Whether you’re caring for a brand-new lawn or looking to revive a tired patch of turf, knowing how to maintain it properly is the key to a healthy, lush result that will be the envy of your neighbours.
We’ll walk you through five essential lawn care steps to help you grow and maintain green, vibrant and weed-free grass all year round.
Five important steps to keep your lawn looking and feeling great
Wondering how to look after your lawn? Let’s dive in!
Water: The foundation of lawn health
Like all living things, the most important ingredient in maintaining a lush lawn is water. The term “drought-tolerant” is used to describe many turf varieties, but don’t be fooled. Your lawn will never look its best without proper watering.
Here are some tips for watering your lawn in South-east Queensland:
- Water early in the morning to allow the moisture to sink deep into the soil without evaporating.
- During the dry season, aim for a deep watering twice a week for about 15 minutes each time to reach those deep roots. Reduce the watering regime in winter when the weather is cooler and evaporation is less of an issue.
- Avoid overwatering, as it wastes precious water and can lead to disease and fungus in your lawn.
- Don’t underwater, as a dry, stressed lawn will become thin and weak, making it susceptible to weed invasion.
Remember, rain is golden, so adjust your watering schedule if we’re lucky enough to get some.
Fertiliser: Feed your lawn
A healthy lawn needs fuel. Applying fertiliser gives your grass the essential nutrients it needs for lush growth and deep green colour.
- Use a well-balanced, slow-release fertiliser three times a year: early spring, summer and late-autumn for continual nourishment of your lawn.
- Add in an organic fertiliser to improve the soil. These can be smelly (made from natural organic matter like fish product or manure), so be considerate of your neighbours. Great time to use organics is late March, during spring and late June.
- For a quick burst of colour anytime, try a liquid fertiliser that attaches onto your hose. These fertilisers “top up” the plant and the soil.
Fertilising at regular intervals builds a dense root system that naturally resists weeds and lawn diseases and keeps your lawn in tip top condition. Even if you can only manage some of the above, it will improve your lawn dramatically. Always follow the application instructions and follow up watering directions on the label.
Note: The downside is a well-fed lawn will be lush and invite pests like lawn grub. Use Acelepryn to protect your lawn from invasion.
Lawn Mowing: Timing, techniques and tools.
Lawn mowing isn’t only about aesthetics (though this is a great bonus!). It’s essential to your lawn’s health. Done correctly, it promotes new growth and helps maintain a weed-free lawn:
- Follow the one-third rule. The lawn’s leaves play an important role in protecting the plant so only one-third of the leaf should come off each time you mow. A lawn that has been “let go” and has become too long will stress if it is scalped down to stalk.
- Sharpen the mower blades frequently. Dull blades tear the grass leaving an unsightly cut and a lawn vulnerable to disease.
- Frequency matters. In growth season, mow weekly for fast growing varieties like Sir Walter, Aussiblue and Wintergreen. Slower growing varieties like Zoysia and Soft Leaf Buffalo will only require a mow every 10 days to a fortnight. During cooler months, your lawn will go dormant, so only mow as required.
- Aim to mow your lawn after the morning dew has gone and it is dry. Wet grass is much harder to cut and will leave clumpy clippings behind.
Note: First up, whipper snip the lawn edges and throw the clipping onto the grass for easy pick up with your mower’s catcher. Perfect edging makes a lawn look polished!
Aeration: Let your lawn breathe
Over time, foot traffic and weather compact the soil beneath your turf, limiting the flow of air, water and nutrients to the roots. That’s where aeration comes in.
Aerating is exactly what it sounds like: getting more air into your lawn. It involves creating small holes in the soil to relieve compaction.
Some form of aeration once a year, ideally in spring or early summer, will allow water and nutrients from fertiliser to penetrate the root system of your lawn. Manual tools like a garden fork can work for smaller lawns, while machine hire is better for large areas.
Aerated lawns absorb fertiliser and water more efficiently, leading to better new growth and stronger roots.
Pest and Weed Control: Prevention is key
No one wants to see their lush lawn destroyed by lawn grubs or weeds. Staying ahead of pests is one of the most overlooked yet essential steps in a successful lawn care program.
Lawn grubs are common in South-East Queensland from October to March. These relentless pests are looking for the lushest lawn on the street to feast on. Luckily, if they find their way to your place, they are easy to treat with insecticides. But prevention is the best defence.
Here's how to keep those pests and weeds under control:
- Apply a product like Acelepryn, a barrier-type insecticide that will not only treat existing grubs, but also provide a forcefield against them for about three months. Even better, it has a very low odour.
- Use weed control strategies, such as selective herbicides or hand-weeding, to keep invasive plants at bay.
- Regular mowing and fertilising make it harder for weeds to take hold.
Check out our detailed lawn grub treatment guide for more expert advice.
