Sarah, Author at Lawn Solutions Australia

Bellvista Boulevarde Project

Posted on June 30, 2022 by Sarah

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

Posted on June 30, 2022October 17, 2023 by Sarah

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.

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.

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 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

Posted on June 30, 2022June 30, 2022 by Sarah

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

Posted on June 27, 2022October 17, 2023 by Sarah

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Rye Grass | Removal and Oversowing

Posted on June 27, 2022February 17, 2026 by Sarah

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 Ferris WG Herbicide. 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.

Ferris WG Herbicide

Ferris 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).

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.

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

How to Fix Tyre Marks in Lawns

Posted on June 27, 2022October 17, 2023 by Sarah

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.

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.

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

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

Posted on June 27, 2022June 14, 2024 by Sarah

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Attracting Native Birds to Your Garden

Posted on June 1, 2022October 17, 2023 by Sarah

Native birds are an important part of many ecosystems, pollinating plants, seed dispersal, and insect and rodent control. By attracting more native birds to your lawn, you will help keep your local ecosystem balanced. But how can you attract these native birds to your garden?

Birds native to each region

In different regions you can expect to see different types of native birds.

In Sydney, some native birds you can see outside the city include Nankeen kestrel, Superb fairy-wren, Rainbow lorikeet, Red wattlebird and more.

Native birds you can encounter in Melbourne include White-plumed honeyeater, Bell miner, Eastern rosella, and more.

For more information on what nativebirds you can find in your backyard, check out the Australian Museum page here.

Plant native plants around your lawn

Using a variety of native plants in your garden will help create a comfortable environment to attract native birds to your area. When planting to attract birds, we recommend using a variety of low lying and medium size shrubs and high trees. By using a variety of plants, you will provide more options for all bird sizes on your area.

Low growing plants will help attract many smaller native birds like Wrens and Finches and members of the Honeyeater family.

Medium shrubs provide a safe place for many smaller birds as they can provide a place to hide from danger.

If space allows high trees provide a high vantage point for birds allowing them to feel safe as they can see their surroundings and food sources.

Different native plant options include Grevilleas, Bottlebrush, Banksias and Gum Trees.

Some native plants are better suited to different regions of Australia, so it is best to chat with your local nursery to see which plants are suited to your region.

Bird baths and water features

Birds are attracted to areas with water. Bird baths as the name suggests provide a place to bathe and drink and socialise. Bird baths are best placed near surrounding trees and shrubs and placed off the ground. This will help them feel safer with their surroundings. It is also best to add a few rocks or sticks in the middle of the bird bath to help make it easier for smaller birds to use. Keep your bird bath clean with fresh water will help make it a more attractive place for birds to stop

Did you know that birds are also attracted to running water? The sound of moving water can attract birds to stop and drink, rest and bathe. If your budget allows, it can be a great feature for us to enjoy and the birds too!

Nesting boxes and nesting material

If you have large trees in your garden, you might want to try adding nesting boxes! These will provide a space for birds and other animals to live, rest and take refuge. You can buy nesting boxes from a local garden or hardware store or even build your own!

We also recommend leaving out nesting material like sticks, grass clippings and fallen leaves for birds to use.

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

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Trending Landscape Materials with Charlie Albone

Posted on June 1, 2022October 17, 2023 by Sarah

The last few weeks have been big in the landscaping calendar with the eyes of the horticultural world set firmly on a small square of land in London’s glitziest suburb of Chelsea. The most prestigious flower show in the world “The RHS Chelsea Flower Show” is known for setting the trend when it comes to materials, plants, and techniques for building for years to come and after a brief covid hiatus the 2022 year was a big welcome back.

This year’s show had a huge movement to rewilding the landscape. Making it look and feel untouched by human hand. The top honours and ‘best in show’ award went to a landscape that had been created as if beavers had been reintroduced into the English countryside. Although I can appreciate the artistry in making a landscape look untouched, I’m more of a ‘working with nature to achieve a garden that can be used an appreciated by the owner’ type of guy.

I’m sure most of us don’t or can’t really imagine having a beaver sanctuary rather than a garden. But it is food for thought on the way we create our gardens moving forward. How can we be lighter on our environment? How can we be lighter with our own personal spaces when creating gardens so wildlife (insects, bees and native animals like wallabies, possums, and echidnas) can still have a place in our gardens. Many of the show exhibits on display had an area dedicated to such a space, a bug hotel, a bee hive or a pile of twigs for lizards to live in. I feel this is something easy to do and beneficial for all gardens, no matter the location.

Many of the gardens had changed hard paved pathways and surfaces for gravel. This allows water to get into the ground quicker and lessen run off easing the strain on our drains and waterways. Most English people don’t go outside without shoes for the fear of frost bite so I can understand the heavy use of gravel. My alternative a well-maintained lawn will also allow water into the ground slowly but be easier on the eye and softer underfoot! I’m a huge fan of Sir Grange Zoysia for its soft foliage, but any of the premium Lawn Solutions turf varieties, Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo or TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda will do just the trick.

Closer to home the Australian garden is moving towards more plants to offset the often heavily constructed outdoor landscape. We tend to design our garden to be practical so we can make the most of our amazing climate. This comes with large areas of paving, pavilions or pergolas, bench seating and swimming pools. To really make these elements stand out in the garden you need large areas of garden beds and lawns. This will help offset the built elements and help them sit comfortably in the landscape.

Almost every design I have completed since the beginning of the pandemic includes a veggie patch or a space to grow your own herbs. With more people spending time at home and reflecting on their lifestyle a space to turn the dirt regularly and produce even the smallest number of edible plants is highly sought after. Displaying this area has become more than just a steel raised bed. Clients investing in sturdy, long lasting construction methods, such as brick, stone, or timber. This shows it’s a trend that is here to stay.

With more plants comes the need to improve soil more. This will help get the best out of the investment you plant into the ground. With the inundation of rain the east coast has of recent times, getting the drainage right for contemporary plantings of succulents and cacti is imperative. Getting the soil right for turf grasses is also vital for their success and consideration of surface run off into these areas should also be looked at when planning a space.

When it comes to a swimming pool the filtration system needs to be considered. Often the water from a pool will end up in your garden beds and lawns so less chemicals are preferred. Enviroswim and magnesium filtrations are really being pushed as a great alternative as the wash they create is easy on the plants and surrounding soils.

With our hard landscapes, stone and tiles have become more and more popular. They add texture, warmth, and a point of interest in the garden. Walling stone has more of a rustic touch with free from stone. Stone has being seen in various applications like feature walls, benches and boundary fences and pillars. Getting the right stone mason for the installation of these products will make or break the success of the stone in the garden. Get it right and the feature is a standout. Getting it wrong leads to an expensive problem. This problem will need to be fixed as if designed properly this will be a key area that needs to be perfect.

Feature tiles are showing a bit of an emergence, being used outdoors like they are used indoors. Fluted marbles and textural basalts are being used for key areas where the vista requires a standout element. The pros of this trend – it looks amazing. The con – the cost!

Landscape trends are forever changing with elements and products swapping place on the main stage. My best piece of advice is to select materials and finishes that you love. That way even if they are not ‘trendy’ they will put a smile on your face and enrich your lifestyle.

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Guide for Fertilising TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda

Posted on June 1, 2022August 15, 2023 by Sarah

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is a low input grass and when it comes to fertilising a less is more approach is best for great results. As TifTuf is already a fast-growing grass, applying too much fertiliser will increase this growth rate and can create a few issues if applied too frequently. So, how much fertiliser should you be applying to your TifTuf lawn and when? Let’s find out…

Why is applying the correct amount of fertiliser important?

When the correct amount of nutrients is applied, your lawn will be able to grow and perform at its maximum potential.

If it is lacking nutrients, your lawn may look hungry and need a boost of nutrients to get back to its former glory.

When too many nutrients are applied, in many cases the lawn will have a surge in growth and will begin to grow excess thatch. This will often leave the grass needing a renovation to remove this in spring and summer.

What fertiliser rates should you be using?

TifTuf is best fertilised with no more than 1.4kg per 100m2 of actual nitrogen every calendar year. For a larger area this equates to 14 kg over 1,000m2. It is best not to exceed this to help avoid a build-up of thatch.

Our recommendations

Granular fertiliser

If you want to use a granular fertiliser, we recommend applying Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser 2 times a year at 2.5kg per 100m2 (0.8kg of actual nitrogen). This will ensure you don’t over-apply nitrogen for the year.

For best results we recommend applying once in spring and again in autumn. This will provide your lawn with adequate nitrogen year-round, while giving an allowance for the nitrogen component within other forms of fertilisers applied to your lawn throughout the year.

Liquid Fertiliser

For liquid fertilisers we recommend using our Lawn Solutions Exceed Liquid Fertiliser. When applying Exceed we recommend applying this 4 times a year. Once in spring, summer, autumn, and winter at the application rate of 194ml per 100m2. This application rate will ensure you can apply it with the recommended amount of granular per year as outlined above, without exceeding the recommended amount of actual nitrogen.

Is your TifTuf growing too fast in between mows?

If you can’t mow TifTuf as regularly as you would like, a Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) like Primo Maxx can come in handy.

PGRs will suppress the lawns vertical growth diverting its energy into lateral growth activity, helping it become denser. This will significantly reduce your required mowing frequency. These plant growth regulators are best applied during the warmer months when the lawn is actively growing.

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