Turf installation – the easy way to get a new lawn
Whilst some people find turf installation to be a straightforward job – especially with our easy-to-follow Laying Turf how to guides and videos – others just don’t have the time. If you want a new lawn without the hassles of all the measuring, preparing the ground, spreading underlay and laying turf, Lawn Solutions Australia can help. Depending on where you live, our fully accredited turf growers can take care of everything for you:
Measure your garden
Advise on the right grass type for your location and your garden’s particular conditions
Provide a quote for turf, plus premium quality turf underlay if required
Organise delivery for a day that suits you
Spread the turf underlay and a water-saving starter fertiliser
Lay the turf
Cut the turf exactly to the shape of your lawn and around your garden beds
Advise you on immediate and long term aftercare
Provide a 10 Year Lawn Warranty – the only of its kind in Australia. This is only offered on purchases from accredited Lawn Solutions Australia turf suppliers.
Talk to your local grower about their turf laying services
If that sounds like the lawn solution for you, get in touch with your local Lawn Solutions Australia grower to ask about their turf installation and laying services in your area, and look forward to a lush new lawn without the hassle! With 40+ leading turf growers across Australia, our expert lawn professionals are only a phone call or email away.
Does your lawn have weeds, but you’re not sure what they are and how to remove them? We take a look at some common lawn weeds that might be growing in your lawn and look at a few different options on how you can remove them.
Cudweed
Amochaeta galviceps
Flat, shiny, mid-green leaves with a rosette shape
Various small flowers on stems
Fibrous roots
Control – hand removal and spot spray herbicide
Difficult to kill due to glossy leaves
May need two or more sprays.
Winter Grass
Poa annua
Is a low growing weed
Has soft, drooping green leaves
Grows in tufts with white seeds
Will start to appear in mid to late Autumn
Can stick around late winter or early Spring till the temperatures warm back up
Control – hand removal, pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides.
Bindii (jo-jo)
Soliva sessilis
Possibly the most annoying lawn weed due to the pain caused by the seeds to bare feet
Finely dissected, small, fern like leaves, light green in colour
Flat, small compact rosettes
Small green flowers deep in leaf axis
Fine, fibrous roots
Small brown, flat seeds with sharp spines that hurt bare feet
Control – hand removal or selective Bindii herbicides in winter or early autumn before the plant sets seed
Easily managed if tended to early.
Creeping Oxalis
Oxalis corniculata
Small, light green, clover like leaves on short petioles
Small, yellow, bell shaped flowers
Forms new roots wherever stems touch the ground, creeping under and through lawn
Thin tap-roots
Very difficult to remove as crown breaks off leaving roots for re-growth
Very invasive, nasty weed
Control – hand remove small plants
Dig out section of lawn
Herbicide for larger infestations.
Clover
Trifolium spp.
Clover shaped, green leaves with with circular markings, on thin stems
Small white flowers, ball shaped on stems with leaves
Tap-roots off stolons
Is a weed in lawn but in other areas can be beneficial due to high nutritional value
Four leaved plants are very lucky, so don’t poison those!
Control – hand removal and selective herbicide.
Lawn Weed Treatment
Hand removal
Many small weeds many be carefully pulled out by hand, however you will need to make sure you have removed the roots. Using a weeding trowel or long handled, mechanical device and prizing around the roots will help ensure total removal. The bigger the weed, the bigger and stronger the roots. In some cases, a weed spray might be necessary.
Herbicides
For Cudweed, Bindii, Creeping Oxalis and Clover, you can use a broadleaf herbicide like All Purpose Weed Control or Amgrow Bin Die. These herbicides are both safe to use on Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo, TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda, Sir Grange Zoysia, Eureka Kikuyu, and most other lawn types.
For Winter Grass, we recommend using a selective herbicide like Amgrow Winter Grass Killer (not suitable for Kikuyu, Rye, and Fescue lawns). This will remove any Winter Grass that is currently growing. We also recommend using a pre-emergent herbicide like Oxafert when the temperatures get cooler in your area to help prevent the winter grass from returning.
When using herbicides, remember to always follow manufacturer’s instructions on the pack.
Lawn Solutions Australia are committed to our products. At the time of purchase of your new lawn, we will provide a Product Warranty Certificate that guarantees your lawn for up to 10 years from the date of installation.
What does the 10 Year Lawn Warranty cover?
Lawn Solutions Australia’s unique 10 Year Lawn Warranty certifies that turf supplied by a Lawn Solutions Australia member has been grown and harvested to stringent standards. That it has been inspected upon harvesting (according to our policy and guidelines) to be free of weeds and disease before delivering, is freshly cut, and, for a period of 10 years from instalment, will perform to its maximum potential in its new environment (subject to conditions). No other turf supplier in Australia can offer this same guarantee of quality. Please note that while we are 100% committed to our products and have the utmost faith in them, it is essential to follow the laying and care instructions supplied by your Lawn Solutions Australia supplier at the time of purchase.
What to do if you have a problem with your lawn
If for any reason you feel there is a problem with your purchased turf, in the first instance contact your turf provider immediately. All Lawn Solutions Australia turf growers and turf resellers are committed to our 100% product warranty.
About Lawn Solutions Australia
Lawn Solutions Australia is a hand-picked group of Australia’s leading turf growers, some of whom have been in the industry for 40 years or more. All are growers of Australia’s favourite lawn – Sir Walter soft-leaf buffalo, and are promising the same ‘gold standard’ of quality across their whole range of turf brands and lawn care products.
Lawn grubs are the larvae of the African Black Beetle (also referred to as a type of curl grub). In some states, the Armyworm Caterpillar, another notorious lawn pest, is also referred to as lawn grub.
If you find your lawn afflicted with the curse of the lawn grubs, either African black beetle larvae or armyworm, don’t despair. Treating and eradicating these pests can be relatively easy.
Here’s some signs to look out for:
Increased bird activity on your lawn
One of the most easily spotted symptoms is an increase in bird activity on your lawn. These grubs make a great snack for the local birds and you’ll find them popping over to your place for lunch!
Greyish-brown moths
Small, greyish brown moths fly around looking out for the healthiest lawn to leave their eggs on, giving their larvae the best chance of survival. These moths can be seen flying around just above the grass normally around dusk. These moths lay their eggs en masse, and in 2–5 days these eggs become grub larvae. These caterpillars are the critters doing the damage as they spend between 18–24 days chewing through your beautiful lawn before becoming pupae and around 5–8 days later moths and so the cycle begins again!
Brown patches in your lawn
As your lawn recovers from the winter chill and spring sees your lawn becoming greener, especially after your spring fertilising, keep an eye out for brown patches that stay brown. You can lift some of the grass in the patched and if lawn grubs are the culprit you’ll find that the grass will roll up like a carpet, as it has no roots.
African Black Beetle Larvae
Spongy lawn
A spongy lawn can also be a good indicator of grub activity.
[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFgXPKThd2M” width=”720″ height=”580″ title=”How to check for lawn grubs”]
Armyworm
Grub test
If you are unsure if you have grubs in your lawn, it is best to do a grub test. To do a grub test, mix a bucket of soapy water and pour it over the edge of an affected area (where the grass is brown or dry). Keep an eye on it and after about 10 minutes or so, usually if they are there, they will come up to the surface. This test is best done at dawn or dusk when they are most likely to be active.
How to treat lawn grubs
So how do you fix it? We recommend using a fast acting knock down insecticide like Lawn Solutions Battle Insecticide. Battle Insecticide is a powerful knockdown and residual pesticide that works through direct contact and by residual action as the pest comes into contact with treated surfaces.
Prevention
Unfortunately attack by these grubs can happen to any lawn and can occur numerous times during a season.
This is why we recommend Grub Guard Ultimate, Acelepryn GR, Acelepryn Liquid. Acelepryn provides safe and effective control of black beetle while minimising the impact on the environment and non-target organisms, such as bees and earthworms.
Acelepryn targets pests such as black beetle, stem weevil, cut worm and army worm. The great thing about Acelepryn in comparison to other pesticides, is that it’s preventative. This is why spring is a great time to spread it out and protect your lawn for up to six months.
ColourGuard is actually a natural plant-based colourant that allows your lawn to remain green all year round, even during droughts and extreme temperatures.
Benefits of using ColourGuard
1. Restores the natural green colour of your lawn – instantly!
2. Drastically reduces the need to water your lawn in periods of drought
3. Stays green for up to 3 months per application
4. Won’t wash off, run or stain
5. Completely safe for the environment, pets and people
6. 100% eco-friendly and non-toxic
ColourGuard has been developed to give you the best lawn in the street on drought, frost affected or dormant grass. It instantly restores the natural colour of your grass while at the same time increases your grass health.
What is ColourGuard?
ColourGuard is a natural organic grass treatment product that strengthens and protects grass under extreme conditions and instantly restores the colour. ColourGuard is the best option to re-introduce a green pigment back into the natural grass blades. This has been achieved through years of research, being proactive is key to healthy long living green lawn.
How to use ColourGuard
Attach your hose to the 2 Litre Ready To Use bottle, or mix the 100ml concentrate with water in a pressure sprayer as per the bottle instructions.
Spray evenly across your lawn, working from methodically from one side to another.
When spraying near hard surfaces like paths and driveways, stand on the surface and spray the ColourGuard away from the surface onto your lawn.
Leave your lawn to dry for at least 2 hours afterwards (if in full sunlight), or longer if it is shady.
Buy ColourGuard online
It’s easy to buy ColourGuard online direct from the Lawn Store, in two sizes:
Once ColourGuard has dried on the grass leaf in most cases within 2 hours provided there is full sunlight that day.
What happens if it rains?
Once the application has set into your lawn it will not wash ColourGuard away or cause any unwanted affect.
Can I mow my lawn after ColourGuard application?
Yes. Providing you don’t set the mower too low and scalp your lawn. ColourGuard is permanent and will disappear as the grass leaf grows. Mowing through winter is only to remove and clean up leaves and debris from your lawn.
Tip #1. Mow at the right height for your grass type
The proper height for mowing your lawn depends on your grass variety, season and growing conditions. Below is a rough guide for the correct mowing heights for the major different varieties of lawn grass:
Grass Variety
Lawn Mowing Height
Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo Grass
30-50mm
Sir Grange Zoysia Grass
10-50mm
TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda Grass
10-30mm
Eureka Kikuyu Grass
30-50mm
Platinum Zoysia Grass
20-30mm
Tip #2: Don’t mow your lawn too short
Don’t mow your lawn too short, as this can put your lawn under extreme stress. It can leave brown or bare looking patches on your lawn, and if cut too short regularly, can seriously deplete the lawn’senergy reserves and is an open invitation for weeds to invade and seed.
Tip #3: Reduce mowing height gradually
If your lawn is overgrown, gradually reduce it to the correct height over a few mows. Avoid taking too much off the leaf blade in one go as this can stress the grass and it may require additional irrigation to recover. Taking no more than one-third of the blade length each mow is a good general rule.
Tip #4: Mow your lawn regularly
Avoid long periods between mows – regular mowing is best. Keep in mind that your mowing routine may also need to change with the seasons. Sir Walter DNA Certified, for example, loves hot summers and will have vigorous growth during this time.
Tip #5: Keep your lawn mower blades sharp
Keep your mower well maintained; shape blades are crucial for a good cut. Blunt blades tend to tear, rather than cut the lawn.
Spring is an important time to fertilise, as your lawn breaks the winter dormancy. Your fertiliser application will assist the lawn to jump into growth as the weather warms up.
Fertilising your lawn in Summer
Summer fertilising helps your lawn maintain an even growth pattern. Most fertilisers have added minor nutrients, which work to give your lawn the correct balance of nutritional requirements to make you the envy of the street.
Fertilising your lawn in Autumn
Autumn fertilising prepares your lawn for the winter months. It encourages prolonged growth to ensure a thick coverage and extended colour. This application is the most important one of the year.
Soil types and lawn fertilisers
Everybody has different soil types and lawn fertilisers will work differently! In sandy soil fertilisers will leach very quickly, hence more applications to do the job. In a heavy clay soil your lawn fertiliser will last longer because of moister retention and slower water movement.
All lawn fertilisers work differently
Just to point out – all lawn fertilisers work differently, some require heaps of water when applied and give surge growth to your lawn, others are controlled release and require minimal water and work evenly over a longer period – they are my favourite!
What’s the best lawn fertiliser to use?
There are many types of lawn fertiliser available in the market – organic, chemically blended, slow release, liquids just to name a few – but my pick is Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser and here’s why: We like to apply a product that will spread easily and evenly, has low to no odour, requires minimal water, doesn’t make my lawn grow crazy overnight and gives even growth for an extended period of time. This fertiliser will keep your lawn in tiptop shape all year round.
Packed with both fast and slow-release granules with essential nutrients and trace elements to encourage strong growth and rich colour. Ideal for Sir Walter DNA Certified, TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda, Sir Grange Zoysia, Zoysia Australis, Eureka Kikuyu, and all other lawn types. Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser is ideal for home lawns, sports fields, and golf courses.
Once you have a reasonable amount of underlay levelled (we recommend 100mm), apply a starter fertiliser such as Lawn Launcher, this will encourage deeper root growth and really support your lawn in the establishment phase. See How To Lay Turf Part 2 for more about preparing the ground before lawn installation.
Start laying turf around the perimeter
If you are laying your turf on a slope, start at the bottom. Place your rolls or slabs of turf around the perimeter of the area and lay between the perimeter. Stagger the joints in a brickwork fashion to avoid erosion and butt the turf closely together to avoid gaps – this is where your turf can dry out and cause a patchy lawn.
Don’t throw turf offcuts away
When cutting is required use a sharp knife of shears, but don’t throw these off cuts away. When you have finished laying you will probably find there are a few unusual spaces to fill and these bits are perfect for that.
Water your new lawn as soon as possible
Water as soon as possible. If you are laying a large lawn, try and water as you go – especially on a hot day. If you have access to a roller, we recommend rolling the lawn to ensure good root contact with the soil.
All Lawn Solutions Centres are run by accredited resellers backed by our extensive network of growers and producers, as well as our extensive research and development program. They are committed to upholding the stringent standards that the entire Lawn Solutions Australia network strives for, and delivering a professional, industry best service. Whether you need a measure and quote, installation services or just advice on the best grass for your lawn, your local Lawn Solutions Centre will be able to help. To complement this, all our centres offer premium lawn care products to make sure your lawns looks great all year round.
Get the best results for your lawn
Not sure what product will give you the best results for your lawn? We’ve done the legwork for you. The team behind the Lawn Solutions Centres have put their vast, collective knowledge together and come up with the best products on the market. From your local Lawn Solutions Centre you can purchase quick and slow release fertilisers, weed control, pest control, fungicides and everything else you need to keep your lawn looking the best in the street. They even have the best-selling Lawn Launcher – the perfect way to establish a new lawn and ensure that you are laying the foundations for a lawn for life.
160 locations Australia wide
At over 160 locations Australia wide, there’s bound to be a Lawn Solutions Centre near you – take the guess work out of your lawn care products and visit a Lawn Solutions Centre today.
