like Oxafert or Oxafert Plus. These products will help stop Winter Grass seeds in the soil from germinating and growing. Pre-emergents are best used just before temperatures are set to cool in your region, but can be used in conjunction with a post emergent herbicide if it has already started to grow in your lawn.

How to Remove Bindii from My Lawn?

Bindii is another weed that starts to grow in winter. In early spring, it goes to seed, producing a prickly seed pod. This weed can be identified by its fern and carrot leaves, growing low to the ground.

As the Bindii will go to seed in spring, it is best to get on top of it now. To remove Bindii from growing in your lawn, use a broadleaf herbicide like All Purpose Weed Control for removal.

How Do I Stop Chickweed from Growing in My Lawn?

Chickweed is another common winter weed that can grow in our lawns. It has paired leaves protruding opposite one another. As temperatures rise in spring, white flowers bloom in clusters at the end of a stem.

If there is only a small amount of Chickweed growing, usually the best and easiest removal method is by hand. If there is a more considerable amount growing, you can look at using a broadleaf herbicide for removal. Something like All Purpose Weed Control, Estate Herbicide or Amgrow Multiweed.

How Can I Remove Richardia from My Lawn?

Richardia, also known as Mexican Clover, is another common weed that can grow in your lawn. It typically flowers in spring through to autumn. This weed also has a large tap root, making hand removal difficult.

To remove Richardia, it is recommended to use a herbicide with Dicamba as the active ingredient (not buffalo safe). Something like Amgrow Multiweed or Kleen Lawn is ideal. If you do have a buffalo lawn, you can try repeated applications of a buffalo safe broadleaf herbicide like All Purpose Weed Control however results may be limited. Alternatively, you can carefully spot treat with a non-selective herbicide like roundup. When using roundup, you will need to be careful to only apply it to the weed and not your lawn as it will harm it also. We recommend using a weed wand to help with an accurate application.

How Do I Remove Clover from My Lawn?

Clover can easily be identified by its oval-shaped leaves and white circular markings. This weed will usually grow in leaflets of 3 and produce either a white or pink flower. Due to its small creeping stem, it can often be difficult to remove by hand.

To remove Clover, a broadleaf herbicide will be able to get on top of it fairly quickly. Something like All Purpose Weed Control Hose-on, Estate Herbicide or Bin Die if you have available. Estate Herbicide 250ml Concentrate has recently been introduced to replace the recently discontinued product Bin Die Concentrate.

If your lawn has a weed growing that we haven’t mentioned, make sure you check out our Ultimate Weed Guide here.

Did you know that the health of your soil can affect your grass? Just as other gardens need a good mix of organics and nutrients within the soil to thrive, so too does your lawn! In this blog, we look at how drainage, compaction, and soil components can impact your lawn to ensure your grass is performing at its maximum potential.

Skip to: Does drainage affect my lawn? Why is compacted soil bad for my lawn? What pH should my soil be for turf? How can I help my hydrophobic lawn? What type of soil is ideal for turf?

How Does Drainage Affect My Lawn?

When your lawn’s drainage is poor, it can cause a multitude of problems, including fungus, disease, and weed infestations. Usually, the best time to address any drainage issues is before you install any turf. However, if you already have a lawn and there are issues with drainage, here are a few tips that can help:

• Aerate the soil with a garden fork. This will help improve the permeability, allowing water to travel within the soil profile.
• If your soil has a high amount of clay, top dressing will help improve the soil profile. However, it is best to wait till spring to do this and not recommended in winter.
• If there are more extensive drainage issues, it is best to reach out to your local drainage expert or landscaper. They will be able to provide advice on the right drainage solution for your area.

Why is a Compacted Soil Bad for My Lawn?

When your lawn’s soil has become hard and compacted, it can make it difficult for the roots of the grass to grow within the profile. This can also affect the ability of air, water, and nutrients to travel within the soil. If you need to determine whether or not your lawn has a compacted soil base, we recommend doing a test with a screwdriver. Use a screwdriver and insert it into the soil base. If it is difficult to push down into the soil, you may need to look at aerating.

To aerate your soil, we recommend using either a garden fork or tyne aerator. Insert the fork into the lawn and wriggle it back and forth to fracture the soil profile. Aim for a spacing between the holes of around 8 – 10cm. To achieve adequate aeration, you may need to go over the area twice in a different direction each time.

What pH Should My Soil Be for Turf? 

Turf generally prefers a soil pH between 5.5-7, however some grasses like buffalo can grow well in more alkaline soils up to 8. If your soil is outside of this range, it can make it hard for your grass to absorb nutrients effectively.

To test your soil’s pH, you can pick up a soil test from your local hardware store, nursery or from our online store here. Most will require you to collect samples from around your lawn for a more accurate reading.

How Can I Help a Hydrophobic Soil?

If your soil struggles to absorb water and pools at the surface, this is a sign that your lawn has become hydrophobic. If your lawn is unable to absorb water effectively, it can cause dry patches within the turf and can cause heat stress. To help amend a hydrophobic soil, apply a wetting agent. Wetting agents, like Lawn Soaker will help water soak into the soil, making it more available for your lawn to use. This will also help improve your lawn’s ability to hold nutrients and increase its drought tolerance.

What Type of Soil is Ideal for Turf?

Your lawn will usually prefer to have a mix between an organic loam and sand. This will ensure there is a good amount of nutrients within the soil and is free draining. If you are looking to install a new lawn, usually it is best to use a sandy loam (80% sand 20% loam) or a turf underlay mix.

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

Do you want to know the industry tips and tricks to help get the most out of your lawn? We catch up with turf guru Simon Adermann, a well-known turf industry insider from a greenkeeping background, to gain some insight into how we can better care for our lawns, plus tips on how to take your lawn to the next level.

Skip to: What are the 3 most important aspects of caring for a lawn? How you can get the best cut when mowing? How can you keep a weed free lawn? What 2 top lawncare products you would recommend for someone who is new to caring for a lawn? What are the pro’s and con’s of using a cylinder mower? How can someone take their lawn to the next level? How should I maintain my home lawn?

What are the three most important aspects of caring for a lawn?

There are many aspects, but the three most important ones are – fertility, mowing, and regular watering.

1. Fertility – It is important to ensure that correct nutrition is provided to your turf. If you want to get specific with your fertiliser regime, soil tests are highly recommended and based on these results, a fertiliser program can be put in place. If you want a basic plan, I recommend fertiliser applications four times a year – September, December, March, and June. This can be done by a straight fertiliser-only application like Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser or with a combination product like Oxafert or Oxafert Plus. Oxafert and Oxafert Plus offer the fertiliser component as well as pre-emergent herbicide for weed prevention.

2. Mowing – It’s important during the active growing season to mow your lawn regularly. For most regions this might be twice per week and as the growth slows down you can back off to once a week and once per fortnight. If you don’t mow regularly, the lawn will tend to build up thatch, which can also lead to scalping. Ensure the mower has new and sharp blades will help you get a cleaner cut and will help avoid bruising to the leaf tip for best results.

3. Watering– Watering is an essential part of a healthy and even coloured lawn. The amount of water needed is based on your soil profile and weather conditions. Generally, a sandy profile will require more water than heavy/clay profile.

How can you get the best cut when mowing?

Another lawn tip to help you get the best cut possible, if you have time, cut your lawn twice in different directions during the growing season. This will give a better cut, remove extra excess leaf, and help to tighten your lawn surface, which can help prevent weed germination. Sharp mower blades are essential at all times. Again, this will help with a cleaner and better cut without damage or bruising to the leaf tip.

How can you keep a weed free lawn?

The healthier your lawn is and the tighter the surface is the less chance you have of getting a weed infestation. Other options are to apply pre-emergent herbicides like Oxafert and Oxafert Plus to prevent weeds from germinating. Pre-emergent herbicides are best applied at times prior to seasonal germination, usually around March and September. Or you can use selective contact herbicides to control weeds that have already germinated in your lawn.

If you are unsure of which weed you have growing in your lawn or are unsure of how to remove it, check out our Ultimate Weed Guide here for more information.

What 2 top lawncare products you would recommend for someone who is new to caring for a lawn?

If you are new to lawn care and want to improve your lawn and want a simple option – I would use Oxafert Plus in September, December, March & June. This covers fertiliser, pre-emergent herbicide, and insecticide prevention, all in one simple granular application. Then the only other product to use is a wetting agent like Lawn Soaker during the long hot summer months – applied monthly.

What are the pros and cons of using a cylinder mower?

The pros of using a cylinder mower are that they can turn an average lawn into a good lawn. They can obtain a cleaner cut, while also having the advantage of a roller attached to help create patterns and stripes.

The cons are that you need a yard that suits a cylinder mower. Areas with too many corner and small areas to turn around can be difficult to use a cylinder. Another con to using a cylinder is knowing how to keep the bed knife sharp and adjusting the cutting cylinder and ensuring the cylinder mower goes in for an annual service and sharpen.

Knowledge is power – understanding how to adjust the cutting cylinder and sharpen bed knife before you start using it. Also walk the yard first to ensure there are no stones, rocks and things that will damage the cutting cylinder and bed knife.

How can someone take their lawn to the next level?

In spring, I suggest scarifying your lawn. Then remove all the build-up of dead thatch, fertilise and allow to grow back. This will give new leaf and you can reset your cutting height. Again, perfect timing to allow even water movement into the soil profile, less suspectable to disease and with regular mowing and fertiliser your lawn will improve massively.

How should I maintain my home lawn?

Firstly, regular fertiliser applications and mowing are your number one priority. Then, manage timing to apply curative treatments for weed and insect seasons. I like the simple and effective approach. There is a saying, don’t kill your lawn with kindness…

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