Sarah, Author at Lawn Solutions Australia

Revitalising Rural Town Centres

Posted on January 6, 2025 by Sarah

Lameroo Town Centre Project

It would be hard to drive through Lameroo, South Australia and fail to notice the lush expanses of grass that now contrast the rural, desert-like landscape of the district. Situated in the Mallee 200km East of Adelaide, Lameroo is a small rural township that acts as the service centre to many large and small agricultural businesses and families. It’s also a popular thoroughfare connecting Adelaide to many large eastern towns and cities, making it a must-stop destination for many weary travellers.

As part of Southern Mallee District Council’s Commercial Centres Revitalisation Project, Lameroo’s town centre now boasts a beautiful, functional space that includes a dog park, pump track, playground and BBQ shelter. A standout feature and something that can’t be missed as you drive through is a 22-metre-long centre-pivot structure that pays homage to the district’s strong agricultural history. To bring the project together and to provide areas of dust-free play space and greenery, over 2,000m2 of instant lawn were installed.

The upgrades were undertaken to create community assets that would boost tourism and the business economy of the area. It was hoped that the new areas would be heavily utilised not only by the 900 or so residents of Lameroo but also by tourists in the area and travellers passing through. To keep up with the regular and hopefully plentiful use, a hardy turf variety would be required, one that was self-repairing and versatile enough for the different recreational areas. The lawn had to be suitable for the full sun area which would endure hot, dry summers and frosty, cold winters that are typical of Lameroo’s climate. It also had to be an economical performer, as the project was funded by the Southern Mallee District Council mostly through grant funding. After initial consultations with the team at The Turf Farm in Pinnaroo, Eureka Kikuyu was chosen for the project. This variety already featured across other council-maintained areas of the town and was, therefore, a familiar variety that would be well-suited to the high-traffic area around the play space.

Landscaping was completed by LCS Landscapes, a South Australian commercial landscaping business in consultation with the Southern Mallee District Council and the community of Lameroo. Working together with The Turf Farm, over 2000m2 of Eureka Kikuyu was delivered and installed with the final roll being laid in August last year. The lawn was established quickly and has already been enjoyed by thousands of visitors to the area. The lawn has complimented and enhanced a previously dusty and dry area, providing useable spaces and much-needed greenery.

The project has been completed in perfect time for Lameroo to join the Australian Silo Art Trail with a stunning new mural by world-renowned artist Sam ‘Smug’ Bates. This fantastic community-lead artwork has already had a huge impact on the community and has provided another compelling reason for travellers to stop by and enjoy the lawn and revitalised space.

‘We love working in and around our district, providing lawn to help beautify the Southern Mallee. It’s always a pleasure to drive through Lameroo, watching the community and visitors experience the joy of lawns and green spaces. There is nothing quite like sharing your passion with your community and seeing your hard work being appreciated! We’re excited to be a part of many more projects just like this one.’ – The Turf Farm

How to Mark Up Your Lawn for Sports

Posted on December 5, 2024May 13, 2025 by Sarah

Are you gearing up for backyard cricket matches or soccer games on your lawn this summer? In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know about marking up your lawn and getting it game-ready!

Skip to: Mowing in your cricket pitch, Rolling your cricket pitch, How to paint a cricket pitch, Aftercare for a cricket pitch, How to create a backyard soccer field, Marking out your soccer field.

How Do You Create a Backyard Cricket Pitch?

Summer is the ideal season to create a cricket pitch, as your lawn is actively growing and can repair itself quickly if any damage occurs. Start by selecting an area—ideally, a flat space. Consider the best direction for the pitch, ensuring it’s positioned away from glass windows or parked cars for safety.

Mowing in your Cricket Pitch

The next step is mowing in your pitch. The ideal grass type for cricket pitches will be couch grass like TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda so that it can be mown low. Other grasses like kikuyu and zoysia lawns are also good options.

Before you start, work out roughly where your pitch will start and finish and mark it with a stake or marker to use as a guide when mowing. To mow in your cricket pitch, lower your mowers height, ensuring you are getting a low cut and keep your mowers catcher on. Please note, it is important to ensure there is still some of the grass there to avoid a sticky wicket.

Rolling your Pitch

If you happen to have a roller on hand or a heavy cylinder mower with a roller attachment, go over the area. This will help compact the area further for a better bounce.

How to Paint a Cricket Crease

To mark your crease, we recommend using some marking paint (or landscaper chalk) and mark both ends. This paint won’t kill the grass and will wash off with water, so it may need a refresh if there is rainfall.

Ideally, you want the crease to be as long as your bat plus its handle. When marking the line, use either a plank of wood or a broom handle to help keep your line straight.

After this, set up your stumps and you will be good to go!

Aftercare for Your Pitch

If there are periods of hot and dry weather, ensure you keep the water up to the lawn after you call time. It is also ideal to give the soil a quick aerate with a garden fork to help decompact the soil base after it has had plenty of wear!

How to Create a Backyard Soccer Field

The first step is to evaluate how much space you have for your field. If you have a smaller area, you should be able to accommodate a goal mouth, or a medium-sized lawn should be able to fit a half-field layout.

It is also best to ensure your lawn is lush and healthy before setting up your field. If your lawn needs a quick pick up, we recommend applying a liquid fertiliser, like our Exceed Liquid Fertiliser for an instant boost. This is available on our online store, local retailers and Bunnings stores.

Marking Out Your Soccer Field

To mark out the main field dimensions, drop the height on your mower by a notch or two and mow in the perimeter of your allocated field, or alternatively spray the boundary with some marking paint.

For the more intricate boundary lines like the goal area, penalty area and penalty arc, we recommend using a marking paint for best results.

The final step is to add in your goal, and you will be ready for kick-off!

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

PGRs – Primo Maxx & Primo HG Turf Growth Regulator

Posted on December 4, 2024November 12, 2025 by Sarah

Plant Growth Regulators (PGR’s) are one of the turf world’s biggest kept secrets! Plant growth regulators work behind the scenes to help your lawn grow thicker instead of taller. This ultimately helps cut mowing requirements in half while improving the overall appearance of your lawn.

Primo HG Turf Growth Regulator (500ml) is now here! – approved for Home and Garden use with a twin chamber pack.

Shop Online Now

Skip to: Benefits of using a PGR, How does Primo Maxx/HG work? When should I use a PGR? How do I apply Primo Maxx/Primo HG? What are the application rates for Primo Maxx and Primo HG?

Who Should Use a PGR?

PGR’s like Primo Maxx 1L or Primo HG 500ml (same product, different sizes) are great products for anyone who wants to reduce the amount of mowing needed throughout the warmer months or anyone who is looking to take their lawn to the next level. With just one application, you will effectively hold back the vertical growth of your lawn for your lawn for around 3-4 weeks in periods when you may normally need to be mowing your lawn a few times a week to keep up with growth.

This makes it an ideal product to use if you are about to go on holiday and won’t be able to mow for a few weeks, are a FIFO worker or are just not a fan of mowing!

What are the benefits of using Primo HG?

Primo HG has many benefits including:

Reduce grass growth: reduce mowing.
Less bare patches: improved aesthetic.
Greener grass.
The best-looking edges with less work.
Reduction in grass seed heads.
Reduces your lawns water requirements.

With so many benefits and a reduction in maintenance when growth is at its peak, it is a fantastic product to use.

How Does Primo Maxx/HG Work?

Primo HG Turf Growth Regulator will encourage the grass to grow thicker rather than taller. Lateral stems of the grass become fuller, and the lawn will improve in colour. It works by slowing down the gibberellic acid, a plant hormone that promotes cell elongation. Vertical growth is slowed while the lateral and below ground rhizomes, stolons and roots are stimulated.

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When Should I Use a PGR?

As PGR’s like Primo HG slow the growth of your lawn down, it is best to only use them throughout the warmer months when growth is fastest. It is also recommended that you use them only when your lawn is healthy and not under stress. If your lawn is under stress on application, it will slow down the repair, which is not ideal.

How Do I Apply Primo Turf Growth Regulator?

When applying PGR, it is best to first calibrate your sprayer. Calibrating your sprayer will help you work out how much of the product your sprayer will disperse per m2. This is especially important when using highly concentrated products like Primo Maxx or Primo HG.

To calibrate your sprayer, measure out 10m2 on a hard concrete surface like a driveway. Then, place some markers so that you know where your designated 10m2 is. Then, fill up your sprayer with water. Before spraying your area, get a timer out. Then time how long it takes you to spray your area size. When finished, press stop and note of how long it took you to spray the area.

Next, you will need to use a measuring jug. Spray water into the measuring jug for however long it took you to spray the 10m2. (e.g. If it took you 40 seconds to spray your area, measure how much water your sprayer uses in 40 seconds.) Now we will know how much water is required to spray 10m2. We can then times this volume by 10 to find out how much water is required to spray 100m2.

What are the Application Rates for Primo Maxx/HG?

Following the calibration of your sprayer, use the correct amount of Primo needed for your area. For Buffalo, Common Couch and Hybrid Couch add 10 to 40mL of Primo Maxx per 100m2. For Kikuyu add 20 to 80mL of Primo Maxx per 100m2.

*When applying Primo Maxx for the first time, we do recommend sticking to the lower application rate for your grass type.

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

Turfing the Way for Fun: Boongaree Nature Play Park’s New Sir Grange Zoysia Turf

Posted on November 8, 2024November 12, 2024 by Sarah

Supplied and Installed by Turfco Australia

Boongaree Nature Play Park in Berry has been given a major upgrade with the installation of Sir Grange Zoysia natural turf by local turf provider Turfco around the recently built pump track. The project was initiated after Turfco organised a council farm visit, where Shoalhaven Council Co-Ordinator of Parks and Ovals, Richard McGuinness, learned about Sir Grange Zoysia. The turf is a low-maintenance, environmentally sustainable natural turf surface that is perfect for difficult or expensive areas to maintain.

Kikuyu was initially installed around the pump track in December 2022, but it quickly became apparent that it would be hazardous to mow and some of the banks were too steep even for a whipper snipper. Kikuyu also grows quickly, requiring frequent and expensive maintenance. Richard discussed Sir Grange with his colleagues, and Turfco was subsequently consulted in regard to making arrangements for the installation of the new turf.

The cost of the turf was about 1/30th the cost of soft fall, which would have been an alternative option. A black pump track would have become very hot in the summer, but the natural grass surround provided by Sir Grange will help to keep users cooler. Sir Grange also provides a safe and soft landing zone if users were to ride off the side of the pump track.

Sir Grange Zoysia looks fantastic unmown and will save the council money and time in maintenance and upkeep. It requires zero fertiliser and will only need to be whipper snipped around the edges from time to time if required. Turf is also a great stabiliser and natural coolant, making it the perfect choice for a pump track where safety is paramount.

Once the go-ahead was given, Turfco removed 1,000m2 of the existing failed Kikuyu with an excavator with a tilt bucket, ensuring that existing gradients were left intact. Refuse was removed from the site, and 38 tonnes of free-draining turf underlay were brought in to assist new turf growth. A total of 1,275m2 of Sir Grange Zoysia was supplied and installed, with the turf being pegged down on the embankment for stabilisation on steep sections.

Installation took place over several days. The Sir Grange started to establish within just three weeks of being installed, and the main aim for the council is to reduce the high maintenance required by Kikuyu by switching to Sir Grange, which will be left almost totally unmown.

The Boongaree Nature Play Park pump track is now safer and more attractive thanks to the installation of Sir Grange Zoysia natural turf. The turf provides a low-maintenance, environmentally sustainable solution that is perfect for this application. With Sir Grange in place, council workers will be able to spend less time on maintenance and more time ensuring that the pump track is safe and enjoyable for the community.

Three of the Biggest Kept Secrets When it Comes to Caring for Your Lawn

Posted on November 8, 2024October 16, 2025 by Sarah

Are you looking for a way to help keep your grass looking its best with minimal effort? In this blog, we have a look at 3 of our top secrets to keeping your lawn looking its best.

Skip to: What is a Plant Growth Regulator? Does Aerating Your Lawn Actually Help? Is It Worth Using a Pre-Emergent Herbicide?

What is a Plant Growth Regulator?

Plant growth regulators like Primo Maxx are one of the most underrated products when it comes to caring for your lawn. These products can help reduce the vertical growth of the lawn while encouraging the horizontal growth of turf. This means that mowing requirements will be less while helping your lawn grow thicker and improving its aesthetic.

These products are great to use throughout the warmer months of the year when your lawn is at its fastest and needs to be mown more regularly. They are also ideal to use if you are going on holiday and won’t be around to mow, or even if mowing just isn’t your favourite thing to do every weekend!

Primo Maxx or Primo HG (500ml) are great options to look into when it comes to plant growth regulators and is ideal for use on home lawns. If you are looking to reduce your mowing by 50% this spring and summer or want to take your lawn to the next level, look no further than Primo HG.

Does Aerating Your Lawn Actually Help?

Aerating is one of the most beneficial lawn care activities you can do for your lawn! Not only will it help prevent a number of lawn-related issues, but it will also help your lawn become stronger and healthier.

The process of aerating will help decompact the soil profile, allowing more space for water, nutrients and air to flow throughout the soil. This will help stop soil compaction, can aid in removing disease in your lawn, aid with drainage and help thicken up your lawn.

So, how do you aerate your lawn? Aeration can be done with a few different tools, but the most effective and common tools to use are a sturdy garden fork or a tine aerator. Drive the fork into the soil profile, then give it a good wiggle to help fracture up the surrounding soil. Then drive the fork back into the profile, aiming for spaces around 10cm apart and work your way across the lawn. For more information on how to aerate your lawn, check out our blog here.

Is it Worth Using a Pre-Emergent Herbicide?

Pre-emergent herbicides are another game changer product when it comes to caring for your lawn. Pre-emergent herbicides like Oxafert and Oxafert Plus work by forming a barrier at the soil level, targeting weed seedlings in the soil during germination before they have a chance to grow in your lawn. These are particularly useful products to use if your lawn is prone to invasions of Summer Grass, Crabgrass, Creeping Oxalis and Winter Grass.

Our Lawn Solutions Oxafert and Oxafert Plus also have the added benefit of a fertiliser component and Oxafert Plus also contains an insecticide, stopping damage causing insects on your lawn.

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

5 Lawn Outlaws This Spring

Posted on September 27, 2024October 7, 2025 by Sarah

As temperatures rise and your lawn starts to green up, there’s a band of notorious outlaws ready to invade—pesky weeds! This spring, keep an eye out for some of the worst offenders: Clover, Creeping Charlie, Creeping Oxalis, Summer Grass, and Cudweed. In this post, we’ll break down the best ways to identify and take down these lawn outlaws before they take over your turf.

Skip to: How do I remove Clover from my lawn? How do I remove Creeping Charlie from my lawn? How do I remove Creeping Oxalis from my lawn? How do I remove summer grass from my lawn? How can I remove Cudweed from my lawn?

How Do I Remove Clover from My Lawn?

Clover is one of the most common weeds that can grow in your lawns. It can be identified by its oval-shaped leaves, which commonly have white circular markings across the group of leaflets. Usually, these leaflets will have three leaves, but four if you’re lucky!

Clover will have low-growing creeping stems that grow roots where they touch the ground. When the weed flowers, it will produce either a white or pink flower, depending on the species.

To remove Clover, the best and easiest way to get it under control is to use a broadleaf herbicide like All Purpose Weed Control.

All Purpose Weed Control is safe for use on most common lawn types.

How Can I Remove Creeping Charlie from My Lawn?

Creeping Charlie, also known as ground ivy, is a weed that belongs to the Lamiaceae family. This family of plants also includes mint, lavender and oregano. Creeping Charlie can be identified by its kidney-shaped leaves with scalloped edges and violet-blue flowers. It has viny stems that can root to the ground at each node.

To remove Creeping Charlie, we recommend using a broadleaf herbicide like All Purpose Weed Control, Estate Herbicide or Bin Die if you have it available. Estate Herbicide 250ml Concentrate has recently been introduced to replace the recently discontinued product Bin Die Concentrate.

What is Creeping Oxalis and How Can I Remove It from My Lawn?

Creeping Oxalis is a weed that is commonly mistaken for clover, due to its similar growth habit of low growing stems underneath the soil surface. Creeping Oxalis will grow in spring and can easily be spotted by its heart shaped leaves.

Creeping Oxalis also tends to spread quickly by seed. Once its seed pod matures and then dries out, it will explode, causing the seed to spread.

To remove Creeping Oxalis from growing in your lawn, we recommend using a broadleaf herbicide. Something like All Purpose Weed Control or Estate Herbicide is ideal for removal.

To help prevent the spread of its seed, we recommend using a pre-emergent herbicide called Oxafert and Oxafert Plus.

These styles of herbicides work by stopping the weed seedlings when they are germinating.

How Do I Remove Summer Grass from My Lawn?

Summer Grass is an annual weed that appears in the warmer months of the year. It has soft, hairy leaves that grow close to the ground in clusters. The grass grows roots at the node, and the sheathes of the leaf are usually purple-tinged in colour at the base. This weed will spread by its seeds, so it is best to target it before the plant produces its seed pod.

If there is only a small amount of Summer Grass growing there, the best and easiest way to remove it is to pull it out by hand. Another effective way to tackle Summer Grass is to treat it with a DSMA-based herbicide. However, it is important to note that these herbicides are not suitable for use on Buffalo or Kikuyu lawns.

If you have had a previous infestation of Summer Grass, we recommend using Oxafert or Barricade to help prevent it from growing this year.

For more information on how to remove Summer Grass from your lawn, please check out our blog here.

How Do I Stop Cudweed from Growing in My Lawn?

Cudweed is another common weed that you might see growing in your lawn over spring. It has flat, shiny, green, glossy leaves in a rosette shape and a white furry underside. As this weed has glossy leaves, it can sometimes make herbicide removal a bit more difficult. A surfactant is often needed to help the herbicide better adhere.

For its removal, we recommend using a broadleaf herbicide. Something like All Purpose Weed Control or Estate Herbicide is ideal.

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

Can You Renovate Buffalo Grass?

Posted on September 27, 2024May 26, 2025 by Sarah

A question that we commonly get here at Lawn Solutions is “can you renovate buffalo grass?” While the short answer is yes, we take a look at the precautions you need to take…

Skip to: Why do I need to take precautions when renovating buffalo grass? How to dethatch buffalo grass, How to top dress buffalo grass, How to care for buffalo grass after lawn renovation.

Why Do I Need to Take Precautions When Renovating Buffalo Turf?

Buffalo grass mainly grows by its above-ground runner system and doesn’t have a strong rhizome like couch and kikuyu grasses. With couch and kikuyu, when renovating, you can almost take the lawn back to dirt as the underground runners of the grass will be able to grow back through the soil to repair. With buffalo you can remove the top layer of overlapping stolons, however you will need to ensure that there is still stolons present and attached to the soil so that the grass can still grow back and repair.

How to Dethatch Buffalo Grass with a Mower

One method to dethatch buffalo grass is to give the lawn a low mow to pick up and remove the dry thatch material within the profile. When doing this, we recommend dropping the height down slowly to ensure you are not removing too much of the plant material. Drop the height on your mower, then review how much material is removed. If needed, drop the height again and mow back over the area. You can repeat this process until you are happy with how much of the grass runner is still present.

How to Scarify Buffalo

If you choose to use a scarifying machine on your buffalo lawn, we always recommend testing the scarifier on a small area while on its highest and least aggressive setting. If you are then happy with the results, and most importantly, there are runners of the grass still in tack, continue across the whole lawn.

How to Use a Scarifying Rake on Buffalo

If you want to use a scarifying rake, give the area a light rake, monitor how much material is removed, and ensure runners are still in the tack.

How Do You Top Dress Buffalo Grass?

When top dressing buffalo turf, we recommend using an 80% sand 20% loam mixture if you are wanting to improve the soil profile. If you are wanting to top dress for level improvement, we recommend using a washed or screened river sand.

When topdressing evenly apply the soil to the area, then rub it into the profile by using the back of a rake or a soil leveller.

When top dressing, ensure the top of the leaf is still popping through the sand/soil. You shouldn’t apply more than 5-10mm thickness at one time. If you require more top dressing to level out your area, doing this over a few applications over spring and summer is best.

What Products Should I Apply After a Lawn Renovation?

After a lawn renovation, we recommend applying a fertiliser to help give your lawn a boost in growth and nutrients. We recommend using a well-rounded granular fertiliser like our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser. This has a combination of slow and fast-release granules, giving the lawn a good upfront boost while continuing to feel the lawn after it is repaired.

There are also a few preventative style products we recommend looking into using after a renovation. To help prevent damage-causing insects, we recommend using an Acelepryn powered product like Grub Guard Ultimate. If you want to help prevent weeds this spring and summer, we recommend using a pre-emergent herbicide like Oxafert or Oxafert Plus.

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

Did You Forget to Apply a Pre-Emergent?

Posted on September 2, 2024May 26, 2025 by Sarah

Why You Should Remove Weeds Growing in Your Lawn Now

Getting on top of weeds now in spring will not only improve the appearance of your lawn but will also stop the weeds before they have a chance to go to seed and spread.

Skip to: What lawn weeds grow in spring? When should I remove weeds from my lawn? Why should I remove broadleaf weeds in my lawn now? Why should I remove Bindii now? How can I limit weeds in my lawn? Should I use a pre-emergent herbicide?

What Weeds Commonly Grow in Spring?

During spring, it is common that you will still see some broadleaf weeds like Bindii and Creeping Oxalis. Once the temperatures have warmed back up, you may notice seasonal summer weeds like Crabgrass, Paspalum and Summer Grass growing.

When Should I Remove Weeds?

This is a common question that we get, and the answer is always when you see them. The benefit of doing this is stopping them before they have a chance to go to seed, and can spread further throughout your lawn, and before they can grow and take over more sections of your lawn.

Why Should I Remove Broadleaf Weeds Now

Broadleaf weeds can increase in growth when temperatures rise. Some common broadleaf weeds that will grow throughout the warmer months are Bindii, Clover, Creeping Oxalis, Chickweed, Lambs Tongue and more. These broadleaf weeds can be treated relatively quickly using a broadleaf herbicide. Popular herbicide options include hose on All Purpose Weed Control or concentrate Estate Herbicide.

Why You Should Remove Bindii Now

If you happen to have the dreaded Bindii growing, now is an ideal time to treat it before it produces its prickly weed pods. It is these seed pods that contain the prickly seeds that cause pain to our bare feet when walking on your lawn. So, if you happen to have Bindii growing in your lawn, it is best to treat it now before it goes to seed. For removal, use a broadleaf herbicide.

How Can I Limit Weeds in My Lawn?

Ensuring your lawn is thick and healthy will create less space in the profile for weeds to grow. With a healthy and thick lawn there will be increased competition for resources including soil, nutrients and sunlight. With this, it will become more difficult for the weeds to grow. For more tips and advice on how to help get your lawn thick and healthy this spring, check out our Spring Lawn Care blog here.

Ensuring you are mowing your lawn regularly will further help limit weeds in your lawn. Regular mowing will also help weaken the weed while it is using a large amount of energy to grow.

Should I Use a Pre-Emergent Herbicide?

Pre-emergent herbicides, as the name suggests help stop weeds before they start to emerge. They target weed seedlings while they are germinating before they start to appear in your lawn. Oxafertand Oxafert Plus pre-emergents will target seasonal summer weeds, including Summer Grass, Crab Grass, Crowsfoot and Creeping Oxalis.

It is important to note that timing your application is also important to ensure you stop the weeds before they start to germinate and grow. For summer weeds, it is best to apply your pre-emergent in early to mid-spring or when the temperatures are starting to warm back up in your region.

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

Why Now is the Best Time to Spring Your Lawn into Shape

Posted on September 2, 2024August 4, 2025 by Sarah

As the temperatures warm back up, your lawn will start to actively grow again, and this means you can start getting your lawn back into shape. In this blog, we share a few different lawn care activities you can do in spring.

Skip to: Why should I remove weeds from my lawn in spring? How can I get the most out of my fertiliser application in spring? Should I aerate my lawn in spring? Do I need to renovate my lawn in spring?

Why is Spring an Ideal Time to Fix Your Lawn?

With temperatures set to warm up over the coming weeks our lawns will start to actively grow again. The temperatures are usually warm enough for new growth, but not hot enough that the grass will be under stress from the scorching summer sun. This makes it an ideal time to focus on repairing any damage that may have occurred over winter or address any underlying issues the lawn may be facing.

Should I Remove Weeds from My Lawn in Spring?

If there are weeds growing in your lawn, it is best to treat them as soon as possible to help prevent them from spreading further. Treating weeds now will also limit the competition your lawn will face, allowing the turf to grow stronger and thicker quickly.

When treating common broadleaf weeds like Clover and Bindii, you can look at using a broadleaf herbicide like All Purpose Weed Control. If you are not sure what weed type you have growing in your lawn, check out our Ultimate Weed Guide for identification and removal tips here.If you want to get ahead of the game and prevent weeds before they start to appear in your lawn, look into using a pre-emergent herbicide like Oxafert and Oxafert Plus.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Fertiliser Application This Spring

When applying fertiliser to your lawn this spring, timing is key. If your application is too early, before temperatures start to warm back up, your lawn won’t be growing at a fast enough rate to use the fertiliser effectively.

So, when should I apply fertiliser to my lawn this spring? The answer is when the temperatures are consistently warmer and when you have noticed that the lawn has begun to actively grow again.

If you are wanting a granular fertiliser, our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser, available in both a 4kg bucket and a 10kg bucket. This fertiliser contains both a fast and slow-release granule to give your lawn a good upfront boost heading out of winter dormancy, and also contains a slow-release granule that will continue to feed the lawn for 12 weeds for a sustained boost. This fertiliser contains a balanced ratio of nutrients and trace elements to encourage strong growth and rich colour.

If you prefer to use liquid lawn care products, a great fertiliser option is Exceed Liquid Fertiliser, available in both a 2L Hose-on bottle and a 2.5L concentrate.

Should I Aerate My Lawn this Spring?

Over the last six months we have been experiencing high amounts of rainfall. With this and increased cloud cover, it has made our lawns sit damp for longer periods of time. When this occurs, with combined foot traffic, the soil underneath can become compacted. This compaction can make it difficult for air, water and nutrients to reach the roots of your lawn. To help alleviate this compaction, it is recommended to aerate your lawn.

Aeration typically involves using a garden fork, tyne aerator or aerator sandals to create space within the profile. When aerating with a garden fork or tyne aerator, simply drive the fork into the profile and give it a good wiggle back and forth to fracture the soil profile. Repeat this across the whole lawn. If you have a larger area that is too big to aerate by hand, you can look at hiring a mechanical aerator.

This process will help your lawn become healthier, stronger and thicker.

Do I Need to Renovate My Lawn This Spring?

If you’re looking to get drastic results with your lawn this spring or are needing to give your lawn some extra TLC, look at renovating your lawn this spring. Lawn renovations can help improve soil quality, compaction, improve your lawns levels, and remove thatch, all improving the all-round appearance of your lawn.

Typically, lawn renovations will start off with removing all weeds from your lawn. A few weeks after this and when temperatures are consistently warmer, you can then scalp or dethatch your lawn, aerate, fertilise and top dress. Initially after this process your lawn won’t look the best, but over a few weeks, your lawn will improve drastically!

For more information on how to complete a lawn renovation, check out our Lawn Renovation video series here.

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

Beware Plants That Can Hurt Your Dog

Posted on August 20, 2024May 26, 2025 by Sarah

Do you know what common house plants are safe for your dogs? In this blog, we take a look at some common plant types that are safe and others that are not safe for our pets.

Skip to: What makes plants toxic to dogs? Symptoms of plant poisoning in dogs, How can I prevent my pet from getting sick? What plants are dangerous for dogs? What plants are safe for dogs?

What Makes Plants Toxic for Our Pets?

Different types of plants contain various substances, all which can differently impact our pets. While some plants are harmless, others can cause mild side effects, and others can cause significant harm. There are some factors which can increase the severity of a reaction, including the amount ingested, size of your dog, age and overall health of the dog.

Common Symptoms Your Pet May Have from Plant Poisoning

Some common symptoms that your pets are experiencing plant poisoning include vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, tremors, pain, difficulty breathing and heart rhythm abnormalities. If your pet is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is best to consult with your local vet as soon as possible.

What Can I Do to Help Prevent My Dog from Getting Sick?

The first step is to know what plants your pets are exposed to at home. Then you will be able to assess the plants toxicity. For a full and detailed list of that plants are toxic to your pets, check out ASPCA’s extensive list here.

What Plants Are Not Safe for Dogs?

There is also a wide variety of plants that you should be cautious about when you have pets. Below are ten common plants that are not safe for your dog:

Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis). Aloe Vera is safe around dogs but can cause harm when ingested.
Amaryllis (Amaryllis spp.). This plant contains lycorine at its bulb which is not safe for pets.
Azalea (Rhododendron spp.). Azalea’s contain cardiovascular toxins which can weaken the heartbeat of your pets.
Begonia (Begonia spp.). Although the most toxic part of the plant is underground, it is best to keep your pets away.
Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum spp.). Chrysanthemums contain chemicals including pyrethrin and sesquiterpene which are toxic to pets.
Cyclamen (Cyclamen spp.). Cyclamen contains triterpenoid saponins, which can cause extreme irritation. This plant contains its highest concentration of triterpenoid saponins at the plant’s roots, so if your pet happens to get the plant roots, it can cause serious health effects.
Daffodil (Narcissus spp.). Daffodils flowers and underground bulbs contain the toxin lycorine. Like other plants with bulbs, the highest concentration will be at the bulb of the plant.
Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia spp.) Dieffenbachia if ingested can cause burning and swelling of the mouth.
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) Although these plants are stunning to look at, they can be highly toxic if eaten, causing sever nausea and vomiting.
Lantana (Lantana camara) Lantana is not only a noxious weed but is toxic to pets. If you do happen to spot some of this plant growing in your garden, it is best to remove it as soon as possible.

What Plants Are Safe for Use Around My Dogs?

A wide variety of plants are safe for use around dogs. A few of our favourite plants are:

African Violet (Saintpaulia)
Petunias (Petunia)
Callistemon (Bottlebrush)
Grevillea (Spider Flower)
Sunflowers
Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Zebra Plant (Aphelandra squarrosa)
Magnolia Trees

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