With summer just a few short weeks away and things getting busier as we head towards Christmas and the end of the year it’s the perfect time to learn about quick, Queensland lawn care. There’s so many things you’d rather be doing this summer than lawn care – we get that – but for the long term health of your lawn and your ability to enjoy it there are tasks you need to do. To help you out we’ve made it simple and easy for you to take care of your lawn’s needs and still have time to relax.
Mowing
When mowing your lawn, don’t cut the grass too short. It might seem like a time saver but by mowing your grass to within an inch of its life you are adversely affecting the health of your lawn. Some lawns, such as Sir Walter DNA Certified, don’t grow as well if cut too short. Longer grass is not as prone to scorching and the ‘shadowing’ effect from taller blades of grass can restrict the growth of weeds, which need sunlight to thrive. Ensure your mower blades are sharp and give a clean cut – blunt blades can bruise grass and leave it looking scraggy and brown. If it’s been raining just wait until the lawn is properly dry before getting out the lawnmower. Mowing a still-wet lawn can cause the soil to compact, the tracks left in the lawn by lawnmower wheels look awful and it can represent a slip hazard. Only mow your lawn when it’s required for its health and not for aesthetics or to keep up with the neighbours.
Feeding
Most grass types need more than a summer storm followed by a sunny day. Your lawncare regime should also include a quarterly application of fertiliser – it’ll do wonders for both the health and the appearance of your lawn. Lawn fertilisers available today are clean, safe to handle, and easy to apply – always read the application instructions and ensure you have the right type of fertiliser for the lawn variety you have at your place. Many lawn feed formulas also contain wetting agents for better water penetration into the soil and this reduces the need to water your lawn, a real time and water-saver. If you want lasting results use a slow release fertiliser. For a quick result use a fertiliser high in nitrogen. The more nitrogen in a fertiliser, the quicker the result but the shorter the effect will last. A good , balanced fertiliser with iron traces is best.
Watering
Lawn maintenance in Queensland is made more difficult because of our weather. Torrential downpours during a tropical storm can cause flash-flooding of lawns. To handle such a deluge in such a short space of time, you should invest a little time and money in lawn aeration and coring. This allows the lawn to soak up the rainwater and disperse it below the roots, instead of it having to endure grass-drowning puddles. You can also help improve drainage by not parking your car, caravan or boat on your lawn. This extreme weight causes the soil to compact and this compaction acts like a barrier to water. In drier times we need to be sensible about watering lawn, in terms of water conservation and the real needs of the lawn. Don’t water when rain is forecast or in the heat of the day when it will just be lost in evaporation. Always water deeply, but less frequently to both conserve water and to encourage a deep, strong root system.
Weeds, disease and pests
Your lawn is a living thing and the ultimate step in your summer lawn care is to give it a check-up every now and again. That brown patch in your lawn might not be there because of a lack of water, or something similarly mundane. It could be disease, pests or weeds that have done the damage and the longer these things go untreated, the worse the problems in the lawn will get. The important thing is to identify the problem early and take steps quickly to eradicate the weeds, disease and pests.
Quick Queensland summer lawn care is possible and will still give you heaps of time to enjoy our amazing climate. For more information or advice just contact the Daleys Turf team today – here to support you for the life of your lawn.
This Post Has 0 Comments