Sarah, Author at Lawn Solutions Australia

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.

What grass types should I choose for my lawn?

Posted on June 30, 2021October 25, 2022 by Sarah

When choosing a turf variety for your garden, there are a few different factors to look into so that your new lawn will thrive once installed. With so many different grass types available it can be difficult to know you are choosing the best lawn for your garden. To help you through this process we have put together a simple guide for choosing the right grass for your home lawn.

What grass type should I choose for a shaded area?

All grass does require some sunlight to survive. When choosing a turf variety, it is important to know how much sunlight the area receives. This is so you can choose the most suitable grass type.

Sir Walter DNA Certified buffalo is one of the best performers when it comes to shaded areas in your garden. This variety can thrive in areas with as little as 3-4 hours of direct sunlight per day.

Sir Grange Zoysia, once established also has a high shade tolerance. However, during its growing in period it will need a bit more sunlight. It is best to either prune back trees and shrubs that create shade over the lawn or wait until the lawn is established to plant surrounding trees.

What is the most hard-wearing grass type?

If your lawn will receive a lot of traffic from pets, kids, or backyard games, choose a grass with a high wear tolerance. It is not only important to consider how much wear the lawn will receive now but in the future as well.

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is a great performer in high wear areas. It has a fast-repairing nature, so when it does get damaged by pets and kids your lawn will be able to repair itself fast.

Sir Walter DNA Certified buffalo is a great performer for many backyard footy games! It can withstand high wear and will stay soft and lush for you to enjoy.

Another turf variety that has can stand up to high wear conditions is Eureka Kikuyu. Eureka Kikuyu is a vigorous grower and can stand up to a wide range of conditions. It has a fast-repairing nature, so when it does become damaged it is able to bounce back quickly.

What is the most drought tolerant grass type?

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is the only grass in Australia to be formally recognised with the Smart Approved WaterMark due to its drought tolerant qualities. TifTuf needs a fraction of the water other varieties require to get established. It can maintain a green colour under drought conditions where other common couch grasses will fail.

Sir Walter DNA Certified buffalo too has a high drought tolerance and can stand up to the hot Australian climate. On hotter days, its broadleaf will curl up to help retain moisture. When the lawn does receive its next good water, the leaf will roll out again.

What grass should I choose for a high-end manicured lawn?

Sir Grange Zoysia is a fine bladed premium turf variety with a beautiful dark green leaf. This grass can either be mown short for a more manicured look, but also can be left unmown for a more textured look. Sir Grange’s qualities make it an ideal choice for any show garden or high-end lawn.

What is the best grass type to mow low for a bowling green look?

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is another fine leaf turf variety that looks great when mown low. TifTuf has a dense growth habit and fine leaf. This makes it an ideal for regular low mows that are needed to maintain a bowling green look.

Sir Grange Zoysia can also be mown down to 6mm and has a densely matted leaf, great for the bowling green look. It’s fine leaf and beautiful dark green colour can look like a lush green carpet when maintained!

What is the best grass for southern states?

In the Southern States of Australia, including Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Hobart both warm and cool season turf varieties are ideal.

For climates that do reach higher temperatures over summer but cooler temperatures in winter, have a look at TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda. TifTuf has a high drought tolerance that can survive with little water during summer. TifTuf will also be able to recover quicker than other warm season varieties coming out of winter.

Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo is another great option for the southern states. Sir Walter loves both shade areas and full sun. In the cooler months when there is less sun it can still thrive in areas where other turf varieties will struggle to grow.

In climates that often deal with cooler temperatures throughout the year a cool season variety like RTF Fescue is an option to look into also.

What is the best grass for more northern states?

For the sun loving states, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Cairns and Darwin there is a wide variety of options when it comes to choosing turf.

Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo while shade tolerant does love full sun. This turf variety does have a high drought tolerance and has stood the test of time in extreme heat and drought.

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is another great option for the northern states. TifTuf loves full sunlight and can stand up to hot and dry conditions. It is the only turf variety in Australia to receive the smart approved water mark for its superior drought tolerance.

Sir Grange Zoysia is another great grass that can handle full sun and has a high drought tolerance once established.

Eureka Kikuyu is a sun loving turf variety that is best suited to areas where it will receive full sunlight. It is a hardy, fast repairing variety that is friendly on your wallet. Beware however, it can be extremely invasive and does not perform well in shade.

How do I find the contact details of my local turf supplier?

So where do you go from here?

When purchasing turf, make sure you are buying from a Lawn Solutions Australia accredited turf supplier.

All turf suppliers’ part of the Lawn Solutions Australia group are AusGAP Certified. This ensures that turf supplied are certified as true to type and will perform as they say they will. As a result, a turf supplier who is not AusGAP certified cannot provide this same guarantee.

You can find your local AusGAP Accredited Lawn Solutions turf supplier here.

Turf Community Unite

Posted on June 24, 2021 by Sarah

Marulan Cricket Clubs New Wicket

The Marulan Cricket Club was established in 1866 and the 2020/21 season saw the reforming of the first senior side for the club in over 8 years. The club currently run a Junior Blast Program and are looking to welcome a few junior team’s next season.

David Insley, Mt Broughton golf course greenkeeper, who lives just down the road and plays for the club, reached out to Sports Turf Association NSW (STA NSW) committee members for advice on improving the existing pitch. From this communication an idea was formed to hold a trade event with wicket experts and sponsors to assist the club with replacing the old wicket block.

This wasn’t going to be an easy task as both the club and wicket had been out of action for eight years and required a huge amount of work to get things up to scratch. As Dave is a passionate cricketer with a love for the game, he was determined to reinstate the club’s turf wicket block and sure up the future of the reformed senior team and the club.

The existing wicket block had become overrun with weeds, mixed turf and couch varieties as well as a thick organic layer. This combined, contributed to a reduction in wicket hardness and stability, and in-turn reduced the bounce of the ball rendering the wickets unplayable.

With the limited wicket experience David had, he purchased the much-needed equipment with his own money including a roller, cylinder mower and hand tools to undertake the maintenance work required.

Interestingly, the club had a substantial quantity of rare Bulli wicket soil (as used on the SCG) they had intended to use for the project. Members of the cricket club were notified of an overloaded truck at the nearby weighbridge on the highway that needed to reduce its weight before it continued on for delivery. This triggered a number of residents to load their utes and trucks from the parked-up semi’s trailer using shovels to help get it to the right weight and so they could utilise the soil.

The story of how this came to be captivated members of the STA NSW committee and they were determined to help the not-for-profit local club get the works completed. On March 2^nd this year, all of this planning culminated in the Sports Turf Association of NSW managing a full wicket reconstruction for the club.

The day attracted a number of participants to help undertake the removal of the existing dead turf and surface, leveling the surface and placement of the new turf. The wicket block was then watered with the local Rural Fire Service truck giving the new turf a deep soak later that evening.

The day all happened thanks to the unbelievable input of the following people and businesses:

Ventrac Australia for removing the existing surface with the PowerRake and PowerBroom, and also mowing and aerating the outfield.

MusTurf – MusTurf donated labour, machinery and supplied the 300m2 of washed TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda (Couch grass) for the wicket table.

Ground Solutions Australia provided the outfield some attention with their recycled top dresser.

Nuturf supplied wetting agent to help the turf establish.

Colin Campbell Chemicals supplied a drum of herbicide to keep the wicket table clean of weeds.

Mick Sammut of Mikes Grassing Around will be supplying irrigation gear, to be installed at a later stage.

STA NSW Committee members – Daryl Davidson, Damien Curtis, Grant Thomas, Mick Sutton and Sophie Devine organised and participated in the day.

Everyone had a huge sense of accomplishment and a number of new friendships have been formed. There is even talk of a yearly cricket match between the club and a STA NSW team to commemorate this new wicket reconstruction.

The installation of the TifTuf wicket block will provide a much-needed boost to the club’s facility so they can continue to build and provide the local community with the best possible sporting surface.

For Marulan Cricket Club this is just the beginning of their TifTuf wicket experience as they journey to getting senior and junior teams back playing in their local competition and growing its club’s member base.

We look forward to seeing updates of this wicket grow in and wish Dave and the club all the best in their competition.