Watering your lawn is the number one step to keeping it looking great. Once your new lawn is established, it is important to make the most of every drop and drain away any excess.
It’s a balance! A thirsty lawn is brown and crispy and may not survive. A waterlogged lawn can suffocate from a lack of oxygen. It may even become diseased and grow fungi and weeds.
When Is The Best Time To Water Your Lawn?
Early morning is the best time to water your turf in Queensland. The water won’t evaporate too quickly but instead will dry out over the course of the day. This will, in turn, keep it strong, healthy and resistant to disease and fungus.
How Often Do You Water Your Turf In Brisbane?
Aim to water your lawn twice a week for 15-20 minutes, rather than daily for 5 minutes. A good watering regime puts your lawn in training to cope with those long, dry, hot spells we often experience in Queensland.
The Importance Of Good Drainage
While we have all learnt to cope with water restrictions and droughts, it seems to be that periods of continued rain and flood are becoming the norm in Queensland too.
A lawn that drains well and properly absorbs water, whether from the sprinkler or from the skies, will cope better with climate extremes.
Drainage is best done at the outset as your home is built, but if the recent major rain events have highlighted issues in your yard, rectify them as soon as possible. A super-saturated lawn will grow weeds, fungi, and become diseased. Call in a professional for the best drainage advice. There are many methods that double as great landscaping ideas too, so there is no need to sacrifice on kerb appeal. This dry creek bed works a treat!
The Benefits Of Aerating Your Lawn
At the farm, we call this “spiking”. You can pick up various domestic tools from your local hardware or landscape centre to get the job done. It can be as easy as taking a walk across your lawn – see the aerator sandals pictured.
Aeration alleviates soil compaction, allowing for better absorption of rainfall and irrigation. Extra benefits include reduced runoff of fertilisers, less thatch, and all-round stronger, healthier roots that can withstand drought and other extremes.
Wetting Agents Increase Water Efficiency
Some soils are hydrophobic and repel water. A wetting agent will drastically improve the water saturation of your lawn by reducing the surface tension of the water and helping it to soak up every drop it gets. They are like detergents, cutting through the grime in your kitchen. Make sure that you apply in early spring, early summer, and autumn. Always water it well so that the solution is washed from the leaves of the turf. Future watering and fertilising will be far more efficient.
Hydrophobic soil test:
To test if your soil is hydrophobic, simply apply a small amount of water to the surface of the soil. If it is absorbed immediately – your soil is not hydrophobic. If it pools on the top and repels the soil – your soil is hydrophobic.