Sarah, Author at Lawn Solutions Australia - Page 16 of 27

Power of the Past, Force of the Future

THE LAWN SOLUTIONS AUSTRALIA NATIONAL CONFERENCE IS BACK!

Lismore suffered the most serious floods ever experienced in the region earlier this year with thousands of people being displaced from their homes and lives sadly lost in the devastation. Lawn Solutions Australia have been so excited to hold what was planned to be the 2022 LSA Conference in Ballina, that is until these recent tragic events.

With both the 2020 and 2021 conferences having to be cancelled due to the Covid Pandemic, nothing was going to stop the national network of turf members from finally getting together, networking and sharing a laugh in 2022.

The Largest Turf Industry Conference in the Southern Hemisphere Finally Returns

The Lawn Solutions Australia Conference was finally able to return and what an event it was! This year’s LSA Conference and Awards Night were held at Panthers Penrith in NSW. It was so great to catch up with LSA Members and industry partners and to see the successes we are all achieving throughout what has been a difficult period for many.

We heard from some exceptional speakers who provided insights into turf science and research, product developments, economic insights and stories of endurance, inspiration, and motivation.

Lawn Solutions Australia are proud to have hosted some of Australia’s best talents in their fields and international guest speakers for presentations throughout the conference.

Conference Speakers

Dr. Brian Schwartz

Dr. Brian Schwartz is an Associate Professor of Turfgrass Breeding in the Department of Crop & Soil Sciences at the University of Georgia in Tifton. Dr. Schwartz provided insight into his turf breeding program and the rigorous research and investment that goes into producing an industry-changing new turfgrass. Dr. Schwartz is the man behind the release of what is proven to be the world’s best couch grass, TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda. While in Australia, Dr. Schwartz also visited some of the industry’s best turf growers and suppliers of TifTuf.

Bernard Salt

Bernard Salt is widely regarded as one of Australia’s leading social commentators by business, the media and the broader community. Bernard spoke of the march of millennials towards middle age, the expected growth of suburbia, a shift from the city to the urban fringe and what this means for lawns and turf. While we have experienced many challenges recently, Bernard believes Australia and the turf industry are in a strong position for the coming years.

Jacqui Cooper

Jacqui Cooper is an entrepreneur, an author and a former five-time World Champion and Olympian Aerial Skier. Jacqui told her story, one of triumph, tragedy, defeat and success. Conference attendees were in awe of the courage and strength that Jacqui possessed and how she was able to keep on moving forwards toward her goal of competing at five Winter Olympic Games. Jacqui had many setbacks and numerous injuries resulting in surgeries throughout her career. But Jacqui was able to overcome all obstacles (that many believed to be impossible) because she refused to give up.

Billy Skaggs

Billy Skaggs is a seasoned Production Field Inspector for the International Turfgrass Genetic Assurance Program (ITGAP) and

is Georgia Crop Improvement Association (GCIA) Certification Program Manager. ITGAP operates in coordination with AusGAP – Australia’s Genetic Assurance Program for Turfgrass. Billy explained how ITGAP works and why the work they do in conjunction with AusGAP in Australia is so important when it comes to the quality and purity of turfgrass. While here in Australia, Billy also toured and undertook field assessments at turf farms to ensure policies and procedures were being followed. These assessments help to ensure the genetic purity of certified grasses like TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda and Sir Grange Zoysia.

Peter Switzer

Peter Switzer is one of Australia’s leading business and financial commentators, launching his own business 20 years ago. The Switzer Group has since grown into multiple successful companies spanning media and publishing, financial services and business coaching. Peter provided commentary on the current economic climate and how the budget and a new government will impact our industry. Peter also provided his forecast on what we should be expecting in the coming years with his information pointing to a positive outlook pending expected improvements in global supply chains and a declining impact of the war in Ukraine and Covid-19.

Tom Potter

As the founder of Eagle Boys, Tom Potter pioneered the pizza industry by implementing pizza delivery and a radical approach to marketing. Tom told his incredible story of success and perseverance, through the highs and the lows. Tom was a baker by trade and took his expertise in food and customer service into the building and running of his own business which developed into a very successful national franchise. Tom had what some considered a difficult time slot, presenting as part of the awards dinner but captured the audience’s attention with his matter-of-fact delivery and dry-witted humour.

Charlie Albone

Lawn Solutions Australia Brand Ambassador Charlie Albone welcomed conference attendees at the Cocktail Welcome Function. Charlie made his TV debut on the hit series ‘Selling Houses Australia’ before joining Better Homes and Gardens as a host. Charlie addressed the audience with his story of becoming a landscaper, his passion for the green life industry and his journey into television. Charlie explained how proud he is to represent and partner with LSA and how he looks forward to promoting LSA’s premium turf brands in the coming years.

Jason Hodges

Lawn Solutions Australia Brand Ambassador Jason Hodges has been an important part of the LSA family for many years.

Jason had the important role of MC throughout the conference and kept the audience entertained while encouraging strong involvement with speakers during post-presentation Q & A. Jason’s love of gardening and landscaping led to his media career where he worked on Auction Squad and Better Homes and Gardens. It is always a pleasure having Jason with us and we thank him for his continued involvement with LSA.

Lawn Solutions Australia would like to thank the many sponsors involved with this year’s conference. Without them, the quality of presenters and the knowledge accessible to the LSA network through such an event would not have been possible.

Thanks to all the LSA Members. We hope you had an amazing time at this year’s Lawn Solutions Australia Conference, it was great seeing you all. Congratulations to the award winners, there were some truly outstanding individuals who are a massive credit to their respective turf businesses. We couldn’t be prouder of the resilience, hard work and dedication we see right across Australia from LSA Members – you are the best of the best.

Lawn Solutions Australia is looking forward to the 2023 conference with plans already beginning to take place to ensure it is one of the best conferences yet.

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Trimax Mowing Systems, Husqvarna, Firefly Automatix, Greenway Turf Solutions, ICL Group, NuTurf, Syngenta, STRI, Bayer, Adama, Tama, Finlease, Equipment Solutions, AusGAP.

Do New Breeds Mean Better Grasses?

COUCH GRASSES UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

One could be forgiven for getting excited about the release of any new turfgrass. It’s in our DNA as turf lovers and industry experts who are always looking to play with the new shiny toys and newly developed turf products that are rolled out (pun intended) and released to market.

Like all products that are designed to turn a profit, the hype and marketing can often overlook the discernible traits that render a new product worthy of such praise and anticipation.

Fortunately, as turf experts, we understand that the true test of a new turf varieties mettle is in the data. Extensive, independent, and Australian based turfgrass testing and trials, this is where we find our diamonds. Without these trials and this conclusive data, all we are left with is hot air.

New breeds of grasses like TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda, have given rise to a wave of aspiring grasses wanting to be just like TifTuf. It’s a remarkable grass, with a level of hype that has been rarely seen in the Australian turf industry, except for the likes of Sir Walter DNA Certified. What TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda has that those other grasses do not, is data and lots of it.

While US data can provide an excellent guide and help turf researchers decide which grasses to import and trial, it’s not until there is Australian data from trials conducted in all parts of the country that claims of performance can be substantiated.

STRI (The Sports Turf Research Institute) conducts world leading testing and research, developing innovative techniques to assess and improve turfgrass surfaces.

STRI conducted the most recent Australian based independent trial evaluating the ‘Performance of bermuda (couch) grass cultivars under different shade, irrigation, and wear treatments.’ These trials included all the commonly grown couch grass varieties available across Australia.

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda was a clear stand out performer in this trial outperforming all other couch grasses in every one of the treatments assessed.

TifTuf had superior turf cover (thickness and growth) over the duration of the trial compared to all other grasses trialled. TifTuf also scored the highest NDVI (normalised difference vegetation index) which is a measure of appearance using a specialised scanning device.

This was not a surprise to those who have been studying this grass for the best part of three decades. TifTuf has been trialled in the NTEP (National Turf Evaluation Program) in the US, where TifTuf was in the top 25% performing couch grasses for overall quality 84.6% of the time.

Another newly introduced couch grass that has been recently receiving some attention in Australia managed to reach just short of 70%, that grass was Tahoma 31. TifTuf outperformed Tahoma 31 significantly, showing its superiority as a better quality turf grass. Tahoma 31 has experienced limited expansion since it was introduced to the North American market, even though it was released around the same time as TifTuf. TifTuf has over 6,000 hectares currently in production across the US, with Tahoma 31 much less.

TifTuf has shown the same growth in Australia, where it has been awarded the Smart Approved WaterMark for water efficiency. The only grass, or plant for that matter to receive the approval. To receive this approval data is required, trials need to be conducted and ultimately it’s the tangible results that dictates whether a product is successful. Marketing and hype cannot manifest such an accolade.

A study into water absorption of turfgrasses was conducted at the University of Oklahoma in 2019. This study found that when unlimited water was provided TifTuf absorbed more water than any of the other grasses in the trial. While this sounds like a negative, these results served to substantiate that TifTuf is indeed different when it comes to its relationship with water. When water is available, it absorbs and utilises the resource available. When water is minimal or during deprivation, TifTuf has the capacity to withstand the strain before stress sets in, because when the water does come, it’s ready to make the best use of it.

An analogy used by leading turf breeding experts is this: TifTuf is the top dog, give it water and it will lap it up like crazy, but it will be able to run for days. While the other dog laps up the water with less exuberance, once released into the paddock, it’s the first one to falter.

There is currently over 250 hectares of TifTuf currently in production in Australia with production doubling year on year. All TifTuf is certified by AusGAP, the Australian Turf Certification Program, to maintain purity and integrity. There are no other new or existing hybrid couch grass varieties protected with this certification. With the superior traits of these new varieties being paramount, maintaining genetic purity is of the utmost importance. When you choose TifTuf, you can be assured you are receiving the genetically pure turf variety that possesses the superior traits that resulted in its selection above all others.

Bent on TifTuf Greens

WEST WYALONG SERVICES AND CITIZENS SPORTS CLUB COMPLETED BY RIVTURF

West Wyalong Services and Citizens’ Sports Club includes an 18-hole grass greens course. The 100 plus year-old course is just a few minutes’ drive from West Wyalong in NSW, just off the Newell Highway.

It is a fully licensed Sports Club with bowling greens, tennis courts and a swimming pool that complement the pleasant par 72 golf course.

This phase of course reconstruction saw 18 new greens and tees as well as the practice green installed by turf supplier Rivturf using TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda in two stages. Since installation the greens and tees have been maintained by the clubs greenkeeping staff.

Turf Variety Selection

As a mature club all the greens were originally installed as Bent grass and the tees were a couch variety.

Following damage to some of the greens and tees, the small western New South Wales golf club was looking for an upgrade which would be easy to maintain and considered the region’s lack of water to irrigate thanks to Australia’s recent drought. The new grass also needed to incur lower costs for fertilisers and chemicals that had been required to keep the Bent grass at required playability.

The staff at Rivturf were contacted and they introduced the managers and greenkeeping staff to TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda, which having recently received certification as the first and only turfgrass to ever receive the Smart Approved WaterMark in Australia and across the world – was a perfect fit.

The plan was split into 3 construction stages to minimise the interruption to play on the course. The greens on the 10th through to the 18th were completed first and then 12 months later the front nine greens and all tees were completed.

Rivturf’s father and son team of Andrew and Cameron Longmore from Rivturf Pty Ltd project managed the supply of turf. Rivturf is a turf grower and turf installation specialist based in North Wagga Wagga.

Jamie McIntyre from Outdoor Inspirations Irrigation and Landscaping assisted with the preparation of the first stage of greens and the laying of TifTuf. Josh Cunningham and his crew at All Outside Landscaping & Land Management attended to the second and third stages of replacing the remaining greens and tees and have attended to the maintenance of the course since then.

Preparation

Each green was slightly different, depending on certain pre-existing issues like drainage, but the following general process for the Bent grass greens and couch grass tees was followed.

  • Glyphosate 600 applied and allowed a 4-week kill. Some of the couch tees required a second application.
  • 100mm of the thatch and turf was removed with a tracked loader and bobcat.
  • Due to budget constraints loam was saved and reused on the greens.
  • The areas were tilled with a tractor and roto tiller, then rolled and hand worked to get some of the playing shape or contours back into the greens.
  • An 80/20 sand and compost underlay were mixed specifically for the job and was laid at 100mm depth, before levelling using drag mats and levelling bars.
  • Prior to laying the TifTuf a starter fertiliser with water saving crystals was applied to the greens.

Installation

TifTuf was freshly cut each day during the installation process and trucked to West Wyalong from Wagga Wagga where RivTurf is based. The first stage was completed in March 2020 with the balance of the greens and tees being completed in April 2021.

Once laid, the TifTuf was rolled and watered 3 times a day for 4 days before being tapered off. The greens were top dressed 2 to 3 times over the grow in period, depending on the individual green’s requirements and at 3 months after being laid were dethatched.

All Outside Landscaping commented that “It was incredible how quickly it stitched together, laid down strong roots and how evenly it grew. Within months it was a playable surface.”

Mowing commenced 2 and a half weeks after laying at 15mm and then gradually the mower was lowered during the month to 5mm. The tees are maintained at 15mm.

Maintenance

All Outside Landscaping conduct the ongoing maintenance at the course and have a roster of 2 to 3 mows a week on the greens in summer and 2 mows a week in winter. An application with Primo PGR is also applied monthly during the growing season.

A Toro Greensmaster 3150Q reel mower is used and it is currently cutting at 3.5mm on the greens. In winter that will be raised to 4.5mm. Josh indicates that the 3.5mm height has provided the best response from the green as at lower cuts the greens health starts to deteriorate slightly, but the TifTuf can certainly handle being cut a little lower.

All Outside Landscaping work in conjunction with Living Turf who assist with Matchplay products. Josh indicates they are using Bio stimulants, fertilisers like MP Roots, MP Enhance, MP Foundation, KelPlus, Liquid Nitrogen and a granular Spectrum 20-2-5 after renovation. They have also used Tricure as a wetting agent and Terrafirm as a penetrant.

The water supply is mixed, catchment and treated sewerage. Because of this samples are regularly taken to ensure the products used are appropriate. Any fungal issues have been addressed proactively with Dedicate, Instrata or Bumper.

As the fairways are kikuyu, the Club uses Spearhead Herbicide and Monument to control kikuyu encroachment on the greens.

Greens are lightly sanded regularly and then broomed. Any major renovation work is conducted in the September/ October period when the greens are cored and sand used to top dress. All Outside anticipate doing another renovation during the summer months in future to combat compaction due to traffic.

Josh indicates that the main difference between the care and maintenance required on the TifTuf greens and tees compared with the kikuyu fairways is water use. West Wyalong is a drought prone area and the Club has had irrigation issues in the past

as well as some other construction works which has meant areas of the course have gone without water. Josh says “The ability of the TifTuf to hold colour and density without water is far superior to the kikuyu fairways. Obviously it also tolerates being regularly cut lower than kikuyu as well.”

Bellvista Boulevarde Project

SUNSHINE COAST TRIALS SIR GRANGE ZOYSIA

Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCRC) are responsible for the local government area in the Sunshine Coast District of South East Queensland.

Rob Tsikleas manages Parks Operations & Arboriculture including Parks and Gardens for SCRC. Rob and his team were seeking a low maintenance design outcome to create a defining border separating the cycle way and the pedestrian pathway at Bellvista Boulevarde in Caloundra West. Residents of the area were keen for an outcome which contributed positively to the streetscape aesthetic.

Efforts in the area had been unsuccessful in the past with it being quite a hostile and narrow space. Previous attempts to improve the narrow space with mulch was usually only a short-term fix with the mulch tending to wash away or spill onto the pathways. Rob needed a permanent solution that wouldn’t require frequent clean ups and ongoing rectifications.

Daleys Turf and Sir Grange Zoysia

Daleys Turf is a beautiful family-owned turf farm located at Bells Creek who supply and install lawns and turf throughout South East Queensland. Daleys Turf contacted the SCRC and offered to conduct a trial of Sir Grange Zoysia in a situation where mowing was a problem for them, such as a roundabout. Sir Grange Zoysia is a fine leaf Zoysia Matrella that grows slowly, so it doesn’t require frequent mowing like other grasses like couch and can even be left unmown if required.

The SCRC came back to Daleys Turf with two sites, one was in a new estate against a fence that was causing noise complaints when it was mown, the other was in a bio retention basin where grass plants were constantly being replaced. Both trials proved to be successful and demonstrated to the council that Sir Grange was very different to the existing varieties currently available.

Bellvista Boulevarde Project

The SCRC then contacted Daleys Turf regarding another problem area and wanted to investigate whether Sir Grange could handle this next site. Test holes were dug discovering that during the civil construction two concrete areas (bikeway & footpath) road base was installed under the existing garden area. This was causing a drainage issue which was slowly killing all the plants in this strip garden. Daleys Turf informed council that to be successful the road base would need removing and then back filled with a sandy loam soil, adding organics and soil conditioners to allow a free draining profile.

The council granted Daleys a trial area of 400 lineal metres to complete. SCRC have a soil recycling program operating so were able to provide the 50 cubic metres of soil required for the trial.

Daleys Turf removed the existing garden soil to a mixing site, then removed the road base before spreading the mixed sandy loam to a depth of 500-600mm. The Sir Grange Zoysia turf was then laid on the prepared and levelled base.

The first 400m trial was installed in February 2021, by November the SCRC had decided to expand the trial as it had proven very successful for them. In December 2021 another 800 lineal metres was installed with a further 800m to go in 2022.

SCRC undertook all the initial irrigation required for establishment and during the ten months after Sir Grange was installed, it has only been mown once. No fertilisers or chemicals have been applied during this time. Now that it has been established, there are also no requirements for irrigation.

This was the first full project with Sir Grange Zoysia Daleys conducted with the council. Since this project, Daleys have installed other trial plots in high traffic areas in the many parks on the Sunshine Coast. The feedback from the SCRC in response to the performance of Sir Grange has been excellent. Daleys Turf will be investigating other areas to apply this low/no mow option in bio retention basins, roundabouts and any other difficult to mow areas that could prove beneficial for the council moving forwards.

Sir Grange Zoysia is a unique grass type but with time and understanding, Daleys Turf and SCRC have found the correct location for Sir Grange can be very successful.

Australia’s Favourite Garden Show is Back

THE MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW 2022

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Melbourne International Flower and Garden show, the biggest of its kind in the southern hemisphere returned!

Staged at the world heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens from the 30th of March to the 3rd of April, this year’s event was nothing short of incredible. 103,000 people attended the event across the five days, exceeding expectations and achieving pre-pandemic levels.

The Show features the best talent in landscaping, gardening and floral design from right around Australia. With a large range of exhibitors showcasing their garden products, innovation and design.

sir grange show garden

The Lawn Solutions Australia display

Lawn Solutions Australia has enjoyed being an exhibitor and presenting partner at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show for many years.

This year’s lawn display was simple yet striking with Jason Hodges and the team at Venus Landscaping designing and building the display over the week leading into the start of the event.

The display featured Lawn Solutions Australia’s premium turf varieties Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo, TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda and Sir Grange Zoysia. All 3 varieties providing the focal point for the display which also included Jason Hodges’ very own Buxus Balls grown on his farm in Berry, NSW.

lawn solutions show garden

A special edition to this year’s display was a pathway through the raised lawn beds. The pathway was constructed using a blue metal base combined with a resin product called StoneSet which bonds the material together, setting in place. The same product was used to create the Lawn Solutions Australia logo, with white pebble stencilled into shape and set in place.

lawn solutions show garden

Lawn Solutions Australia ambassadors Jason Hodges and Charlie Albone, both very talented landscapers and previous winners at the show, were very excited to see the Show return in all its glory. Jason along with Joe Rogers from Lawn Solutions Australia, presented daily on the main stage sharing their knowledge on all thing’s lawns. Charlie was also filming with Better Homes and Gardens throughout the week with the Show being a regular feature episode for each series.

The Show is renowned for the intricate display garden builds installed by Australia’s leading landscape architects and designers. Lawn Solutions Australia’s lawn varieties were featured heavily throughout these installations and played an important role in bringing the designs together. Lawn Solutions Australia Member Lilydale Instant Lawn supplied top quality turf for many of these gardens, working closely with the talented landscape teams throughout the process.

Winner – People’s Choice

Featuring Sir Walter DNA Certified

‘More Than Meets the Eye’ by Warners Nurseries and Robert Boyle winner of the People’s Choice Award. This garden fused together 6 different garden aesthetics also receiving a Gold Show Garden Award alongside Jenkins’ Inner Calm.

 

The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show will return in 2023, bigger and better than ever.

A Touch of Grange for a Gem by the Sea

BY MICHAEL PASCOE, GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT, NOOSA GOLF CLUB

The Noosa Golf Club is truly a hidden gem by the sea. The venue’s lush setting is stretched over acres of grassy land and is surrounded by beautiful Australian bushland. Tewantin Noosa Golf Club was established in 1937 firstly as a 9-hole golf course, then to a 12-hole course before finally becoming an 18-hole golf course. It has since undergone major changes and upgrades which has served the course well over those years.

In 2020 Richard Chamberlain was commissioned to produce a Master Plan for Noosa Golf Club. With strong bones the layout of the course did not need to be touched. Many of the current greens were in the 200-350m2 range registering well under a desired 1-hectare size. Tees were also a little on the small size measuring just over 5,000m2. With 75-80,000 rounds per year, we needed two grass types that would produce superior playing surfaces but would also stand up to the wear and tear of that number of rounds, with shade also a huge factor.

A major reason for me coming back to Australia was to be a part of something special and something that I could sink my teeth into, Noosa’s Master Plan ticked all the boxes for me. After arriving back in Australia in April 2021 there was a lot to accomplish on the course first to bring it back to a standard that the membership could be proud of. Coming in at the start of winter was not ideal but challenge accepted, we as a crew went about bringing the course back into shape starting with playing surfaces. In just a few months being at Noosa I started to get a real feel for the issues that would influence my decision on the grasses we would choose. We needed to be put back on the map, a standout from the other golf courses not only in the area but in the state. We needed to find a way to do this and still stay true to our layout and natural bushland setting. For me the choice was easy, I was lucky enough to have been using Sir Grange Zoysia (or Zeon Zoysia as it is registered overseas) for the last two years on a turf farm where it was harvested and grown on a turf paddock over 14-hectares. With Sir Grange also growing at Hoiana Shores Golf Course a Robert Trent Jones 2 design, I knew the capabilities and the growing habits of this sustainable grass and knew it would fit in perfectly here at Noosa.

The factors that led me to choose Sir Grange Zoysia included its sustainability through low pesticide requirements, less mowing, drought tolerance and versatility. Another big factor for golf is how well the grass presents, including its playability. We have an ageing membership and with the Sir Grange helping the ball sit up it allows the high handicapper to chip or putt but also provides the mid to lower handicapper a variety of shots that can be played. Tif Eagle was the greens grass of choice and the club went about putting in a 20th hole so that we could start with the Master Plan with two holes per year being constructed. The first test for the Sir Grange was passed with flying colours. The membership was sceptical at first but when they saw the colour and how the ball sat up, many hearts were won. I knew the path was paved for Sir Grange to become the grass of choice on our tees and green surrounds going forward.

In November 2021, Atlas Golf Services won the tender to start our Master Plan on the golf course beginning on our 12th hole then followed by the 5th, both are par 3’s next to each other so that was a main factor in selecting where we would start. With relatively short par 3’s, the 12th being 130m and the 5th 137m, I felt we could really make a statement with Sir Grange. The 12th was completed before Australia Day with the first Zoysia being laid by Lawn Solutions Australia Member Daleys Turf, who I cannot speak more highly of in their professionalism and quality of turf. Owner Terry Daley and his team delivered above expectations, laying close to 2,000m2 of turf, mowed at 8mm for delivery in a day and a half. All turf was cut in using diamond battery powered hand grinders.

Atlas Golf turned their attention to the 5th hole straight away and during this time we encountered 722mm of rain in 4 days, washing out completely a third of our new 5th green.

The 5th reconstruction was a true test for Atlas Golf and I could not thank Jim and the team enough for their professionalism, patience, and expertise in restoring all the hard work that they had just put into the 5th green to rebuild and have it ready for turfing. Twin View turf, another Lawn Solutions Australia Member was contracted to lay the 5th hole and Project Manager Trent Hobson was fantastic in managing what turned out to be a tricky install. 5 weeks behind schedule and with the concrete pathing now put in, the hole can now grow in and take shape.

Looking back on the last 5 months it has been a rewarding, educating, and fulfilling construction process. Some lessons learnt and we are now well under way into Noosa GC’s Master Plan with schedule works for the next two holes to be under construction in September this year. Our membership is very eager to play our new 12th hole which will be opened ahead of the original schedule. The 5th hole will require a little longer but is now progressing nicely for an opening later this year.

All of this could not have happened without the brave and bold committee of Noosa Golf Club who stepped out of their comfort zone and realised the course needed to

be upgraded for the future. Being able to go with a new grass such as Sir Grange Zoysia is a bold move and one that will reward not only the club in its many positive attributes and sustainability but also for the membership who will get to play on a superior playing surface that will only get better with age.

Caring for Your Lawn This Winter

The summer of 2021 – 2022 brought more rainfall than many of us expected. Unfortunately, this has left many lawns sitting damp and stopped us from mowing for weeks at a time. This blog looks at what you need to adjust to your winter lawn care regime so it can thrive heading into spring and summer.

Soil leaching

When there are extended periods of rainfall your soil will absorb water. When the layer of soil absorbs as much water as it can, the water will travel further down into the subsoil and rock underneath. As this water travels down, it will take many nutrients like nitrogen with it to the subsoil. This process takes away nutrients that were once available for your lawn to use.

To help the soil replace lost nutrients, we recommend applying a soil conditioner like Lawn Solutions Lawn Kelper. Lawn Kelper contains a balanced formulation of trace elements, seaweed kelp, and fulvic acid, combined with a balanced NPK fertiliser. Lawn Kelper can be reapplied at monthly intervals.

lawn kelper

If the lawn needs a nutrient boost over winter, we recommend applying a liquid fertiliser like our Lawn Solutions Exceed. This will be absorbed through the leaf for quicker uptake of nutrients.

exceed liquid fertiliser

Aeration

With recent rainfall, we have seen many lawns struggling with excess moisture within the soil profile. If prolonged, it can be detrimental to turfgrass, causing fungal diseases and rotting.

To help this excess moisture drain away, give your lawn an aerate. We recommend using either a garden fork or a tyne aerator for aerating. To aerate your lawn, drive the fork into the lawn. Then wriggle it back and forth to help fracture the soil profile. Then, repeat this process across the affected area.

aerating

Increase light

If your area has particularly struggled to dry out, you may need to increase the amount of sun your lawn receives. Although you won’t be able to reduce the shade caused by structures like your house or fences, pruning back trees and shrubs will help.

grass in shade

Get on top of weeds

Increased rainfall will also increase weed pressures on your lawn. If you notice weeds popping up throughout your lawn, it is best to get on top of this as soon as possible to prevent the spread.

For removing common broad leaf weeds like Bindii, Clover, Oxalis, Cudweed, Thistles and more, we recommend using a broad leaf herbicide like Amgrow Bin Die or All Purpose Weed Control.

Another weed common for this time of year is Winter Grass. Winter Grass is best removed with two different products.

We recommend using a post-emergent herbicide like Winter Grass Killer (not safe for use on kikuyu, rye, or fescue) to remove what is currently there. We also recommend using a pre-emergent herbicide like Oxafert or Oxapro to help stop any winter grass seeds that have been dropped into the soil.

oxafert

ColourGuard Plus

If your lawn lacks colour and you want to give it a quick green-up, we recommend using a lawn pigment product like ColourGuard Plus. One application of ColourGuard Plus can provide up to 3 months of fantastic colour. It is safe for all lawn types and can be used anytime throughout the year.

colourguard plus

For more lawn care tips and advice, you can read our other lawn care blogs here.

lawn solutions newsletter

Rye Grass | Removal and Oversowing

Here at Lawn Solutions Australia, we usually don’t recommend over sowing lawns in winter. Instead, we prefer to use an easier lawn pigment product like ColourGuard Plus or iron to help green up your lawn throughout the cooler months. While rye grass is effective, it is an expensive product to not just purchase but to transition in and out. However, if you do want to sow your lawn this winter, here is how to do it.

Is my grass suited for oversowing?

It is preferred that you have an existing couch lawn when it comes to oversowing. There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, couch grasses have a fine leaf like rye. This helps the rye blend into the couch. The second is that more commercial herbicides are available to remove rye from couch than other turf varieties.

With other lawn varieties like buffalo and kikuyu, there are not as many safe to use herbicides. Rye grass also has a much finer leaf than buffalo and kikuyu, making the introduced grass stand out.

What should I oversow my lawn with?

If you are going to oversow, perennial rye is usually the best option. However, we generally don’t recommend this unless you have some experience oversowing. It is important to note that there isn’t a seeded grass on the market that is wear tolerant. This means you must rely on the existing grass to handle regular wear and heat. The rye is purely for winter colour. For this reason, oversowing is primarily done on high-profile sports grounds and stadiums and not home lawns.

How do I remove rye grass

Once spring comes and the weather begins to warm up, rye grass must be transitioned out (killed) to allow your existing grass to be dominant.

To transition rye grass out, you need to use a herbicide like Monument or Duke. As these are primarily commercial herbicides, they can expensive and difficult to apply correctly. If you don’t do this and just let nature take its course, you will have a patchy-looking lawn that will be a random mixture of rye and your existing grass.

Applying these commercial-style herbicides is not as straightforward as using domestic products. Look at our blog on How to Calibrate Your Sprayer for more information on applying these herbicides.

Monument Herbicide

Monument is safe for use on common couch, hybrid couch, QLD blue couch, and zoysia grasses. This herbicide is not recommended for use on kikuyu or buffalo lawns. Monument can also be used to treat a range of other weeds, including Burr Medic, Bindii, Winter Grass, Catsear, Chickweed, Clover, Cotula, Creeping Oxalis, Curled Dock, Milk Thistle, Mullumbimby Couch and Nutgrass.

monument herbicide

Duke Herbicide

Duke is safe for use on couch, kikuyu, and most buffalo varieties. This herbicide can also be used to remove broadleaf weeds including Bindii, Black Thistle, Catsear, Cotula, Cudweed, Guildford (Onion) Grass, Medic, Mouse Ear Chickweed, Oxalis, White Clover, Onion Weed and False Onion Weeds. Duke will also remove other grass weeds including Winter Grass (Suppression), Bahia, grass (suppression and seedhead reduction).

Duke herbicide

Removing by hand

If there is only a small amount of rye growing or over a small area, you can also pull it out by hand.

Alternatives to oversowing

If you want to keep your lawn green and vibrant in winter without applying rye, we recommend using a pigment product like ColourGuard Plus or iron to achieve the desired colour.

colourguard

Check out our other lawn care blogs here for more lawn care tips and advice.

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How to Fix Tyre Marks in Lawns

Do you have unattractive tyre marks in your lawn? In this blog, we look at a few methods you can use to help repair these, plus tips on how to avoid ruts from occurring.

What causes tyre marks or ruts?

Ruts can occur when objects like cars, motorbikes and even the kids’ bikes move over grass with saturated soil. When this happens, the soil can often sink and become compacted, creating divots.

Assessing the damage

The first step is to assess the damage. Are the ruts only shallow (up to 10 cm deep) or deep (over 10cm deep)? After you have determined this, we can look at the best way to repair it.

Small ruts

Small ruts up to 10cm deep can be fixed by loosening up the soil base below the lawn.

To do this, use a garden fork and insert it underneath the rut. Then pull the fork down, lifting the turf back up. It is best to lift the affected turf a few cm above the unaffected turf so it can level out over the coming days. Continue to do this around the affected area.

Big ruts

For larger ruts there are a few extra simple steps to follow.

Firstly, use a spade to cut 3 sides along the rut. Then lift and fold the grass over so you can access to the soil underneath the rut. Then use a garden fork or your spade to loosen up the soil underneath. If your soil is not level after this, bring in some sandy loam or turf underlay to bring the soils level back up. Then you can fold your turf back onto the soil and let it grow back in

If the turf in the rut is badly damaged, you may want to look at using a few turf rolls from your local turf supplier. When doing this, it is best to use the same variety as your existing lawn. Cut the turf to the required size and lay it over the prepared soil.

After repairing your rut, it is important to keep traffic in the affected area to a minimum while the grass is repairing itself and irrigate regularly. In winter, most warm season grasses like buffalo, couch, kikuyu and zoysia will need the warmer temperatures in spring to start repairing. In spring, you can also give these areas a fertilise to help promote extra growth.

tyre mark on lawn repair

How to avoid ruts in your lawn

The easy answer, stop people driving and parking on your lawn.

Roping off your area is an easy way to help stop others driving on your lawn. You can place small stakes into your grass and tie rope to them. This will act as a small reminder to others to not drive on your lawn.

Another option is to add a sign on your lawn to keep off the grass. Like this one available at Bunnings.

keep off grass sign

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

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What You Shouldn’t Be Doing to Your Lawn This Winter

During winter, most lawns across Australia will enter a level of dormancy, slowing down the growth of your lawn. In this blog, we look at what lawn care activities you should avoid over the winter months.

Scalp/Dethatching Your Lawn

Scalping and dethatching involve giving your lawn a low mow to remove the excess build-up of thatch. Scalping can also be done to reduce the height of your lawn, especially if it has grown too long in between mows, or during a lawn renovation.

Scalping/dethatching is beneficial when done in spring and summer. Removing this thatch layer will help aid more nutrients and air reach your soil profile so it can more effectively feed your lawn. It will also help allow for proper drainage, helping prevent the risk of fungal issues.

When this is done, your lawn will often need a few weeks to grow back to repair itself. If this is done when heading into or in the cooler months, the lawn will not be growing at a fast enough rate for it to repair itself. Therefore best to avoid doing this to your lawn over winter and wait till spring and summer.

dethatching

Top Dressing

Top dressing is also best avoided in winter. This can be done to either help improve the nutrients in your lawns soil base or to help fix holes and uneven lawn. Top dressing will help increase nutrient retention, improve drainage, and increase disease and pest resistance. This will also help reduce the accumulation of dead grass clippings and stems, known as ‘thatch’.

When top dressing to improve levels, it is often best to use sand. When top dressing to improve the soil profile it is best to use a sandy loam that contains a blend of sand and organic material.

Although top dressing does have many benefits, it should only be done throughout the warmer months. If top dressing is done in the cooler months the lawn will often not be growing at a fast enough rate to repair itself, smothering the lawn and limiting all/most sunlight for extended periods of time. Therefore it is best to avoid top dressing your lawn in winter.

top dress

Watering

For the most part, fully established lawns shouldn’t need much additional irrigation. However, throughout the warmer months in spring, summer, and autumn, additional irrigation may be needed if:

  • The leaf is wilting or losing colour.
  • If a footprint is left behind on the lawn when you walk across it. If your lawn is well hydrated it should be able to bounce back.
  • During hot weather, if it is looking dry, taking on a brown colour, there’s a good chance it needs water.

If your lawn needs water, it is best to irrigate it early in the morning. This will help reduce water loss due to evaporation and limit fungal disease. In winter, rainfall should provide sufficient irrigation to your lawn. During winter most lawns will receive less light throughout the day. When additional watering’s are done, the lawn can often sit damp without the opportunity to dry out. In some cases, this can lead to the grass developing fungal diseases.

watering lawn sprinkler

Granular fertilising

Granular fertilisers are a great way to help give your lawn a sustained boost, delivering nutrients that your lawn needs to thrive. These fertilisers are best used throughout the warmer months when your lawn is actively growing. When the lawn is actively growing, it can absorb these nutrients as they are released.

fertilise lawn

If your lawn looks like it needs a boost during winter, it is best to use liquid fertiliser products like Exceed and soil conditioner like Lawn Kelper.

exceed liquid fertiliserlawn kelper

While all these lawn care activities are and provide many benefits for the lawn, they should be avoided during the cooler winter months. For more information on what lawn care activities you can do during the cooler months, check out our winter lawn care blog here.

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