Sarah, Author at Lawn Solutions Australia

When Should I Apply a Pre-Emergent Herbicide?

Posted on August 31, 2023March 18, 2024 by Sarah

Pre-emergent herbicides are fantastic products to add to your lawn care regime. With these herbicides, your application timing can impact how well it will work to prevent weeds in your lawn. In this blog, we look at the optimal times throughout the year to apply a pre-emergent to get the best results.

How Does a Pre-Emergent Work?

Pre-emergents work by targeting weed seedlings during germination. They create a barrier at the soil level that affects the germination of any new seedlings. This means they will target weeds before they appear but will not be effective after weeds have started growing.

Why Should I Time My Application?

As pre-emergents work by targeting weeds before they appear, you will need to time your application just before weeds are set to start growing in your lawn. If you can create the barrier at the soil level before the weeds are set to start growing, you can stop them during their germination phase.

When Should I Apply a Pre-Emergent for Seasonal Winter Weeds?

Pre-emergents can also be used to help prevent seasonal winter weeds, including Winter Grass. Seasonal winter weeds will start to germinate once the average soil temperatures start to drop below approximately 14 degrees. Therefore, it is best to get your application on just before this is set to occur. The exact time this will occur will depend on your location and temperatures in your region. As a guide, this will usually happen around mid to late autumn.

When to Apply a Pre-Emergent for Seasonal Summer Weeds?

Some seasonal summer weeds that pre-emergents will help target include Summer Grass, Crabgrass, and Crowsfoot. Seasonal summer weeds will start to germinate when the soil temperatures begin to warm back up, usually when the average soil temperature is above approximately 14 degrees. So, it is best to get your application down before the temperatures are set to rise in your region. The exact time for your application will change depending on your location and temperatures in your region. As a guide, this will usually occur around early to mid-spring.

What Pre-Emergent Should I Use?

When it comes to using pre-emergents, we recommend using our Lawn Solutions Oxafert Pre-Emergent Herbicide and Fertiliser. Oxafert comes in a handy 3kg bag that will treat up to 100m2. It is safe for most warm season turf types, including Sir Walter DNA Certified, TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda, Sir Grange, Zoysia Australis and Kikuyu. This product also contains a balanced ratio of nutrients to help boost your lawn for healthier all-round turf. Oxafert will remain active on your lawn for up to 12 weeks, for protection of seasonal weeds.

If you have a larger area size, check out the Oxafert Plus available in a 20kg bag, treating up to 660m2.

What Weeds Will Oxafert Target?

Oxafert will help control the germination of Winter Grass, Summer Grass, Crowsfoot, Creeping Oxalis and Crabgrass.

What Should I Use for Weeds That Are Already Growing?

If you already have weeds growing in your lawn, it is best to get on top of them as soon as possible to help prevent their spread. Whem there are only a few weeds growing throughout your lawn, hand removal is an effective option. If the weeds are more widespread and there is too much to remove by hand you may need to look at using an herbicide for removal. For removing common broadleaf weeds like Clover, Bindii, Creeping Oxalis, Cudweed and Thistles, we recommend using a broadleaf herbicide like our All Purpose Weed Control.

all purpose weed control — All Purpose Weed Control

If you are unsure of what type of weed you have growing throughout your lawn, make sure you either check out the LSA app for handy weed identification tools or check out our ultimate weed guide here.

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

How Early Is Too Early to Mow in The Morning?

Posted on August 31, 2023October 13, 2023 by Sarah

Did you know there is such a thing as too early to mow? Here at Lawn Solutions, we believe there is no better sound than a mower starting up on a Saturday morning, but your neighbours might disagree! In this blog, we look at what time each state allows you to start up your mower to help you keep the peace between you and your neighbours.

Just like power equipment and construction noise in residential areas, there are permitted hours for each region to run your mower. Your local environmental protection agency often puts these noise regulations in place to help ensure your neighbours are not woken up at dawn and can get a good early night’s sleep.

So, what are the regulations for your state? Let’s take a look…

New South Wales

In NSW, mow between 7am to 8pm Monday to Saturday. On Sundays and public holidays, you can mow between 8am to 8pm. In NSW these rules have been set out by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

Queensland

The Environmental Protection Act 1994 in QLD states that you can mow your lawn between 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday. On Sundays and public holidays, mow between 8am to 7pm.

Victoria

In Victoria, you can mow Monday to Friday between 7 am to 8pm. You can mow between 9am – 8pm on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, according to the Environmental Protection Authority Victoria.

South Australia

In South Australia, you can mow between 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and from 9am to 7pm Sunday and public holidays. These rules have been set out by EPA South Australia.

Tasmania

In Tasmania, you can mow between 7am to 8pm Monday to Friday. On Saturdays you can mow between 9am to 8pm and Sundays and public holidays between 10am to 8pm. These rules have been set out by EPA Tasmania.?

Northern Territory

In the NT, you can mow between 7am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 8pm Sunday and public holidays, according to the NT EPA.

Canberra

In the ACT, lawn mowing can be done 7am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 8pm Sundays and public holidays, according to Access Canberra.

Western Australia

In WA, generally lawn mowers can be used between 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 7pm Sundays and public holidays. This is for most regions within WA.

Mowing Tips

Now that you have got what time you can mow down packed let’s take a look at a few tips on how you can sure you get the best cut:

Mow regularly enough so that only one third of the leaf is removed with each pass.
Ensure your mowers blades are nice and sharp.
Mow when the lawn is dry and try to avoid mowing when the lawn is wet.
Mow at the same length and keep it consistent.
Switch mowing directions.
Mow in the mornings or afternoons. Avoid mowing in the middle of the day.
Keep at a consistent pace.

If you would like more lawn mowing tips and advice, you can check out our other mowing blogs here.

Treating Common Broadleaf Weeds

Posted on August 31, 2023August 7, 2024 by Sarah

Many weeds that appear in our lawns are known as broadleaf weeds. In this blog, we discuss what broadleaf weeds are, provide some common examples and explain how to treat them in your lawn.

How to Identify Broadleaf Weeds

Broadleaf weeds are a group of plants that generally have broad, flat leaves. They come in a range of sizes, shapes, and textures. These weeds are often easily distinguishable from the grass in your lawn.

Some common examples include creeping oxalis, clover, chickweed, plantain, and catsear. These weeds can look very different to each other but will have significant contrast in appearance to that of your lawn or other invading grass-type species.

First, properly identifying the weeds in your lawn is essential for selecting the appropriate treatment methods and will help ensure the products or methods used are successful.

How Do Broadleaf Weeds Invade Your Lawn?

Broadleaf weeds can invade lawns for various reasons but usually occur due to a lack of lawn care, compacted soil, or due to worn-out or thin and sparse lawns. Weeds can quickly take advantage of this weakened or thin grass, as well as areas where the grass is struggling to compete and thrive due to environmental factors like shade or poor drainage. The weeds can be brought in through rain, wind, pets and foot traffic, and will be more likely to successfully germinate if there is space to penetrate the profile of the lawn to the soil and there is space to grow.

How to Prevent Broadleaf Weeds

Preventing broadleaf weeds from invading your lawn is essential for long-term weed control.

Mowing

Keep your lawn at the recommended height for your grass type, as taller grass shades out weed seeds, reducing their germination.

Watering

Water deeply and less frequently to encourage deeper root growth in your grass, making it more resilient and competitive against weeds.

Fertilising

Apply the right amount and type of fertilizer for your lawn’s needs. Healthy, well-fed grass is better equipped to compete with weeds.

Aeration

Aerate your lawn seasonally or as required to alleviate soil compaction and improve nutrient and water absorption by the grass.

How to Eradicate Broadleaf Weeds Once they Appear

For a few scattered weeds, hand-pulling or spot-treating with a non-selective herbicide, carefully avoiding contact with the grass is a quick and easy solution. If the weeds have spread profusely or are difficult to pull out by hand, a broadleaf herbicide may be required. Broadleaf herbicides are a type of weed killer specifically designed to target and control broadleaf weeds.

There are two main types of herbicides that will help you treat these broadleaf weeds…

Post-Emergent Herbicides

Post-emergent herbicides are applied directly to the weeds, as the name suggests, after they have emerged. They are most effective on young, actively growing weeds. Post-emergent herbicides containing active ingredients like Bromoxynil and Dicamba are commonly used for broadleaf weed control.

All Purpose Weed Control is a broad-leaf herbicide containing bromoxynil, designed to control many of these broad-leaf weeds. All-purpose weed control is safe to use on all common grass varieties. Unlike many herbicides that contain Dicamba, is safe to use on buffalo grasses like Sir Walter DNA Certified as well.

Pre-Emergent Herbicides

Pre-emergent herbicides are applied to the lawn before weed seeds have a chance to germinate, so as the name suggests, before the weeds have a chance to emerge. They create a barrier in the soil, preventing weed seeds from sprouting. Pre-emergent herbicides are more effective against annual broadleaf weeds. Common active ingredients include Oxadiazon like in Oxafert, Prodiamine and Pendimethalin.

Remember to always read and follow the label instructions on any herbicide product. It is best to avoid using herbicides on windy days or during extreme heat to prevent drift and damage to non-target plants.

If you need help identifying what weeds you have, please reach out to us here at Lawn Solutions Australia or check out the Lawn Solutions Australia App. The LSA App has an extensive library of broadleaf weeds that you can utilise for identification and treatment advice.

You can download the Lawn Solutions Australia app on the App Store here and the Google Play Store here.

Outdoor Checklist to Get Your Space in Order

Posted on July 28, 2023October 13, 2023 by Sarah

Do you want to get your outdoor space in order but need help figuring out where to start? Organising our outdoor spaces can initially seem overwhelming, but with simple tips and advice, you can get your outdoor space ready in no time.

Getting Your Lawn in Order

One of the first items on our outdoor checklist is to get your lawn on track. Now that the temperatures are set to warm back up over the coming months, there are more activities we can do to get our lawns back on track. For the most part, getting a neat and healthy lawn can be achieved with a few regular lawn care activities. One of the more important steps is to ensure you mow your lawn regularly. We recommend following the one-third rule. This is where you mow your lawn regularly enough to remove only one-third of the leaf with each pass. When applying fertiliser, for most lawns, a well-balanced NPK slow-release granular fertiliser, like our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser, is ideal. These fertilisers are designed to slowly release nutrients to your lawn for a sustained boost over a longer period of time. Getting on top of weeds will also help improve your lawns appearance. We recommend using a broadleaf herbicide like our All Purpose Weed Control or Amgrow Bin Die to remove common broadleaf weeds like Clover, Bindii, and Oxalis.

Cleaning Decking

Decking is another surface that you may want to look into cleaning on your outdoor checklist. When cleaning your deck, first sweep the area with a soft-bristled broom to remove leaves and dirt. You can then give your lawn a hose down, then use some soapy water or a specialised deck-cleaning product and carefully scrub down the deck. It is best to scrub your deck, the same way you mow your lawn, in up and back strips to ensure you don’t miss any areas. After this, you can then give the area a hose down, or you can use a gentle power washer to rinse the deck. Following this, you can protect your deck by using a stain or oil.

Attending to Your Garden Beds and Trees

A good starting point is clearing any debris and weeds from the garden beds. Trim overgrown branches and remove any dead or diseased trees to promote healthy growth. Regularly mulching around trees and plants retains moisture and prevents weed growth.

How to Clean Out Your Gutters

To clean out your gutters, start by using a sturdy ladder to access the gutters safely. Remove any leaves, debris, or twigs by hand or with a small garden trowel. Then, flush the gutters with a hose to ensure proper drainage and unclog any remaining dirt.

Cleaning Outdoor Furniture

As outdoor furniture is exposed to the elements, it can require regular cleaning to keep dust and dirt away. Start by removing any loose dirt or debris with a brush or damp cloth. For plastic and metal furniture, create a soapy solution using a mild detergent and water, then scrub with a soft brush. Rinse thoroughly with a hose and let it dry in the sun. For wooden furniture, use a wood cleaner and a soft brush, following the grain. Apply a protective sealant to keep it in top condition.

How to Clean Your Outdoor Windows

Start by removing any loose dirt or cobwebs with a soft brush or duster. Mix a solution of window cleaner and water, then use a window squeegee to scrub the glass gently. For high windows, use an extendable window cleaning tool for safety.

We hope this outdoor checklist will help get you ready for the warmer months ahead! For more lawn care tips and advice, make sure you check out our other lawn care blogs on our website here.

How to Enhance Your Curb Appeal

Posted on July 28, 2023October 13, 2023 by Sarah

Have you ever heard the saying, first impressions matter? We believe that this is the case when it comes to our homes! In this blog, we look at how to enhance your house’s curb appeal and overall attractiveness.

How to Create a Neat and Tidy Lawn

Creating a tidy lawn is important as it will help improve your home’s curb appeal, but it can also be used as an extension of your living space and areas for kids to play! But how can you achieve a great-looking lawn? Let’s take a look.

How to Get a Thick and Healthy Lawn

A thick and lush lawn can be achieved by following a few simple steps. Firstly, you want to ensure your lawn is getting plenty of sun to grow and photosynthesise. If your area is more shaded, it is best to use a shade-tolerant turf type like Sir Walter DNA Certified, which needs a minimum of 3-4 hours of direct light daily to thrive. If your soil is hard and compacted, it will be worth aerating the soil with a garden fork or aerating machine to help decompact the soil profile. This will help the roots of your grass grow deeply into the profile but can also help tackle common problems, including drainage issues, bare patches, fungal disease, dryness and more. Frequent mowing is also another important factor to help keep your lawn thick. It is best to ensure you are mowing frequently with sharp blades. We recommend following the one-third rule, mowing frequently enough so that only one-third of the leaf is removed with each pass. Lastly, applying a well-rounded fertiliser, something like our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser or our Lawn Solutions Exceed Liquid Fertiliser are ideal to help give the lawn a boost.

How to Instantly Improve the Colour of Your Lawn

If you want to improve your lawns colour instantly, use a lawn pigment like ColourGuard Plus. ColourGuard Plus your lawns version of using hair dye. It will give your lawn an improvement of colour, locking the pigment into the leaf blade of the grass. As your lawn grows, the pigment will grow out also and will be removed when mowing the leaf.

How to Do Your Lawns Edges

The best lawn edges are the ones that are kept on top of and not allowed to get out of control. So, the more you do it, the more uniform and easier it will be to tidy up. Check out our blog for more tips on how to edge your lawn here.

Now that we have the lawn under control, let’s look at other activities that can be done around the home to help increase your curb appeal.

Cleaning Concrete Fixtures to Improve Curb Appeal

Cleaning outdoor concrete, pathways, and driveways will help improve its appearance and remove the build-up of dirt. When cleaning concrete, you can apply a concrete cleaner to help lift any moss, dirt or algae. After this has been applied, we then recommend using a power washer to help lift and wash off the debris. It is also worth looking at getting a patio cleaner attachment for a larger area. This attachment will help make power washing an easier and quicker task to complete.

Using Screening to Hide Your Wheelie Bins

When looking at your house, seeing your wheelie bins can be a bit of an eyesore, so why not create a dedicated space to store your bins, that you can’t see from the curb. There are a wide variety of screening options available that can match your exterior, making your house more visually appealing.

Pruning Your Plants

If you have any overgrown plants or garden beds, a tidy can go a long way. Ensuring your gardens are not overgrown and regularly pruned will aesthetically improve your area’s appearance while keeping your plants healthy.

Check out the below for more tips on improving your curb appeal:

Fresh coat of paint
Finding the right letter box for your home’s exterior
Complementing colours across your garden and home exteriors
Modern planter boxes
Feature door
Complementary exterior hardware
Clean and tidy doorway

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

Prepare Your Lawn to Spring into Action

Posted on July 28, 2023September 19, 2024 by Sarah

As the cooler months are coming to an end and the weather is set to start warming back up, it is now time to start thinking about spring lawn care. In this blog, we look at a pre spring checklist to help ensure you are well-prepared for the growing season ahead.

Ensure Your Mower is Ready for Spring and Summer

Once the temperatures have warmed up, your lawn will wake back up and start to actively grow again. This means your lawn will be growing at a faster rate and will need to be mown more frequently. So, now is an ideal time to ensure your mower is ready for the warmer months.

Here are some of our top tips when servicing your mower:

Clean your lawn mower.
Clean your air filter.
Change your spark plug.
Check the oil (four-stroke engines only).
Lubricate – throttle cable, height adjuster, wheels, and other moveable parts.
Check you have fresh fuel.
Check your pull cord for fraying or stretching.
Sharpen/replace your mower blades. For more information on sharpening and replacing your mower blades, check out our blog here.

Check out our blog on how to give your mower a service for more information here.

Test Your Soil’s pH

Now is also an ideal time to test your soil’s pH. Testing your soil’s pH ensures your lawn isn’t missing out on any important nutrients it needs to thrive. You can test your soil’s pH with a testing kit from your local hardware store, or you can purchase one from our online store here. Ideally, your lawn’s pH should be between 5.5-7.

If you need to correct your soil’s pH, check out our blog here.

Maintenance Activities for Your Spring Checklist

If you want to do a spring lawn renovation, now is a great time to plan what activities your lawn needs, or you want to complete. A typical spring renovation will involve getting on top of any weeds a few weeks before the rest of your renovation. After this, dethatching your lawn, aeration, top dressing, then an application of fertiliser, pre-emergent herbicide and preventative insecticide. A spring renovation is best done once the temperatures have really started to warm back up and your lawn is actively growing. This should be avoided when temperatures are still cool.

Removing Weeds from Lawns

When it comes to weed removal, it is important to ensure you use the correct herbicide for effective results. We recommend using a broadleaf herbicide like Amgrow Bin Die or All Purpose Weed Control for common broadleaf weeds like Clover, Bindii, and Oxalis.

If you are unsure of what type of weed you have growing in your lawn, make sure you check out our Ultimate Lawn Weed Guide here.

When Should I Dethatch My Lawn?

Thatch is a build-up of dead and dry plant material that can sit in the profile of your lawn. This thatch layer can make it more difficult for air, and nutrients to reach the base of your soil. If your lawn feels spongy to walk on, you may need to look at dethatching your lawn. Check out our dethatching blog to see what’s involved here.

Why Should I Aerate My Lawn?

Aeration is another great activity to add to your spring checklist. Aeration involves using a garden fork or tyne aerator to help decompact your soil base. When your soil is hard and compacted, it can be difficult for your soil to absorb water and take in nutrients and air. This process can help with compaction-related issues, including drainage and allow your turf to grow its roots deeply to produce a stronger, more vigorous lawn. Check out our blog here for how to aerate your lawn.

Top Dressing Your Lawn in Spring

If your lawn has uneven levels or you want to improve your soil composition, you can also look at top dressing. Top dressing involves applying a thin layer of soil or sand that is rubbed into the profile. Check out our blog on top dressing to learn more here.

Lawn Care Renovation Products

Fertiliser

Another great activity to add to your spring checklist to fertilise your lawn. We recommend applying a granular fertiliser, like our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser, before or after top dressing. This will help give the lawn a good boost while it is repairing.

Pre-Emergent Herbicide

During a lawn renovation, it is also an ideal time to apply a pre-emergent herbicide like Oxafert. Oxafert can be applied at the same time as applying your fertiliser and will help prevent seasonal weeds.

Preventative Insecticide

A preventative like Grub Guard Ultimate can also be applied simultaneously to help prevent damage-causing insects on your lawn for upto 6 months.

Other Lawn Care Products to Use in Spring

A few other lawn care products you can look at applying over spring include:

Lawn Kelper – a liquid nutrient package designed to increase turf vigour and stimulate and strengthen roots and shoots.

Lawn Soaker – a wetting agent designed to improve the penetration of water so it can reach deep down to your lawn’s roots.

We hope this pre-spring checklist will help you get your lawn in shape for the warmer weather!

How Lawn Fanatics Can Survive the Winter Blues

Posted on July 28, 2023October 13, 2023 by Sarah

Over the winter months, you may have some more free time on your hands while your lawn slows down in growth. In this blog, we look at some garage and garden organisation tips you can do to help you prepare for the warmer months ahead.

Organising Your Garage

Cleaning and organising your garage can be one of those tasks that we keep leaving for another weekend to finish off. Now is a great time to tick it off the list over the cooler months.

Using wall-mounted hooks is a great way to store larger pieces of equipment, including whipper snippers, garden rakes, garden sheers, tools, and other equipment. This will help save space in your garage but will also help prevent your tools from becoming damaged. There are a wide range of hook options. Some that need to be drilled into walls and others that can be inserted onto a track that can hold multiple hooks.

Free-standing shelves are another great addition to have in your garage. To keep your shelves tidy, we recommend using labelled plastic tubs. This will help keep your space in order while making it easy to find items when you need them. These containers are also a great option to store your lawn care products and chemicals, so they are out of reach for your pets and kids. Using storage containers is especially great for granular lawn care products as they can spoil if they are exposed to moisture.

A handy way to store smaller items in your garage is to use wall-mounted storage totes. These storage totes come in a range of sizes. They are great for holding smaller items you may use regularly, including gardening gloves, and earmuffs.

Storing Your Lawn Mower

When it comes to storing your lawn mower, we recommend keeping it in a place that can be easily accessed and has enough space to roll it out when you need to use it. Usually, at the side of the garage, near a door is ideal.

Giving Your Lawn Mower a Service

While we are on the topic of lawnmowers, winter is also an ideal time to give your lawnmower a once-over. This will help ensure it will run well for the warmer months ahead. Here are some of our top tips when servicing your mower:

Clean your lawn mower.
Clean your air filter.
Change your spark plug.
Sharpen/replace your mower blades.
Check the oil (four-stroke engines only).
Lubricate – throttle cable, height adjuster, wheels, and other moveable parts.
Ensure you have fresh fuel.
Check your pull cord for fraying or stretching.

Check out our blog on how to give your mower a service for more information here.

Getting On Top of Weeds in Your Lawn

Now is also a great time to get on top of any weeds growing throughout the lawn. By getting on top of weeds now, you will help prevent them from spreading further, especially when the temperatures start to warm back up. If you want more information on removing a specific weed from your lawn, check out our Ultimate Lawn Weed Guide here.

Pruning Back Trees

Did you know late winter is an ideal time to prune most types of trees and shrubs? Pruning your plants now will help limit damage to your plant and will help your plant heal faster. Pruning your plants will also help promote new growth in the warmer months ahead.

We hope these tips will help give you some tips on getting your organising your garden!

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

Landscaping Your Outdoor Space

Posted on July 11, 2023 by Sarah

When looking to landscape your area, it’s important to factor in how different plants, trees and turf types will interact. Using the right selection of plants in the right areas will help ensure your garden performs well seasonally and stay healthy and thrive.

Selecting Plants for Your Garden

When looking at plants to use in your garden, choosing the right plant for the right place is important. Some considerations to look for include the following:

Light availability
Plant growth habits
Soil type
Water availability and drought tolerance
Foliage

For information on the best plants to use around a lawn, check out our blog here.

Other options to consider are native plants. Native plants are a great option as they can usually survive on rainfall alone, are low maintenance, and improve biodiversity while providing shelter and food for native bees, birds, and insects.

If you want to grow your own veggies, having a raised garden bed is a great idea! Raised garden beds will be less susceptible to compaction and have better drainage. When choosing what to grow, it is important to consider what is currently in season.

Where to Plant In Your Garden

A popular option when choosing where to grow your plants is around fence lines and around your house. This can help soften any constructed outdoor space and can add another layer to your landscape. Having your plants across your outdoor space boundary lines and house will also allow more area for kids and pets to play.

Picking The Right Turf Type for Your Home

When it comes to picking the right turf type for your home, it is important to consider a few different factors to ensure your lawn will look great and be fit for purpose. We recommend considering who will be using the lawn including pets and kids, how much shade your lawn will receive in winter and summer, and maintenance requirements.

For a shaded area, you will need to use grass with a higher shade tolerance. A shade-tolerant variety like Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo will need a minimum of 3-4 hours of direct light to thrive. If your area gets 5-6 hours of light, you can use a Hybrid Bermuda variety like TifTuf.

If your lawn area will have regular foot traffic, choosing a turf type with a high wear tolerance and a fast-repairing nature will be important. Sir Walter has a good wear tolerance; however, it will take longer to repair if it becomes damaged. If your area needs both a good wear tolerance and fast repairing nature, we look at TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda.

For a high-end show garden area, why not look at using a premium turf type like Sir Grange Zoysia! Sir Grange Zoysia is a slower-growing grass that has a beautiful dark green colour that looks great, both mown and unmown!

For more specific advice on choosing the right turf type for your garden, it is best to have a chat with your local Lawn Solutions turf supplier.

You can check out more landscaping and lawn care tips on our page here.

Composting at Scale for Soil Health

Posted on July 3, 2023October 13, 2023 by Sarah

All Turf Solutions have had a passion for improved soil health since the start of our turf production operation. Our production facility at Rathdowney QLD is fairly new with our first paddocks planted just prior to Cyclone Debbie washing them away in 2017. We moved a considerable amount of soil around and attempted to salvage the topsoil where economically viable but even then, we found the disturbance of the topsoil layer resulted in poor soil health. Certainly, more could have been done in the early days with setting up the paddocks, but the money just wasn’t there.

After a couple of years of turf production, we started to see disease pressure in some of our paddocks that had areas of next to no topsoil in the profile. A downward spiral of reliance on fungicides was beginning to appear and at that point, we reached out to BioHub Solutions for assistance with strategies to improve our soil health. A year down the track with applications of carbon, worm juice, seaweed, and inoculations with biology developed by Griffith University we reduced our reliance on fungicides. With applications of fresh chicken litter, this was our only source of dry organic material.

We were accumulating turf scraps, so we had some of the ingredients already on the farm to produce compost. Compost based on turf scraps alone wasn’t going to work due to the high soil content. This must be balanced out with the addition of green waste or straw and also the addition of animal manure to achieve a favourable carbon-nitrogen ratio.

The Composting Process

Composting is a method of speeding up the decomposition of organic materials. The ingredients are made into a heap or in our situation windrows (elongated mounds) to facilitate the composting process. Heat given off by microorganisms inside the heap is trapped there by the insulation provided by the outer few centimetres of the windrow. Inside temperature rises and so does the rate of decomposition. Composting is most rapid when the heap is made with the right ingredients and turned frequently.

Key Requirements

If provided with the right conditions, microorganisms will do the work.

Plenty of organic matter for energy
Enough nutrient elements, especially nitrogen
Oxygen – those microorganisms that are best at decomposing plant materials need plenty of oxygen
Moisture – not too much and not too little
A source of cations, especially calcium to stabilise the compost

Decomposer microorganisms

The main microorganism species responsible for decomposing organic material are bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes (branching bacteria).

Organic materials and nutrients

Any organic material that is of plant or animal origin can be composted, with several factors that will dictate the quality of the product produced.

The size of the material will determine the length of time for break down.
An adequate level of nutrients C: N ratio minimum of 5:1 is a large factor for composting.
A moisture level of 55% to 65%
Oxygen – At least 50% of the heap should be air for maximising oxygen for the microbes.
Calcium level – added as gypsum or lime depending on the pH

Depending on air temperatures and the size of the heap, finished compost should be available in 6-12 months.

Manure from grain-fed animals (eg poultry) will supply phosphorus used at around 7kg per cubic meter. Poultry manure and litter will also supply nitrogen though it should be tested as nitrogen content can vary widely.

Turned compost heaps should be no more than 1.5-2.5m high and 2-3m wide. Larger quantities should be in the form of windrows.

Volume change

Of the carbon in each bite from the materials from microbes, about 60% is converted to CO2, about 33% is made into microbial cells, and the rest is discarded as soil wastes. When these microbes are used by others as food about 60% of their carbon is converted to CO2, and so on. The heap gets smaller. Loss of carbon means that the concentrations of other elements in the remaining material increase meaning a richer source of elements.

Temperature and pasteurisation

The temperature inside composting heaps can range from 45 deg C to 75 deg C, decomposition is most rapid in a range of 45-50 deg C. Eventually the amount of undecomposed material decreases, so microbial numbers and the temperature of the heap fall.

The moist, hot, oxygenated conditions in an active compost heap are just right for killing plant and animal pathogens and parasites. At 65 deg C most plant parasitic bacteria, viruses and insects are eliminated.

Our first batch consisted of approximately 60% turf scraps, 30% Green waste (scarifying material from a paddock we needed to renovate) and the rest included chicken litter and Ag lime.

Subsequent batches have included the addition of gypsum and or calcium silicate. We further inoculated the rows with “BioForce, MicroLife Rapid Compost”. The opportunity to have waste from a paddock stripped with a Field Topmaker was ideal as this increased the nitrogen ration required to help activate the rows. Once turned and water added the rows heated up within a day and maintained at 70 degrees for a little over a week. We turned the rows daily adding more water as needed. I think the soil component of the rows shortens the time the rows will remain at temperature. While the textbooks indicate an aerated composting process should be around four weeks to ensure good compost production and weed seed control, we haven’t found any weed seed germination and no turf grass survival or germination. We have a couple of resilient turf grass strains that have their own rows to minimise any contamination possibilities.

We had our first batch tested by Southern Cross University in Lismore and were suitably surprised by the results.

See below the results from our compost and nutrient calculator based on 5 tonnes per hectare;

This is our third year of compost production, and we are still perfecting our procedures and learning from our mistakes. In our second year, we had some failures primarily due to not having the nitrogen ratio high enough to keep the temperatures high enough for any longer than 3 days. This resulted in rebuilding the rows and starting them off again. The addition of fresh grass clipping has given us our best results to date.

Due to the size of our operation, we prefer to get everything in place to carry out our turning once per year as this allows time to accumulate waste and materials and set aside the time to run the turner. Moving forward we would like to grow a green manure crop we can harvest and add to the rows at the time of turning. This would lift the nitrogen ratio required to compost the turf scraps.

The compost produced can then be used throughout the following year for amending soils now with the inclusion of our trace elements, lime, gypsum etc. We have been regularly checking stockpiles for weed germination and apart from a few broadleaf weeds, we have seen no evidence of grasses germinating.

Dunsborough Lakes Sporting Precinct

Posted on July 3, 2023October 13, 2023 by Sarah

City of Busselton, WA

As Dunsborough’s sports clubs continue to thrive and achieve new heights, the demand for space has intensified due to the existing infrastructure being stretched to its maximum capacity. The growth in population has also contributed to the expansion of the Dunsborough Junior Soccer Club, which has experienced a significant increase in participation since its last season.

Efforts are currently underway to create a new Sports Precinct that caters to the needs of the growing Dunsborough community.

The site for the new Sporting Precinct is Lot 40 Dunsborough Lakes Drive, Dunsborough Lakes, which was previously owned by the Water Corporation. The design of the facility has been planned with potential future expansion in mind, and it will be conveniently accessible from the future school situated at the corner of Dunsborough Lakes Drive and Diamante Boulevard.

The exciting Dunsborough Lakes Sporting Precinct was driven by the increase in population, change in demographics, and strong growth in sports such as AFL, soccer, cricket, netball, and basketball, which has put immense strain on the existing seven hectare Dunsborough Oval Precinct.

The council set out on an ambitious plan to deliver the project, which would include:

Four hectares of playing fields (designed for soccer and cricket)
Four multi-purpose hard courts
Cricket facilities (turf wicket table, synthetic wicket, and three-bay cricket nets)
Carpark and associated landscaping
Lighting (oval, court, and carpark)
Site fencing
Pavilion

The City of Busselton secured funding from multiple sources, including the state and federal government, and from its reserve funding. Like all projects during COVID, there has been an increase in costs, especially in the building industry, which has stalled the pavilion until the project can be delivered to its original design and specification.

The oval component included:

Clearing of necessary native vegetation only
Removal of 4000m3 of undesirable site soil
Sub-surface drainage system
Screening and import of a local sand source, which met USGA specifications (24000m3)
Irrigation system
Incorporation of a quality compost material
Stolonising with TifTuf at 16:1
Turf wicket construction
Synthetic cricket wicket and three bay cricket nets
Fully enclosed roo proof fencing

Dunsborough has a real problem with the lack of an adequate supply of groundwater in the Leederville Aquifer. At the same time, a federally funded project to deliver Stage 1 of the Dunsborough Non-Potable Network was underway. This project included the drilling of a 400m bore into the Sue Coal Aquifer, monitoring bores, a pump station, and a 3.5km pipeline to the new oval site. This project was critical to the delivery of the oval project, especially with the chosen method of establishment.

Grass selection was critical to the successful delivery of the project and the long-term water challenges currently faced and what is expected in the years to come, especially in Dunsborough.

The City had been in discussions with John Clayton from Down South Turf, who has been growing TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda (Couch) on his farm locally. John had provided the grass to trial in several city locations, including the new un-irrigated Busselton entry statement, in which it performed extremely well.

“I had seen TifTuf in action at Campbelltown Stadium in NSW and had no concerns with how it would perform in the Southwest of WA. To be honest, it doesn’t get that cold here!” Parks and Environment Coordinator Brad Reynolds said.

The project was not without its challenges, which had seen delays in a few components of the project, resulting in the grass being installed in late April and early May 2022 (originally planned for early January 2022). Although there weren’t any concerns with the survival of the stolons, it did delay the grass establishment with the cooler weather setting in.

Strong winds played havoc with the surface levels, with alkaline sands blowing from the adjacent housing development, which was hard to contain.

September 2022 provided a chance to get the project back on track. Nutrition and weed control were key. Regular analytical testing guided the program, which included:

Carbon-based microbial amendments to increase the CEC
Lime
Kieserite Magnesium
Oxamax 18-10-9
Regular applications of Black Urea
Liquid fertilizer applications
Hand weeding!

Due to the relative virgin sands, minimal weed content was seen because of imported soil. Wind-blown weeds such as Fleabane and Stinkwart were a problem due to un-maintained surrounding properties and a small amount of Arum Lilly contamination. Manual removal and some spot spraying was seen as the best course of action.

Once a coverage of around 50% was achieved, City Staff worked hard on regular mowing and removal of sand build-up in the canopy. In December, stolons had run in some areas 30-40cm into bare areas. Deep aeration, rolling, then topdressing with 400m3 of a C-wise Sportsblend70, which made a huge impact on coverage and had seen them reach 90% coverage by December 2022.

December had also seen the construction of a three-wicket table, synthetic wicket, cricket nets and permanent oval fencing to meet funding deadlines.

The turf wicket table construction included a sub-base, formwork, 60m3 of imported and laser levelled Culburra clay and washed couch. It is anticipated after extensive renovations and maintenance wicket production will start in early January 2024.

With temporary toilets and change rooms to be available soon, it is likely locals will get their first taste of the facility with Winter Sports training and general public use to take place in May 2023.

“I am looking forward to the next spring and summer when we will be able to put TifTuf to the test, especially with its drought tolerance. We can then start to maximise the benefits of water savings and reliance on the scarce groundwater source.” City of Busselton Parks & Environment Coordinator Bradley Reynolds said.