Sarah, Author at Lawn Solutions Australia

We’re buzzed about bees! | Here’s how to keep a bee friendly lawn

Posted on August 26, 2021 by Sarah

Did you know there are over 1,700 species of native bees in Australia? The busy buzzy bee is one of the most important pollinators for our food chain and is essential to help keep your flowers in bloom! With a few steps, you too can create a bee friendly lawn…

But first, why are bees so important?

Bees are the world’s largest pollinators; honeybees alone are responsible for pollinating 80% of all flowering plants.

Pollination can also come from wind and water, however only around 12% of the world’s flowering plants can be pollinated by wind. An even smaller 2% of pollination occurs by water pollination.

Pollination occurs when bees collect nectar and pollen from a flower. When collecting pollen, some of this pollen will stick to the bee’s body. When moving to the next flower, the pollen that has stuck to the bee’s body can rub off onto the stigma. This process fertilises the plant, allowing it to grow fruit and seeds so it can spread.

Flowers

Bees are attracted to flowers that have open or flat flowers that have lots of pollen and nectar. They love a variety of bright and colourful flowers. When looking to put in new plants in your garden, try and make sure you have a balance of plants so that you will always have a flower in bloom. This will help encourage bees to your lawn year-round, helping you create a bee friendly garden.

Native flowers

In some cases, native trees are the preferred choice for bees. Some of their favourite plants include Daises, Eucalyptus, Acacia, and Banksias.

Combination planting

Combination planting in theory will help attract pollinators from using a variety of flowering plants and will help assist certain plants take up nutrients. By using a variety of plants close to each other, you will help create a bee friendly garden. Combination planting can also be used to help deter damaging causing insects.

Bee hotel

Over 99% of native Australian bees will either live in a small group (semi-social bees) or will live alone (solitary bees) in small holes in the ground or nests. Both bee types will make their home in a pre-existing hole in wood or will make a hole in the spongy, soft stem of a flowering plant (pithy stem).

To help these bees, you can provide a place for them to go and rest. To make a bee hotel use a small box and fill it with bamboo canes or old flower stalks that are hollow. You may need to cut these sticks to size to fit in your box. You can also use a small block of wood and drill out different size holes for the bees. This will help create a warm safe place for the bees to go and rest in. You should place your bee motel in an area that gets plenty of morning sun.

Flow also sells a bee hotel for native bees. They contain different size sticks so the bees can find their perfect home.

Flow hives

For the aspiring beekeepers, there are a few great beehive starter bundles to help get you started on your bee-keeping journey.

One of our favourites is the Flow Hive. With these hives, you can collect honey straight from the hive with a simple to-use-tap. These hives use partially formed combs. Once the honeycomb is filled and the key is turned the comb will split, allowing the honey to flow out of the hive and into your jar! This avoids the need to open the hive and use processing equipment with no mess.

Use of bee friendly insecticides

When it comes to the use of insecticides, we recommend using Acelepryn GR. Acelepryn GR provides safe and effective control of damage-causing bugs while minimising the impact on the environment and non-target organisms like bees and earthworms.

Check out the Lawn Solutions Australia lawn care page for more helpful tips and advice here.

What should turf look like when it arrives?

Posted on July 30, 2021August 26, 2021 by Sarah

Congratulations! Your turf has been ordered which means you are almost ready to install your new lawn.

What should you expect when your turf arrives? Turf is a green life product. This means the turf is not always going to have the exact same appearance. In most cases, this is completely normal. There is a range of factors that contribute to these possible variances.

Here’s what to expect and look out for when your new turf is delivered.

Thickness of turf

Knowing the thickness that your turf will be is important so that your finished lawn sits flush with other surfaces and is at the height you desire on completion.

When turf is cut, the thickness can vary due to a few factors. Factors such as location, the type of machinery used to cut the turf, the type of turf, and weather being experienced on the farm. As a rough guide, turf will usually be cut between 25mm to 45mm thick.

To know for certain what thickness your turf will be on arrival, it is best to ask your local turf supplier prior to delivery, before you have finished preparing your soil base.

Moisture content

When your turf is delivered, the amount of moisture that is in the turf can vary. Factors such as climate or location, and current weather conditions including rain, wind, and humidity levels can all effect moisture levels. This moisture level will not affect the turf quality and won’t hinder the turf during its establishment. Once the turf is laid, watering is to commence immediately. This will provide the moisture required to maintain health and for establishment to begin.

Muddy turf

When you receive your turf, you may notice that there may be a bit of mud sitting on the leaf blade. This can be common if you are receiving turf after the turf farm has received rainfall.

If your turf is delivered with a bit of mud on the leaf blade, simply wash it off the leaf back into the soil profile.

Soil base

The soil attached to your turf can vary depending on the seasonal conditions and the soil in your location. The more moisture there is in the soil, the ‘stickier’ it will tend to be. This will allow it to hold to the turf better. If it’s too wet however, some soil/mud can be displaced from the turf, too dry and it can crumble and fall away also. These changes will not affect the quality of the turf, it will still establish correctly once laid and perform as it should.

Sometimes turf can be supplied with a thick amount of soil. This creates its own micro growing conditions for the turf while it’s yet to establish its roots. In sports turf situations, the preference is to have no soil attached to the turf at all. Once harvested the turf is washed to remove all the soil before it is delivered to the site. This ensures there is no soil contamination and even quicker establishment, both of which are critical in that situation. In the home lawn, great results will be achieved for establishment whichever thickness or soil composition is supplied.

Considerations regarding temperature

Throughout different times of the year, the turf can dry out at different rates once harvested. Throughout summer when the temperatures are at their hottest, the turf can begin to dry and heat up. When temperatures are cooler throughout winter, the turf will still dry out but at a slower rate than it would in warmer months, while remaining at a lower temperature.

Turf typically has a shelf life once harvested of 24-48 hours in the warmer months.

While it may last longer during the cooler months or conditions, it is still best to lay your turf as soon as it is delivered, regardless of the time of year. After your turf has been laid, it is best to apply water straight away.

Dead or discoloured?

Warm season turf varieties like kikuyu, buffalo, or couch, may lose a bit of colour in winter. This is no different for turf that is harvested and delivered during this time. Turf farmers can help offset this colouring in the cooler months by using a lawn pigment product like ColourGuard Plus, which you can also use to keep your lawn green over winter.

If turf is less green in winter, it does not mean your grass is unhealthy, it is simply dormant. The colour will return once the temperatures warm back up again in spring. This is much like buying a deciduous tree during winter.

Joining lines in turf

After you have installed your new lawn, you may see some joining lines between the turf. These lines can be more apparent as the edge of the turf roll can be under more stress where the roll has been cut. This is quite normal and will disappear as your lawn establishes. When installing your turf, be sure to stagger the joints of the turf in a brickwork pattern. This will help the turf to establish quicker so that the joining lines disappear faster, and the turf has more stability.

If you have any concerns regarding your turf once it arrives, get in touch with your turf supplier straight away. They will be happy to address any of these concerns and can provide specific insight into the variances that may be experienced.

Lawn Solutions Australia turf suppliers are the best in the business. These growers are fully accredited and certified by the Australian Genetic Assurance Program for turf, AusGAP. This program has strict quality control measures and audits that are conducted on a regular basis, so you can be sure that your turf is produced to the highest of standards.

To find contact details for your local accredited turf suppliers click here.

Weed wands and weed pullers

Posted on July 30, 2021May 6, 2024 by Sarah

Weed wands and weed pullers are a great way to remove unwanted weeds from your lawn. To help you know when you should use each of these, we have put together a guide on the do’s and don’ts of weed pullers and weed wands.

Weed wands

Firstly, let’s look at what weed wands are and when they are best used. Weed wands are a stick that disperses herbicides to a small, selected area of your lawn. These sticks are usually around 1 metre tall, eliminating the need for you to bend or kneel to treat weeds. Weed wands are used to precisely apply herbicides. They are mostly used in situations where there are no herbicides that will selectively treat the weed or grass without harming your lawn, like invasive grasses and hard to remove weeds like onion weed. Non-selective herbicides like roundup are poured into the wand and is dispersed by an applicator on the end of the wand.

The weed wand applicator will usually look like a small paintbrush and will disperse the herbicide to the weed. When using these, it is best to dab the product onto the weed instead of using a sweeping motion to allow for a more accurate application.

Pros

Weed wands have a small applicator, allowing for accuracy upon application.
Weed wands are best used with a non-selective herbicide that contains glyphosate, like roundup. Non-selective herbicides will kill everything that they touch. This can be handy if you do not know what type of weed you are treating.
The weed wand applicator is on the end of the stick so there is no need to bend or kneel.

Cons

When using a weed wand, you will need to be careful to only apply the product to the weed you are wanting to treat and not your lawn as it will kill it too.
As the weed wand is on the end of a stick, you will have less control of where the applicator will go.

Yates weed wand

One of our favourites weed wands is the Yates weed wand. This weed wand comes with a handy screw on safety cap which is great for when the wand isn’t in use. The wand has a specially designed valve on the brush that prevents any of the product leaking into your lawn when moving between weeds across your lawn.

Weed pullers

There is a wide range of weed pullers that are available on the market. Some are small handheld pullers; some have serrated edges making them easier to use in different soil types and some are stand-up pullers stopping you from bending and kneeling. Most will pull the entire plant and root system out. While most weeds can be pulled out, there are some you shouldn’t. Have a look at our blog here for more information on weeds you shouldn’t remove by hand.

Pros

Weed pullers do not require herbicides. This is particularly handy for those wanting to keep their garden organic.
Is one of the easiest and quickest ways to remove weeds from your lawn!
The right tool will be able to remove the entire weeds roots.
Stand-up weed pullers don’t require you to bend over or kneel to remove weeds.
You won’t run the risk of accidently killing your lawn.

Cons

Some weed pullers will not be able to remove the entire root system of the weed.
Can be time consuming.
Hand-held pullers require you to bend and kneel to remove weeds.

Fiskars Weed Puller

No more bending down and tugging out weeds by hand. Simply push down on the built in foot plate. The clever gripping prongs will push into the surrounding dirt around the weed, and grab tightly onto the whole weed and root system. Then simply pull the whole thing out of the ground and dispose of the weed and its roots in your green waste bin.

Good Guys Bad Guys Bug Guide

Posted on July 29, 2021January 31, 2023 by Sarah

Some bugs are good, some bugs are great! But how do you know what type of bugs are bad for your lawn? We’ve put together a guide on what bugs you should leave in your lawn and what you should look out for.

Good guys

Bees

Bees are one of the most important insects in our environment due to their ability to pollinate our plants. This allows plants to reproduce becoming a food source for many other animals including us!

These guys won’t cause any damage to your lawn, and if you keep out of their way, they should leave you alone too! Fun Fact, bees will sometimes have a nap in a flower when they become tired from gathering pollen!

Lady beetles

Lady beetles are a beautiful sight to see and are one of the best insects you can encourage to your garden. Lady beetles will help keep the population of aphids at a manageable level so that they won’t cause damage. Lady beetles will also eat a range of other soft bodied insects like mealy bugs which can cause damage to your lawn. Before the lady beetles turn into their bright red colours they start life out as larvae. The larvae will then turn into the red beetle we know them as.

Earthworms

Earthworms are pleasant little critters that are excellent for your lawns health! They will work beneath the turf aerating your soil and breaking down thatch. If you do happen to have these guys in your lawns soil, it means that you have a good amount of organic material and nutrients in your soil. When there is an increased amount of moisture within the soil earthworms will rise to the surface and leave a casting. These are also known as mud balls on top of the soil. These castings can affect the appearance of your lawn, especially if there is a heap of them. However, when these castings are dry you can simply rake them across the lawn.

Praying mantis

Praying mantises are one of the more intriguing insects that you may find in your garden. Their front legs are held up, similar to a praying position and legs are designed specifically for catching prey. These guys target flies, crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, aphids, small frogs, lizards, and mice. Praying Mantis’ are the only insects that cans turn their heads to the side at a 180-degree angle!

Bad guys

Army worm

Armyworm is a pest that can cause great damage to a lawn within a matter of days. They will tend to move in large numbers across lawns, devastating the plant material they leave behind. They will completely scalp the green leaf growth of the grass and will continue this throughout the whole lawn. Armyworms vary from 2mm to 40mm in length (varying depending on how mature they are). They have 3 prominent white or cream stripes running down the back and side of their bodies. If you do notice that your lawn has armyworm, it is important to act fast to prevent further damage throughout your whole lawn. Treatment options for armyworm include Battle Insecticide, Grub Guard, or Richgrow Grub Killa Hose On.

Lawn grubs

Black beetles on your lawn are a common sight and are a natural part of your garden’s ecosystem. These beetles won’t cause damage to your lawn, but their larvae and grubs in large numbers will. They will cause most of their damage when the temperatures are warmer, from september to march. Their grubs and larvae are treated in similar ways to armyworm. If you see black beetles on your lawn, there is no need to use an insecticide. But if there are larvae on the lawn and there are visible signs of damage it is then best to use an insecticide. We recommend including Battle Insecticide, or Grub Guard.

Mole cricket

Mole crickets are common but are rarely seen as they tunnel through the soil, eating at the roots of your lawn. As these insects burrow down in the soil, they can be difficult to treat as an insecticide needs to be washed down into their burrows to make contact with them.

Insecticides

When looking at insecticides to use, we recommend looking at using a preventative product, like Grub Guard Ultimate. Grub Guard Ultimate is powered by Acelepryn technology delivers excellent preventative control against a large range of common lawn pests. This product provides safe and effective control of damaging causing bugs like armyworm for up to six months, while minimising the impact on non-target organisms like bees and earthworms.

For more information on insects in your lawn, check out our lawn care blogs here.

How to create the ultimate lawn for dogs

Posted on July 29, 2021May 5, 2023 by Sarah

Did you know that 40% of Australian households own at least 1 dog?

Dogs are an important family member to many aussie homes, but on occasion they can cause damage to our beloved lawns. Our dogs are often the ones who will be spending the most time out on the lawn so it is important they have a place to enjoy. In this blog, we will look at ways to keep both your four-legged friends and your lawn happy…

Skip to: Urine Burn, decompact your soil base, pets digging your lawn, and choosing the right lawn variety for your pets

Wear and tear to the lawn

If your dog gets the zoomies and runs around your lawn like crazy, your turf can cop quite a hiding. Especially for families with larger dogs, this can be a forever uphill battle to help the grass survive. If this is you, a turf reinforcement mesh might be the right option. Turf reinforcement mesh will give your grass extra strength so that it can withstand the extra wear, reducing damage. These meshes are usually made from high-density plastics and are put down onto an existing lawn. Once these are laid out on the lawn the plastic structure will disappear within a few weeks when the turf naturally grows back over. These meshes also provide an easy solution to help stop chickens scratching throughout the lawn.

Urine burn

If your dog is one to leave burns on the lawn, there are a variety of options that can help stop or reduce urine burns on your lawn. One popular option that has seen success is Dog Rocks. These work by filtering out the impurities from water such as tin, nitrates, and ammonia. Filtered water has also seen success, working similarly to dog rocks. Training your dog to use one area of the lawn or synthetic pet potty mats can also help prevent widespread damage throughout the lawn. For more information on stopping and preventing urine burn click here.

De-compact your soil base

If your dog spends most of its time out on the lawn, your soil base can become compacted. Compaction will occur when an area of the lawn is regularly used. This can hinder the soils’ ability to absorb water and the lawns’ ability to properly root down into the soil profile. To help reduce compaction, you can use either use a garden fork or a core aerator to help to fracture up the soil profile, better allowing for water and nutrients to get to the roots of your lawn. For more information, please check out our blog on aeration here.

Digging

But what should you do if your dog is a digger? Well, let’s look at why dogs dig in the first place. Some dogs like to dig to help stop their boredom, are trying to escape, seeking protection, or are just playing. To help stop your four-legged friend from digging up your entire yard there are a few things you can do. Chew toys can serve as a great distraction and can help keep your dog busy while you are not home. Regular exercise will also help your dog use up its energy and will keep your dog active.

Sandpits

If your dog just loves to dig, why not give them an area where they can dig all day long without causing any damage to your lawn! Treats and chew toys can even be added into this dedicated digging area to encourage them to use it rather than the lawn. These sandpits can easily be constructed by a few pieces of timber or you can even use a kids clam shell and fill it with sand.

Choosing the right turf variety

When choosing the best turf variety, it is important to consider your pets needs too! If your dog will be spending its time out on the lawn, it is best to choose a variety with a high wear tolerance. Sir Walter DNA Certified buffalo has a soft and hardy leaf that is a great performer in high wear areas! Sir Walter DNA Certified is a great all-round turf variety that is great with pets and kids and is well suited to the Australian Climate. Another great turf variety for pets is TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda. TifTuf has a fast-repairing nature, so if damage does occur to from your pet, your lawn can repair itself fast. This turf variety has a soft fine leaf that is great to touch and feels great underfoot.

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For more information on pets and your lawn, check out our other pet-related lawn care blogs here.

Now we’re cooking with fire! | How to protect your lawn from the heat

Posted on July 29, 2021July 29, 2021 by Sarah

Cooking outdoors on a bbq, spit and even a fire is a great way to not only cook food, but also entertain throughout the cold winter nights. When cooking out on the lawn, your grass can be left with scorch marks where the heat has burnt your lawn. To save your lawn from getting burnt we have put together a few helpful tips to help your lawn stay nice and green.

But first, what different types of cookers are available?

There is a huge range of different cookers, smokers, spits and bbqs available. One of our new favourites is the Jumbuck mini spit due to its great size and the entertainment as well of watching it spin. There’s even a group dedicated to it on Facebook!

You can’t go past a classic kettle bbq either like a Weber. These have had a bit of a resurgence in recent years. This is mainly due to the popularity of cooking with charcoal rather than electric. Kettle bbq’s are also ideal. They are high enough off the ground like a traditional bbq, so the grass is safely at a distance to the heat.

If you are lucky enough to have the space a pizza oven also makes a great addition to backyard entertaining. You are not limited to pizza either, with most having enough space to cook just about anything you would normally inside the house.

If you are looking for something that can provide a bit more flavour, then a smoker is another option worth looking into. These can take a little bit of getting used to. Once you get the hang of cooking times, smoke levels and internal temperatures, the results can be delicious providing a smokey flavour. Char-Griller has a good entry level option, you just need to make sure you buy the offset fire box attachment separately for smoking. Jumbuck also has bbq smoker with offset sidebox included.

Finding the best spot for your cooker on the lawn

Before lighting up your fire, you will need to find a flat surface to place your cooker. This will help stabilise the cooker and will help stop it from falling over throughout your cook.

Preparing your grass for the heat

If you are using a fire pit or a cooking device that sits quite low to the ground, it’s best to take some precautions first, particularly on your lawn.

Before lighting up your fire there are a few things you can do to help prepare your lawn for the heat. Firstly, it is best to rake away any fallen leaves or twigs. A light water with the hose will help minimise heat stress to the grass from the cooker. Throughout the night when the lawn becomes dry again, give the lawn another watering. This will help prevent the lawn from becoming scorched. If the heat is quite close this may not be enough to protect it, so more methods may be required.

Heat resistant shields

Heat resistant shields work by reflecting heat from underneath the cooker, protecting the grass. These shields are usually made from aluminium fiberglass. When using these shields keep at least four inches away from the heat source. Some of these mats come with the ability to be hooked into the legs of the heat source. Others are designed to be laid on top of the grass.

Some of our favourites include the Fire Heat Shield and Fireside Fire Mesh from BCF. There is also a great range of heat resistant shields available on Amazon.

Bricks/pavers

Bricks and pavers can be laid out underneath the cooker. This will act as a heat shield, preventing the grass from becoming burnt. This will help raise the height of the cooker so there is less chance of scorching the grass underneath. When laying down these bricks, make the surface larger than your cooker. This makes a stable base that the cooker won’t tip over easily. Make sure you remove the bricks or pavers once you are done so you don’t find another way to kill the grass instead!

When using bricks around fires and cookers, make sure you are using a fire brick instead of a normal brick. Fire bricks are made to be able to withstand the high temperatures. As normal bricks are not designed to withstand these hot temperatures they can degrade and in some circumstances explode.

How to put out coals

Once you are done cooking it is best to put the lid back on your cooker and close any air vents. This will deplete oxygen to the coals, putting them out. This is an easy and safe way to put out these coals. Please note the cooker will remain hot so it is best to let it sit for a few hours to cool. It is best to avoid hosing out your cooker. This causes a rapid change in temperature can cause it to crack while causing a lot of hot steam.

Lighter liquids and other fuels

It is best to keep away from lighter liquids and fuels. This is because they can cause huge flames and burn your lawn. It is best to stick to using coals.

What to do when your lawn has burnt grass

So, what should you do if your turf is already burnt? To help the area recover quickly, rake out the dead plant material and lightly raise the area by adding a small amount of topsoil.

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

Getting to know Charlie Albone

Posted on July 8, 2021January 20, 2023 by Sarah

Charlie Albone, LSA Ambassador, landscape designer and TV presenter knows a lot about lawns and gardens. But he wasn’t always involved in gardening and greenspace, he’s dabbled with a bit of painting and pouring pints as well!

The Lawn Solutions team recently caught up with Charlie to learn more about his story, plus he shares some insider tips for the garden.

Charlie first started getting into landscaping at 18 while working in the UK. He was trying to save enough money working as a painter during the day and in a pub during the evening so that he could travel to Australia. During this time Charlie was working a 60-hour week for just 4 pounds an hour! When Charlie was on his way to work at the pub one night, he saw a car accident where a drunk driver had cut across the road and collided with the pillars of a large country house. After this, the driver then sped off. Charlie went to the house to see if they needed help. While talking with the owner he was offered a gardening job on the weekends. This then took Charlie’s already busy work week to a whopping 75 hours! “I remember the moment I fell in love with gardening.” This moment was when the owner of the property took him to an area of the garden where Snakeskin Fritillary was coming up in the lawn, “it took my breath away.”

From here Charlie Albone has been able to try most things in landscaping, maintenance, construction, and design. “I love how my business incorporates all aspects of these!”. Charlie has worked on so many amazing projects. “I loved both Chelsea Flower show gardens especially the first one dedicated to my late father”. Charlie has also worked for the Shangri La hotel in Singapore. “It was a great project we designed and flew over to install in the lobby”. Charlie has loved many of the private projects he has done too. He tells us that he has a passion for “creating spaces that change the way families live and connect.”

In Charlie’s own backyard he has recently installed a new TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda lawn “I love fine leaf grasses and TifTuf is so hard-wearing it was a no brainer with two very active boysl”. Charlie’s lawn care routine is currently all about establishment. “For now, I’m keeping the water up to it and staying off it as much as possible. I’ll give it a cut soon and slowly bring the height down, to maintain it at a low level.” He loves his cylinder mower. “It has a certain charm to it while delivering great results, nothing beats a stripy lawn.” Any top tips for lawn care Charlie? “Mow more remove less.” This way you will prevent damage and stress, creating a much healthier lawn.

When creating formal designs Charlie likes to border lawns with box hedging as it doesn’t encroach and shade out the turf. For a more relaxed garden design he prefers to use more strappy foliage plants like Arthropodium, Agapanthus or Beschorneria that can handle the sun but don’t grow too much over the edging, again to allow sunlight to the lawn.

Charlie loves fine leaf grasses like Sir Grange Zoysia and TifTuf as they give that formal manicured look. “These grasses are also incredibly hardy”. TifTuf is the only grass in Australia to have the Smart Approved WaterMark. Sir Grange for its all-round wearability. Each area of Charlie’s garden holds different memories. “The lawns are filled with memories of playing with the children, the small courtyard at the front is spent relaxing and the pergola has many experiences of entertaining with friends, family, and guests.”

Something that most people don’t know about Charlie Albone is that he was born and raised in Hong Kong for 12 years. “It’s not the place most people think a gardener would come from.” Charlie goes on to explain the amazing natural landscapes of the soaring green peaks and lush landscapes. “I love the juxtaposition of the landscape with the heavily built-up metropolis. I love it as a place to visit, but don’t think I could handle the pace full time.”

Charlie Albone’s motivation comes from his family. He is continually working to show his boys that things don’t come easily. This motivation comes from his father. “He was very hard working too, and I get my work ethic from him. I also love what I do, it’s much easier to work when it doesn’t feel like work.”

The secret to achieving that perfect bowling green grass

Posted on July 2, 2021July 22, 2021 by Sarah

Written by an LSA sports turf expert

Bowling Greens

Have you ever wondered how bowling green grass is maintained? Or have you wanted to create your own bowling green look in your garden? Well, here’s how it’s done…

What grass is used on bowling greens?

Over the years bowling green surfaces have changed, but today the majority are Tifdwarf couch. Tifdwarf was bred by The University of Georgia in Tifton who have bred world-renowned ‘Tif’ couch grasses like TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda and TifEagle. Tifdwarf is a fine leaf hybrid variety first brought into Australia around 50 years ago. It is a popular turf variety that is used across many sporting surfaces including golf putting greens, tennis courts, croquet courts, and bowling greens. Tifdwarf has good drought, heat, and shade tolerance, can be mown low and tolerates heavy traffic. It has good rooting capabilities and tolerance for close mowing. Tifdwarf has a soft leaf with few seed heads making it an ideal choice for playing surfaces.

There are also now a range of new greens grade zoysia varieties in the early release stage including Primo Zoysia and Trinity Zoysia. These turf varieties are specifically bred for golf course greens and tees, both holding a dense growth habit.

Bowling green construction

Most bowling greens are 38m x 38m and constructed on a gravel base, with parallel drainage and at least 300-400mm of a suitable sand growing profile. Each profile is carefully levelled with a final laser level on the surface. This helps ensure the playing surface has a billiard table flatness.

Planting of a bowling green

Bowling greens are planted using sprigs that are evenly disturbed across the surface. On average 400kg of sprigs are used to cover the 38m x 38m area. Depend on growing conditions and nutrient inputs from planting to first playing, establishment could vary from around 8 to 14 weeks.

Bowling green mowing

Once covered, the fun of preparation and maintaining the green starts. Most bowling clubs use a Queen mower or the newer models from Aus Turf Machinery (ATM). These mowers are electric and have a 30’’ cut and can cut down as low as a thickness of a 5-cent piece. The important part of bowling green maintenance is the surface. Less thatch and tighter the surface, the faster the ball rolls for the players.

Regular grooming during the growing months removes thatch build up and encourages new leaf to form on the surface, mowing is completed daily and, in some cases, double cut or twice a day. The cutting height can vary from the thickness of 5-cent piece to a 20-cent piece. The secret in turf management is when removing grass or thatch it needs to be replaced with new leaf. So small amounts of liquid fertiliser regularly is the standard application.

Maintenance

To keep bowling greens in top condition, they are normally renovated annually. This renovation process involves scarifying, aerating, fertilising, and top dressing the green. When this happens on the bowling greens, the bowlers will have a break for a 6-to-8-week period while this spring renovation work is carried out.

Achieving the ‘bowling green look’ at home

The secret to a bowling green grass is regular mowing with a cylinder mower, grooming or dethatching, and small regular amounts of fertiliser. Like bowling greens and other sporting surfaces, regular maintenance is key.

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda can deliver similar results to Tifdwarf in the backyard when regularly maintained. TifTuf can be mown as low as 10mm, resulting in a similar finish. It has a dense growth and fine leaf blade, ideal for being mown low regularly.

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is the latest in turf technology out of the Tifton Campus at the University of Georgia. The Tifton campus is home to the same turf breeding program facility that has developed Tifdwarf and other turf varieties including TifEagle, TifGreen, TifSport, TifWay… the list goes on! The Tifton Campus is continually working to breed the best grasses to be used both domestically and on the sporting field.

Sir Grange Zoysia is another great choice when it comes to low mowing. It too has a dense growth habit but can hold a stunning dark green colour. Sir Grange does have a slower growth rate, but this does reduce the number of times your lawn needs to be mown. Sir Grange can be mown as short as 10mm to unmown, looking great cut at any length!

With regular maintenance and the right turf variety, you too can achieve that perfect bowling green finish for your lawn.

To find your local turf supplier, click here.

Are You a Time Poor Gardener?

Posted on July 1, 2021July 1, 2021 by Sarah

You might be time poor when it comes to maintaining your lawn. Here we have some simple lawn care solutions that will save you time and energy that provide great results with a minimum amount of effort!

As you are time-poor, we will keep this brief. We are only going to look at the bare essentials your lawn needs. These are water, food, and energy.

Water

So, can you tell when your lawn needs water?

When it comes to watering, only give it a drink when the lawn needs it.

Wilting or losing colour.
If you walk across your lawn and there is a noticeable footprint left behind, then your lawn is likely to be lacking in water. If it bounces back, your lawn should be well hydrated. This is known as the footprint test.
During hot weather, if it goes all dry and crusty and takes on a light brown colour, there’s a good chance it needs a drink.
With Buffalo varieties, like Sir Walter DNA Certified, the leaf will curl up when it needs a water.

By only watering your lawn as it needs, the roots of the lawn will grow deeper into the soil, training your lawn to become more drought tolerant. If you do water your lawn frequently, the roots will be shallower and thirstier, and less drought tolerant.

If your lawn does need water, we recommend using the Wobble-Tee Sprinkler. This sprinkler requires little effort to set up and can distribute water across your lawn slow and evenly like rain. This sprinkler disperses water in large droplets that will not drift away in the wind.

The best time to give your lawn water is early in the morning. Watering in the morning will help avoid funguses from growing and water loss by heat related evaporation.

Food

Grass receives the nutrients it needs through the soil. The main nutrients that your lawn will absorb through the soil are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These nutrients will help your lawn stay healthy and encourage strong growth.

One issue is that there is usually a lack of nutrients in the soil. Low nutrient levels in the soil is common throughout Australia (especially phosphorus) due to extensive weathering. To help amend this, fertilisers are used.

If you use a slow-release granular fertiliser like Lawn Solutions Fertiliser Premium Lawn Food, you will only need to give your lawn a feed while the turf is actively growing. This is best done once in spring, summer, and autumn. We recommend using the long weekends as a guide on when to do this. The October long weekend, Australia Day, and the Easter long weekend. By using a slow-release granular fertiliser, you will only need apply this 3 times throughout the year for the best results.

If your lawn does look like it needs a feed over winter, a foliar fertiliser like Exceed is best. Foliar fertiliser are able to be absorbed almost immediately through the roots or leaves rather than through the soil.

Another option is to use the popular soil conditioner Seasol to help improve the health of your soil for a healthy lawn.

Energy

Like other plants, your lawn receives its energy through the sun. Grasses will produce their own energy through photosynthesis. During this process, the turf will convert sunlight into a sugar known as glucose. This glucose is then used throughout the entire plant to give it the energy to grow. So, it is important to ensure your lawn can receive enough sunlight to produce this.

If your lawn is in a sunny spot and receives lots of sunlight throughout the day, this shouldn’t be an issue to worry about.

Turf varieties with a high shade tolerance such as Sir Walter DNA Certified buffalo and Sir Grange Zoysia will be able to better deal with shady areas. Other varieties like couch and kikuyu do need more sunlight to thrive.

So how do you help minimise shade on your lawn?

If shade on your lawn is caused by surrounding trees, this can usually be fixed by giving these a quick prune back. This should only need to be done every year or so depending on how fast the plants grow back.

If your lawn is in a shady spot and is struggling to absorb sunlight you can mow the lawn a notch or two higher. This will allow for a larger surface area on the leaf blade to absorb sunlight.

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

Why Sunlight and Grass Are the Perfect Pair

Posted on June 30, 2021 by Sarah

The growth of grass is heavily dependent on the amount of sunlight the lawn receives. Just like trees and other plants, grass converts energy from sunlight into sugar through the process of photosynthesis. Warm season turf varieties including buffalo, couch, zoysia, and kikuyu love full sunlight and will thrive in well-lit areas. But with little sunlight turf can often struggle to grow.

In this blog, we will look at how grass grows, why grass needs sunlight, how much sunlight is needed for different varieties, and how you can manage shade on your lawn.

What makes grass grow?

Grass grows by using energy from the sun to produce sugar. This energy is then used to convert water and carbon dioxide into glucose. This carbon dioxide is absorbed through the leaf of the grass and water is mainly absorbed by the roots of the grass. After glucose is created it is used throughout the grass for growth. Oxygen is then released into the atmosphere as a by-product. This process is otherwise known as photosynthesis.

Why does grass need sunlight?

Just like all plants, grass too needs sunlight. Sunlight allows grass to produce the food your lawn needs to survive. Glucose, otherwise known as sugar, is produced by the grass and is used as food to help your lawn grow. Without sunlight, your lawn will not be able to produce glucose, causing the grass to thin out and die.

Grass also uses sunlight to produce a pigment called Chlorophyll. Chlorophyll absorbs light at two different wavelengths, blue light, and red light while reflecting green light. When light is present chlorophyll can then be produced.

In winter when there is less sunlight available, many types of grass will start to lose their green colour and can turn brown. When this occurs, this does not mean that the lawn is dying, it is just not receiving enough light to produce chlorophyll.

How much does sunlight does turf need?

While all turf varieties do need some sunlight to thrive, some are more shade tolerant than others. This means some varieties can better absorb sunlight than others.

Generally, the wider the leaf blade on the grass, the more shade tolerant a turf variety will be.

Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo

Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo tends to do better in shaded areas due to its soft broadleaf. This broadleaf allows the grass to absorb more sunlight due to a larger surface area. This grass can thrive in areas that receive as little as 3 to 4 hours of direct sunlight each day or speckled sunlight from trees for most of the day.

Sir Grange Zoysia

Sir Grange Zoysia is another shade tolerant variety. This is due to its slow growth habit. Sir Grange’s slower growth habit causes the turf to need fewer inputs, including sunlight. Once established, Sir Grange can thrive in areas that receive a minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight per day.

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is a fast-growing fine leaf turf variety, needing at least 5 hours of direct sunlight. This variety has an increased gibberellic acid production. This results in a superior stimulation of photosynthesis, assisting in the plants’ ability to absorb sunlight, giving TifTuf a greater ability to absorb sunlight than other fine leaf couch varieties.

Eureka Kikuyu

Eureka Kikuyu is a sun loving turf variety that thrives in areas with full sun. This grass has a vigorous growth pattern, needing at least 5-6 hours of direct sunlight to thrive.

What should I do if my lawn isn’t receiving enough sunlight?

If your lawn is in a shaded area, we recommend regularly pruning back any trees, bushes, and other foliage around the lawn. This will help increase the amount of sunlight your lawn receives. If your lawn is shaded by the house or other structures, choose a shade tolerant turf variety that will be suited for your area.

For more information on choosing the best turf variety for your area, have a chat with your local turf supplier. You can find who your local turf supplier is here.

For more helpful lawn care information and advice, check out our blogs here.