Sarah, Author at Lawn Solutions Australia

What’s the Best Grass Around Pavers and Concrete

Posted on August 25, 2022November 15, 2024 by Sarah

Have you ever wondered what’s the best grass you should use around paving, concrete, and other surfaces? This blog looks at a range of options you can use in your outdoor space.

What’s the Best Grass Around Paving

When using grasses around paving, we recommend choosing a grass type that won’t grow particularly tall and will grow thick around the paving. If you plan to have pavers across your lawn, we recommend going for a slower-growing grass like Sir Grange Zoysia or Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo.

Sir Grange Zoysia

Sir Grange Zoysia is a slower-growing boutique grass that looks great with little maintenance. This grass has a stunning fine leaf, with a beautiful dark green colour, and is slow growing. This grass can even be left unmown! The Sir Grange also doesn’t grow particularly long, so it works well in landscaped areas. This is a slower-growing grass. So, it won’t have as fast repairing nature as other warm-season grasses like couch and buffalo grass. So, it is best used in low traffic areas that will not be used by pets and kids, or where the paving will be walked on, instead of the lawn.

As this grass is a slow grower, it can take some time to establish. Sir Grange Zoysia also requires a bit of extra ground preparation work when installing. For more information on the installation and establishment of Sir Grange Zoysia, click here.

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Moderate Traffic Areas Around Paving

If you are installing grass in an area with pavers or other surfaces like concrete that will receive more foot traffic or will be used by pets and kids, we recommend having a look at Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo.

Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo grass has a higher wear tolerance and a faster repairing nature than Sir Grange Zoysia. Sir Walter has a soft broad leaf, high shade tolerance, and excellent with pets and kids. This grass is low maintenance, and well-suited to the Australian Climate.

High Wear Areas

For choosing a turf type in high-wear areas along a driveway or other surfaces, we recommend looking at TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda or Sir Walter DNA Certified.

For turfed areas along driveways and paths, look at using faster-growing grass. Although you will need to keep in mind the lawn may need its edges done from time to time. Edging along driveways and paths will be much easier to maintain as they are mostly straight. Please check out our blog on edging for more information here.

If you want your lawn to sit flush with a concrete surface, we recommend leaving about 30-40mm below the height of the other surface. This will allow for the thickness of the turf. Best to chat with your local turf supplier for exact measurements of how thick they are cutting their turf.

Ground Cover Alternatives

There is an excellent range of other ground covers that you can use around paving. These ground covers are a good option to look at using in smaller areas, like alongside of the house or on small pathways. When choosing plants, it is best to look for something that is low growing and can spread to prevent weeds from growing. A few options include Baby Tears, Dwarf Mondo Grass, Dichondra Silver Falls, and Blue Star Creeper.

For more information on choosing the best turf variety for your area, it is best to have a chat with your local Lawn Solutions turf supplier.

Getting Your Lawn and Garden House Inspection Ready

Posted on August 25, 2022November 15, 2024 by Sarah

Whether you are having an open house, or a rental inspection, lawns and gardens are often one of the last areas to tidy before inspection day. To help you get organised, we have put together a guide on how to get your lawn and garden inspection ready.

Repairing Patches in Your Lawn

If there are big bare patches, the best way to get grass growing is to lay new turf in the patch. This method is quicker and easier to achieve better results, especially when short on time.

When replacing a patch of grass, you will need to rake out any dead foliage in the bare area and turn over the existing soil. Then if needed, bring in some soil to raise the ground level. Next, cut your turf to size and lay the bare patch on top. Keep the water up to the patch and avoid mowing this area until the new turf has rooted down into the soil base.

To purchase turf, get in contact with your local turf suppliers here.

Mowing Your Lawn

A quick mow will help get the yard looking tidy. If the lawn has been left a bit too long, it is best to mow with the catcher on to prevent lawn clippings from smothering the grass. Mowing with a catcher will also help avoid clippings from going over other surfaces like the driveway.

To help keep the lawn healthy for future house inspections, regular mowing is key. This will help your lawn maintain a consistent growth pattern and help your lawn become thicker and healthier.

ColourGuard Plus

A great way to help give your lawn an instant green up and a boost is to apply ColourGuard Plus. ColourGuard Plus is a natural organic lawn pigment and liquid fertiliser product that helps provide natural green colour to your lawn, especially in a hurry for a house inspection!

Tidy Garden Beds

A quick tidy-up of garden beds and removing any weeds that have grown in will go a long way. The best and fastest way to remove weeds is to pull them out by hand. When removing weeds, it is best to avoid spreading any weed seeds to the rest of the lawn and dispose of them in a green bin or garbage bag.

Edging

Edging your lawn is another great way to make your lawn looks clean and tidy for a house inspection, especially if the lawn is growing over concrete or other surfaces. There are a few different edging tools available, but you should be able to achieve sharp edges by using whipper snipper.

For more information on how to edge your lawn, check out our blog here.

Pruning Back Trees and Shrubs

Prune back any trees or shrubs that are overgrown or blocking paths, entryways, or needs a tidy. This will help make the property look more appealing. For pruning, you can use wither garden sheers, saws, or hedge trimmers, depending on the plant and how much plant material you are removing.

Fertilise Your Lawn

Now is also a great time to fertilise your lawn. This will help the lawn improve its colour and help thicken the profile.

A liquid fertiliser like Exceed can provide fast results as it is absorbed by the leaf of the grass. This provides a much quicker result compared to granular fertilisers as they are absorbed by the grass roots.

If you are wanting to help improve the overall health of the grass, you may want to look at using a slow-release granular fertiliser that will release nutrients to the lawn, giving it a boost over a longer period. For granular fertilisers we recommend using our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser. This contains all the essential nutrients your lawn needs to look and stay healthy.

For more information on how to repair bare patches in your lawn click here.

4 Spring Lawn Care Musts

Posted on August 23, 2022November 15, 2024 by Sarah

Spring is now here! Temperatures are now rising, and our lawns are set to start actively growing again! We recommend doing a few simple spring lawn care activities to ensure your grass will grow at its healthiest throughout the warmer months.

When is the best time to fertilise my lawn?

We know it might be tempting to throw grass fertiliser down as soon as spring starts, but it is best to wait until the temperatures rise and ensure the lawn is actively growing first. If you time your fertiliser application before this, the lawn won’t be growing fast enough to absorb all nutrients provided and won’t allow the fertiliser to work to its full potential.

So, when should you apply fertiliser? Best to wait until you notice your lawn is actively growing. You should be able to detect this when the lawn needs more frequent mows. This can be at different times for different regions of Australia.

For fertilising in spring, we recommend using a granular lawn fertiliser, like our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser. This has a combination of fast and slow-release granules that contain a balanced ratio of nutrients your lawn needs to thrive. This fertiliser is suitable for all lawn types.

Checking your mower blades

Another spring lawn care activity you can do is ensuring your mower blades are nice and sharp. This will help your grass look better after mowing and will help keep your lawn healthier.

We recommend checking your mower blades at the start of every growing season to ensure they are in good shape or need sharpening. To check your mower, tilt your lawn mower up with the front wheels pointing upwards and the handle flat to the ground or bench. This will ensure no oil flows where it shouldn’t.

If the blades have any cracks, bends, extremely thin blades, or even holes in the blades fin – then your blades need to be replaced.

If there is still plenty of meat left on your blades and they are in their correct shape, they may simply need to be sharpened.

For most people, the easiest fix is to have your mower blades looked at by a professional. However, if you are not confident or short on time, your best option is to drop your lawn mower off at your local mower shop and have the experts give the whole unit a once over. It can be a good idea to undertake a mower service every 12 months or so, leaving your mower ready to go when you need it during the warmer months.

Mowing regularly – the 1/3 rule

The one rule relates to the leaf length that you should limit yourself to taking off at each mow. The reasoning behind it is to lessen the grass’ stress during the destructive mowing process. Removing only one-third of the leaf during a mowing event will limit the amount of photosynthesizing material removed and allow the plant to maintain reasonable growth by minimising this stress among others.

Do I need to aerate my lawn?

Aerating your soil is another great spring lawn care activity to do! Aerating your soil will increase the amount of air, water, and nutrients it receives. This strengthens grass roots and helps create a healthier lawn. Aeration decreases thatch and compaction and should be carried out annually in high traffic areas and on hard lawns. Lawns with poorer soil can benefit from aeration too.

To aerate your lawn, drive a garden fork into the soil and give it a wiggle to help decompact the soil base. You can also do this with a core aerator which will remove plugs of soil at the same time. Continue this across the lawn around 8-10 cm apart for best results.

It may be worth hiring a motorised aerator if you have a larger area or your soil is highly compacted.

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

What You Need to Know About Mowing

Posted on August 23, 2022February 6, 2026 by Sarah

As the temperatures are set to rise over the coming weeks, your lawn will start to actively grow. With this, your grass will need more frequent mows to keep up with growth. To help we take a look at a few tips and tricks to help you get the best cut when mowing your lawn.

Skip to: Different mowing heights for different grass types, one third rule, sharpening your mower blades, tips for mowing your lawn, different mower types

Lawn Mowing Height

You may have noticed that your mower allows you to adjust and change the height you can mow at. On a typical rotary mower, a lever is located near one of the wheels, allowing you to raise and lower the mowing deck.

As a general rule of thumb, it is best to mow lower during warmer months and higher during cooler months.

Mowing Height for Different Grass Types

The One Third Rule of Grass

A common question we get is, “how often should I mow my lawn?” The answer to this is dependent on your turf variety and local climate. For example, if you are in a warmer climate like Queensland with a fast-growing grass like couch, you will need to mow more frequently than someone in a cooler climate like Tasmania with a slower-growing grass like buffalo.

To answer the question, mow your lawn frequently enough so that you remove no more than one-third of the leaf with each pass. Cutting this way will limit the amount of stress caused to the plant and help avoid scalping.

Sharpen Your Mower Blades

Ensuring your mower blades are nice and sharp will help your grass look better after a mow and help keep your lawn healthier.

We recommend checking your mower blades at the start of every growing season to ensure they are in good shape or need sharpening.

If the blades have any cracks, bends, extremely thin blades, or even holes in the blades, then your blades need to be replaced.

If there is still plenty of meat left on your blades and they are in their correct shape, they may simply need to be sharpened.

For most people, the easiest fix is to have your mower blades looked at by a professional.

Tips for Mowing Your Lawn

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 consistent pace

Different mower types

There are a few different mower types that are on the market.

A popular option for the home lawn is a rotary mower. These mower types have spinning blades rotating on a vertical axis under a cutting deck. They work best on a medium to high cut and are now available as both petrol and battery powered. Some trusty rotary mower brands to look out for include Honda, Victa, Toro, Bosh, Ryobi, Masport, Ozito, Makita and Husqvarna.

If you want to get a clean low cut, you will want to look at using a cylinder mower. There are cheaper models available like the Ozito Cylinder Mower. Bigger cylinder mowers like Scott Bonnar, Protea, Swardman and Bushranger tend to be priced at the higher end.

Automowers are one of the new types of mowers on the market! These mowers will often require installation but will be able to maintain your lawn without the effort of a traditional mower. One of our favourites is the Husqvarna Automower.

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

Removing & Preventing Lawn Grubs and Weeds | Oxafert & Acelepryn GR

Posted on August 23, 2022February 27, 2026 by Sarah

As the days get cooler and autumn settles in, your lawn’s growth may slow, but the battle isn’t over. Winter weeds are starting to appear, and lawn grubs can still cause damage if left unchecked. This season is the perfect time to take action. In this blog, we’ll guide you on keeping your lawn weed- and pest-free as winter approaches.

Skip to: How to Prevent Turf Weeds, How to Prevent Lawn Grubs

How to Prevent Turf Weeds

You can prevent annual summer and winter grass weeds with a pre-emergent herbicide like 3kg Oxafert and Barricade 250ml. Pre-emergent herbicides work by targeting seasonal grass weed seedlings during germination, stopping them before they appear on your lawn. As a bonus, both Oxafert and Oxafert Plus contain a fertiliser component that provide nutrients to the lawn and help keep it healthy! Oxafert Plus also contains an additional insecticide component.

When applying Oxafert and Oxafert Plus it is best to time your applications just before the seedlings are set to germinate. For seasonal winter weeds like Winter Grass, best to apply in autumn when the temperatures are getting cooler in your area. To stop seasonal summer weeds like Summer Grass and Crowsfoot it is best to apply in spring before the temperatures rise. The exact time to apply pre-emergents will depend on your local climate and current weather conditions.

Pre-emergent herbicides work by creating a barrier at the soil level. This barrier affects the germination of any new seedlings. Remember, it won’t kill existing weeds; it will prevent germination. So, as the temperatures warm up and the weed seed springs to life, Oxafert kills them before they emerge.

To prevent Summer Grass and Crowsfoot weeds, use 3kg of Oxafert per 100m2. To prevent Winter Grass and Creeping Oxalis weeds use 4kg of Oxafert per 100m2. Spread the granules evenly over dry foliage, and water in after application with at least 10mm of water.

oxafert preemergent — Oxafert Pre Emergent Herbicide

How to Prevent Lawn Grubs

Grub Guard Ultimate, Acelepryn GR and Acelepryn Liquid provides safe and effective control of a wide range of insects while minimizing environmental impact and non-target organisms like Bees and Earthworms. Acelepryn works by targeting a specific muscle receptor that is common in damaging causing insects. Other non-target organisms like Bees, Earthworms, Birds, Fish, and mammals don’t use the same muscle receptors, making it one of the safest insecticides on the market!

Acelepryn targets pests such as Black Beetle, Stem Weevil, Cut Worm, and Army Worm. The great thing about Acelepryn GR compared to other pesticides is that it’s not only curative but also preventative.

Acelepryn is best applied at six monthly intervals to provide year-round protection. We recommend using Acelepryn in September/October and again in March/April as a general guide. These two applications will prevent lawn grubs throughout the entire year.

Grub Guard Ultimate

For treating Lawn Curl Grub, Argentine Stem Weevil larvae and Billbug larvae, spread the granules evenly 750g – 1.5kg per 100m2. We recommend using a calibrated spreader to ensure the granules are spread evenly to the lawn. After the granules have been spread out, lightly water in immediately after application.

For treating Caterpillars including Lawn Armyworm, Black Cutworm, and Sod Webworm, spread the granules evenly 750g per 100m2.We recommend using a calibrated spreader to ensure the granules are spread evenly to the lawn. After application, delay mowing and watering for 24 hours. After 24 hours have passed, water the granules in.

grub guard ultimate — Grub Guard Ultimate

Acelepryn GR Granules

For treating beetle larvae including African black beetle, Argentine Scarab, Argentine Stem Weevil larvae and Billbug Larvae, spread the granules evenly, 1-2kg per 100m2. We recommend using a calibrated spreader to ensure the granules are spread evenly to the lawn. You can also spread the granules by hand. After the granules have been spread out, give the granules a water in with a minimum of 3mm irrigation.

For Caterpillars including Cutworm, Armyworm, and Sod Worm, spread the granules evenly, 1kg per 100m2. Again, we recommend using a calibrated spreader for an even application. You can also spread the granules by hand. After application, delay mowing and watering for 24 hours. After 24 hours have passed, water the granules in.

Acelepryn Liquid

For treating Lawn Curl Grub (Beetle larvae including: African Black Beetle larvae Argentinian Scarab larvae), Argentine Stem Weevil larvae and Billbug larvae, you can apply through a garden sprayer or watering can. For a garden sprayer use 8 – 15 mL per 5-10 L of water per 100 m2. When applying in a watering can, mix 1.5 mL in 9 L of water and evenly apply to 10 m2. Apply the higher rate for up to 6 months of residual protection, cases of high pest pressure, and late in season when mature grubs are present. Lightly water in immediately after application when applying by garden sprayer.

For treating Caterpillars including Lawn Armyworm, Black Cutworm, and Sod Webworm, apply through a garden sprayer. Use 8 mL per 5-10 L of water per 100 m2. To ensure optimum control, delay watering or mowing for 24 hours after application.

Acelepryn liquid — Acelepryn 100ml Liquid

With these tips you will be able to prevent lawn grubs and weeds throughout your lawn.

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

Outdoor Heating Solutions for Winter

Posted on July 26, 2022November 15, 2024 by Sarah

When it comes to outdoor heating, you probably think of a trusty fire pit or an old patio heater. However, with new outdoor heating options, there is now a great range of options to help you keep you warm when enjoying the outdoors. This blog will share some of our new favourite outdoor heating options.

We will be focusing on three main types of outdoor heating options. These are gas heaters, electric heaters, and firepits.

Outdoor Gas Heaters

A wide range of gas heating options are available to suit all budgets. Prices generally start from $179 and can go up to $800 (or higher). When looking at gas heaters for your area, you will need to consider the size and space you want to heat, the assemble required and the design.

Mimosa Black Panoramic Powder Coated Short Area Heater

The Mimosa Black Panoramic Coated Short Area Heater is a portable, stylish, and functional outdoor heater. However, this heater does require some assembly.

Affordable price point $199
Body level heating coverage
Adjustable heat settings
Easy to assemble
Flame failure & tip over safety features

This heater has received positive reviews, with customers liking that it was easy to assemble and provided significant warmth.

Jumbuck Charcoal Gas Patio Outdoor Heater

The Jumbuck Charcoal Gas Patio Outdoor Heater is a portable and functional outdoor heater.

Classic design
Heats up to 17 m2
Push button ignition system
Temperature settings knob
Safety tip over switch
Wheels for easy mobility
Affordable price point $179

This product received primarily 5-star reviews. Users noted that assembly was time-consuming and additional sand was required to stable the base. But it produced a great amount of heat and made spending time outdoors more enjoyable.

Heatstrip Portable LPG Outdoor Heater

The Heatstrip Portable LPG Outdoor Heater is a modern, stylish, and elegant outdoor gas heater.

Electronic finger pull ignition
World class wind protection rating at 16km an hour
Heater head made from high quality stainless steel with high temperature paint coating
Ideal for outdoor alfresco, balcony and patio areas
Parts are sub-assembled for easy instillation
Premium price point of $839

This heater has seen many good reviews. Its wheels make it easy to move, and it produces a lot of heat while being stylish. However, one review noted that there were no temperature control options.

Outdoor Electric Heaters

Outdoor heaters are another great option to look into. These heaters can be mounted onto a wall and do not need gas bottles to be replaced.

Jumbuck 2000W Radiant Patio Heater

The Jumbuck 2000W Radiant Patio Heater is a great outdoor heater to help keep you warm during cool winter nights.

Free standing and wall mount option both included
3 power settings
Easy to use, plug in and switch on for instant heat
Adjustable height
Affordable price point $89

This heater has mostly good reviews. Consumers liked that it was easy to set up, included both the stand and wall mount, and worked well heating smaller areas. However, if you have a larger area, it was recommended to look at using multiple heaters across the space. A few reviews mentioned that this heater is better suited for sheltered areas away from the wind.

Heatstrip Intense Black Infrared Electric Outdoor Heater

The Heatstrip Intense Black Infrared Electric Outdoor Heater is a stylish indoor and outdoor heater that can instantly provide a heating solution.

Easy DIY installation with included brackets
Ideal for protected and semi exposed areas
High quality construction with hexagonal grille
Priced at $499

Consumers were happy with the quality and durability of the product. They liked the strong heat it could reach and maintain on cold winter nights. Customers were also pleased with the stylish black design against the orange light.

Heatstrip 2400W Classic With Remote

The Heatstrip 2400W Classic With Remote is a sleek and attractive outdoor and indoor heater, great for alfresco areas, verandas and pergolas.

3 temperature settings
Slim and compact design
Convenient DIY instillation
24-hour timer
Premium price of $598

This heater has received mostly 4–5-star reviews. Customers liked the stylish design that blended in well to the ceiling. It was noted that the area needed to be sheltered away from wind to provide effective heat.

Fire pits

An effective way of heating is to use a fire pit for open outdoor spaces. When using fire pits out on the lawn, there are a few extra steps to take to ensure you are protecting your lawn from the heat. Check out our blog here for more information here.

Mimosa 52cm Small Euro Fire Pit

The Mimosa 52cm Small Euro Fire Pit has a stylish modern design that will help bring some warmth into your outdoor area.

Made from heavy duty cast iron
Grey finish
Easy to assemble
Affordable price $55

This product has seen great reviews from customers. They have liked that it was easy to assemble and is heavy enough to be stable.

Jumbuck Fuoco Standing Grill and Fire Pit

The Jumbuck Fuoco Standing Grill And Fire Pit doubles as a fire pit and grill, perfect for keeping warm and cooking outside.

Bottom wood storage area
Removable cooking grill
Powder coated steel construction
Priced at $199

Customers have loved the combination of the grill and fire pit, but they would have liked to have had a cover created for it.

Fire Globes Australia

FireGlobes Australia specialises in hand-drawn and hand-cut bespoke fire pits. These fire pits are custom-made and are totally unique.

Full and half size pits available
Come with a stand and fire grate
Available in 7 different sizes
Custom designs
Premium price point

Fireglobes have great reviews. Customers have loved the ability to have their own creative input and love how it looks both during the day and when lit at night.

If you need to get your lawn looking great quickly for when entertaining outdoors, why not try a lawn pigment product like ColourGuard Plus!

For more outdoor inspiration for your backyard and garden, check out our other lawn care blogs here.

Guide to the Best Outdoor Winter Party | Winter Warmer Recipes

Posted on July 26, 2022November 15, 2024 by Sarah

Are you looking to take your backyard party to the next level? We share some of our favourite winter warmer recipes to help you get the party going in winter when enjoying the backyard and lawn.

Hot Chocolates for the kids and parents

Hot chocolates are the ultimate crowd favourite across all ages! One of our favourite hot chocolate choices here at Lawn Solutions Australia is the Cadbury Drinking Chocolate! Simply whisk milk and your favourite hot chocolate mix over a stove top until warm, then serve.

For the parents, you can add some of your favourite spiced rum, Kahlua, Baileys, or chocolate liqueur for an extra twist!

If you have some free time when preparing for your guests, why not give making hot chocolates from scratch a try!

What you will need:

½ cup sugar
¼ cup baking cocoa
Dash of salt
1/3 cup hot water
4 cups milk
¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional – miniature marshmallows, sweetened whipped cream or cinnamon sticks

In a saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa, and salt. Add water; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Stir in milk; heat to serving temperature (do not boil). Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Whisk until frothy. If desired, garnish with marshmallows, cream, or cinnamon sticks.

Recipe by Taste of home

Mulled Wine (adults only)

Mulled wine is another easy to make drink that is great when entertaining outdoors. This is traditionally seen at Christmas markets across Europe, but is more commonly consumed here in Australia throughout winter. It is easy to make recipe and is best shared with a group of family and friends, especially on a cool winter night.

Ingredients:

2 oranges
1 lemon
1 lime
200 g caster sugar
6 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
3 fresh bay leaves
1 whole nutmeg, for grating
1 vanilla pod
2 bottles Chianti or other Italian red wine
2 star anise

Method:

Peel large sections of peel from the oranges, lemon and lime using a speed-peeler.
Put the sugar in a large saucepan over a medium heat, add the pieces of peel and squeeze in the orange juice.
Add the cloves, cinnamon stick, bay leaves and about 10 to 12 gratings of nutmeg. Halve the vanilla pod lengthways and add to the pan, then stir in just enough red wine to cover the sugar.
Let this simmer until the sugar has completely dissolved into the red wine, then bring to the boil. Keep on a rolling boil for about 4 to 5 minutes, or until you’ve got a beautiful thick syrup. The reason I’m doing this first is to create a wonderful flavour base by really getting the sugar and spices to infuse and blend well with the wine. It’s important to make a syrup base first because it needs to be quite hot, and if you do this with both bottles of wine in there you’ll burn off the alcohol.
When your syrup is ready, turn the heat down to low and add your star anise and the rest of the wine. Gently heat the wine and after around 5 minutes, when it’s warm and delicious, ladle it into heatproof glasses and serve.

Recipe by Jamie Oliver

Roasted Leg of Lamb

When entertaining you can’t go wrong with a roasted leg of lamb and veggies. If it’s your first time cooking a leg of lamb, don’t be intimidated, it is a simple and easy dish to cook up especially when preparing for a crowd on a cold winter night.

This recipe uses the Weber barbecue. You can use this recipe for a normal oven, but you may need to adjust your cooking times.

Ingredients:

1 x 2 to 2.5 kg leg of lamb
3 garlic cloves, sliced
Fresh rosemary sprigs
½ lemon
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

Prepare the barbecue for indirect cooking over medium heat (190°C to 230°C). If you are using a Weber Q barbecue, set up your barbecue with a convection tray and trivet.
Using a sharp knife, cut 10 to 12 small slits into the flesh of the lamb. Push a piece of garlic and a small sprig of rosemary into each slit.
Squeeze the lemon juice all over the lamb. Season with salt and pepper.
To estimate the cooking time, measure the meat through its thickest part and cook for 1 minute per millimetre for medium. For example if the roast is 90mm thick, cook for 90 minutes.
Roast the lamb over indirect medium heat for 1 ¼ to 1 ½ hours, with the lid closed, or until cooked to your liking.
Once the lamb has cooked, remove from the barbecue and leave to rest for 15 minutes before carving.

Recipe by Weber

Dessert

Now time for everyone’s favourite, dessert! This caramel pear self-saucing pudding recipe is just the right mix of warm and sweet for a cool winter night. Here’s what you will need…

Ingredients:

Caramel sauce:

1/2 cup (110g) firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup (180ml) boiling water
50 gram butter, chopped

Caramel pear self-saucing puddings:

425 gram can pear slices in natural juice, drained
3/4 cup (110g) self-raising flour
1/3 cup (75g) firmly packed brown sugar
20 gram butter, melted
1/3 cup (80ml) milk
1/3 cup (40g) pecans, chopped coarsely icing sugar, for decorating

Method:

Preheat the oven to moderate (180°C / 160°C fan-forced). Grease four shallow ovenproof dishes (1 1/4cup / 300ml capacity). Place dishes on an oven tray.
Divide pear slices among dishes.
Combine flour, sugar, butter, and milk in a small bowl; mix well. Spread the mixture evenly over pear slices in dishes. Sprinkle batter with pecans.
To make caramel sauce, combine all the ingredients in a medium heatproof jug; stir until sugar is dissolved and butter melted.
Pour caramel sauce slowly over the back of a spoon over mixture in dishes. Bake in a moderate oven for about 25 minutes or until firm.
Dust lightly with sifted icing sugar, serve immediately with cream or ice-cream, if desired.

Recipe from Womens Weekly

If you need to get your lawn looking great quickly for when entertaining outdoors, why not try a lawn pigment product like ColourGuard Plus!

We hope these winter warmer recipes give you some inspiration for when you are hosting your party or gathering this winter. Make sure you check out our other blogs for more yard inspiration here.

Grasses in Winter | A Geographical Guide

Posted on July 26, 2022November 15, 2024 by Sarah

As we are in the cooler months, most lawns across Australia will be slow in growth and can lose some colour. This is mainly due to the drop in soil temperatures and the reduced amount of direct sunlight. However, as Australia is such a large continent, different areas will face different conditions at each time of year. This article looks at what is expected to happen with your lawn type in your area during winter.

For this article, we will be separating Australia into three regions. The first Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, and the Southern regions of Australia. The second Sydney, Newcastle, Gold Coast, and areas north of Canberra. The third Darwin, Perth, Cairns, and areas north of Brisbane.

Canberra, Melbourne, and Adelaide

These regions are generally the hardest hit by cooler temperatures. These regions will usually experience multiple frosts per year and have bigger temperature variations. The hot summers and cold winters can make it challenging to find a turf variety that suits these conditions year-round.

Most of the common grasses here in Australia are warm-season grasses. This includes Buffalo, Couch, and Kikuyu. In winter, they can slow in growth, and some colour loss is expected. Whilst they do lose colour, they will always naturally bounce back in colour and health once the weather warms up.

Frosts cause damage to turf when the moisture inside the leaf blade freezes and expands. This causes the cell wall of the grass to rupture, damaging the turf. Frost can also cause significant discolouration to the leaf as the damaged cell walls slows down photosynthesis.

Couch and Kikuyu grasses like Eureka Kikuyu and TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda have a fast-growing nature, making them able to bounce back quickly once the warmer temperatures start in spring.

Buffalo grasses usually need a few weeks of warmer temperatures to return to their former colour.

Zoysia grasses are generally slower growing grasses, so they will take the longest to bounce back from frost damage once the warmer temperatures come.

Fescue, Rye Grass, and cool-season blends are common around this region. These grasses will hold better colour during cooler conditions as they contain proteins that prevent them from freezing. However, during the warmer months, these grasses will require significantly more water than warm-season grasses to stay green and healthy. Cool season grasses also have poor weather tolerance and are susceptible to grub damage.

Sydney, Newcastle, and Gold Coast

Sydney, Newcastle, and Gold Coast areas will notice a drop in temperatures over winter. Over winter these areas will encounter very few frosts. Lawns will mostly lose colour and will be impacted by shorter hours of sunlight.

Like in Canberra, Melbourne, and Adelaide, you will mostly find warm season grasses like Buffalo, Couch, Kikuyu, and Zoysia. As these grasses are warm-season varieties, they will slowdown in growth and can lose some colouring.

Cool-season grasses are not as common in this region. This is due to the warmer winters and warmer summers compared to southern regions. As a result, cool-season grasses will struggle and require more water to survive and thrive than warm-season varieties.

Sun loving turf varieties like couch and kikuyu will primarily be impacted by the shorter hours of sun during the day. These varieties need around 6 hours of direct light per day. When this is reduced and shade levels are increased, this can interrupt the turf. If your lawn lacks sunlight throughout winter, prune back any surrounding trees and shrubs to allow more sunlight to reach your lawn.

Buffalo like Sir Walter DNA Certified and Zoysia grasses like Sir Grange Zoysia are generally more shade-tolerant turf varieties, needing around 4 + hours of direct light.

Darwin, Perth, and Cairns

These regions usually have warm temperatures throughout winter with the occasional cool day. Therefore, in these areas warm-season grasses like couch, zoysia, buffalo and other broadleaf grasses like carpet grass are primarily grown.

These regions will still experience warmer temperatures and are often unaffected in winter.

If you want to up your lawn game and keep it green over winter, we recommend applying a lawn pigment product like ColourGuard Plus. ColourGuard Plus is a 100% natural grass colourant. It is safe to use on all lawn types, year-round and safe to use around pets and children.

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

How do they make new ‘hybrid’ grasses? | TifTuf ‘Hybrid’ Bermuda

Posted on July 26, 2022November 15, 2024 by Sarah

Some of you may be familiar with new superior grass varieties like TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda. But what does the hybrid mean, and how are grasses like this created? In this blog, we’ll explain how…

Hybrid Turf Varieties

Technically all turfgrass varieties are hybrid varieties, in that they are seedlings that are the result of cross-pollination of plants with different DNA.

Interspecific hybrids are seedlings from cross-pollination of plants of different species.

F1 hybrids are the first seed from a selective cross-pollination of the same or different species. They may or may not be capable of producing seed. F2 is the second generation of these fertile F1 seedlings.

Seeded Hybrids

Seeded hybrid varieties are developed by natural cross-pollination of two or more parental lines.

Turfgrass Hybrids

Turfgrass hybrid varieties do not breed true, meaning that the seedlings they produce are different and not physiologically the same. With every seed being genetically different, over time you will see segregated patches which gradually become visible, especially during the cooler months.

This means that hybrid varieties require vegetative propagation to maintain the original plant’s phenotype or DNA. These are known as clonal varieties. Those that are hybrid varieties vegetatively propagated from clonal plants or an individual seedling selection.

Vegetatively propagated couch hybrid varieties are developed by a selection of superior plants from established seeded or vegetatively propagated plantings.

Triploids

This is where things get a little bit more scientific, but we’ll try to keep it simple…

The branded varieties are primarily known as triploids, which have 3 sets of chromosomes. This includes hybrid couch or bermuda grasses, like TifTuf.

TifTuf has proven itself to be the very best couch grass available through extensive trials and testing throughout Australia and the US where it was bred.

The name “triploid hybrid” comes from its two sets of C. dactylon (N=36) and one set of C. transvaalensis (N=18) chromosomes.

The couch triploid hybrids are Interspecific hybrids developed by cross-pollinating plants of Cynodon dactylon known as Bermuda grass and Cynodon transvaalensis, known as African Dogtooth grass.

Propagation

These hybrid plants are sterile and incapable of producing seed.

This means the commercial production of these triploid couch hybrids needs to be entirely vegetative as instant turf, sprigs, or plugs.

So, if we specifically look at TifTuf for example. TifTuf has uneven sets of chromosomes being a Triploid, does not produce pollen and is considered sterile. If by chance TifTuf produced a seed, it would not replicate TifTuf’s phenotype.

Turf quality of vegetatively propagated couch triploid hybrids is consistently higher than the quality of seeded common couch hybrids.

Therefore, commercial hybrid turfgrass varieties, that are kept physiologically the same in replicated tests, are consistently superior to seeded varieties.

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda

All accredited TifTuf turf suppliers in Australia grow all their material from foundation plant material that is then sprig planted and established.

This ensures TifTuf’s trueness to type. It is an incredible grass with a specific set of traits that make it stand above all others, so it’s important that it’s kept genetically the same.

Certified TifTuf turf fields are then audited and assessed for genetic purity to ensure that the grass harvested is 100% pure TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda. This is conducted through AusGAP, Australia’s Genetic Assurance Program for turfgrass.

To make sure you are getting the real deal when it comes to the turf variety you buy, make sure you buy it from an accredited turf supplier who can supply the AusGAP Certification certificate for proof of authenticity.

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

How to Back Lap a Cylinder Mower

Posted on July 25, 2022November 15, 2024 by Sarah

If you have a cylinder mower, a sharp reel is important to ensure a nice clean cut to your grass. But, do you know how to Back Lap a Cylinder mower? This blog looks at how to sharpen the blades on a cylinder mower.

What is back lapping?

If your reel and bedknife are not working as they should, your grass blades will be torn rather than cut. This isn’t great for the appearance of your lawn and is also not ideal for plant health.

Back lapping is the process of maintaining the sharpness of your cutting cylinder blades. This helps to ensure your reel and bedknife are bedded together and cut evenly, providing a sharp and even cut. Once the cylinder edge has been lost, you will need to have the cylinder re-ground.

Before you undertake the following back lapping process, it’s extremely important that you handle the machine safely and wear suitable protective equipment. Make sure you are wearing gloves, you are not wearing any bagging clothing, particularly long sleeves, and have a safe working area clear of clutter and away from others.

Step 1 –

The first thing you want to do is make sure that the machine won’t function. Turn the on/off switch to off and for extra safety remove the spark plug.

Step 2 –

Tip the cylinder mower backwards so that the reel and bedknife are easily accessible.

Step 3 –

Use a Mill Bastard file to take the round edge off the bed knife. As you do so, move the cylinder reel away from the pinch point. Using the file to put a sharp cutting edge on the leading edge of the bedknife.

Step 4 –

Use a cordless drill or back lapping machine and socket to turn the cylinder reel backwards.

While it is spinning, wet down the reel and bedknife lightly with water. A spray bottle will make this easier to get a nice even coverage of water across all elements.

Step 5 –

Next, apply back lapping compound or paste. This paste is a water-soluble grinding paste designed specifically for sharpening blades.

Apply back lapping compound evenly using a small to medium-sized paintbrush with a long handle while the reel is spinning. Using a piece of PVC pipe over the handle can help extend the length of the handle so your hands are kept at a distance from the blades.

The brushes only need to flick the reel blades as they spin lightly brushing as it goes around. Do not allow the brush to enter too far into the cylinder.

Important note: It is extremely important you are paying full attention while doing this and keep your hand as far away from the spinning reel as possible.

It is suggested to allow the cylinder to spin backwards after applying the grind paste for 5 minutes.

Step 6 –

Once the blades have been coated, wash off the paste using a hose.

Step 7 –

Adjust the cylinder position evenly to the bedknife, ensuring both sides and just touching the bedknife and the cylinder is spinning smoothly and not too tight.

Make sure the cylinder adjustment lock nuts and loosen prior to adjusting.

Step 8 –

Check with paper for sharpness. Checking cutting cleanly right across all the reel blades. The paper should cut easily like it would when using sharp scissors.

Once you have completed this process spray your cylinder, bedknife and other moving parts with WD40 or a lanolin spray like Inox to stop corrosion and rust.

Now you know how to Back Lap your Cylinder Mower. You should now have your cylinder perfectly balanced, sharp, and ready perfectly cut your lawn.

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