Sarah, Author at Lawn Solutions Australia

The Low-Down on Liquids | Liquid Fertiliser Products

Posted on September 27, 2024June 19, 2026 by Sarah

Are you looking to add liquid fertilisers to your lawn care schedule? While there are so many different options available, we break it down and have a look at our favourite.

Skip to: Seasonal transition and foliar nutrition, Condition soil and boost health, Aid in plant strength & colour retention

Liquid fertilisers are commonly formulated to assist in seasonal transition or to promote a quick boost in colour, with others aimed at reducing heat stress or enhancing plant and soil health.

[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQbGdHgmPAs&t=69s” width=”720″ height=”580″ title=”The Low Down on Lawn Liquids”]

Exceed Foliar Fertiliser – Seasonal Transition & Foliar Nutrient

Foliar fertilisers in liquid form are products that are absorbed by the leaf of the grass when applied. These types of fertilisers are ideal for correcting nutrient deficiencies quickly. They will also address stress-related issues or for a general boost to overall health.

Exceed Liquid Fertiliser is a premium, professional-grade foliar fertiliser. Liquid fertilisers like Exceed will provide a much quicker response from your grass than a granular fertiliser. The key nutrients like Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium are almost immediately available when absorbed through the roots or leaves rather than through the soil.

Granular fertilisers are still very important for seasonal application particularly in spring and autumn. But a liquid like Exceed is great when a boost is required during seasonal transition, before a renovation or when a quick improvement is required for the health of your lawn.

Lawn Kelper – Condition Soil and Boost Health

Seaweed or kelp is a very popular form of organic fertiliser and soil conditioner. It can play an important role in your lawn care routine, particularly during the warmer months.

Lawn Kelper is a liquid nutrient package with trace minerals like manganese and zinc. It is designed specifically for lawns to increase turf vigour, stimulate leaf growth, and to strengthen roots.

Your soil’s health plays a significant role in the success of your lawn. Incorporating soil conditioners like Kelp into your lawn care routine will go a long way to enriching your soil.

Iron Guard – Aid in plant strength & Colour retention

Lawns need iron because it plays a crucial role in the process of photosynthesis. Iron is a micronutrient that aids in the production of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is green pigment in plants responsible for absorbing sunlight and converting it into energy. Without sufficient iron, lawns can develop chlorosis, a condition where leaves turn yellow.

Iron Guard Plus is a turfgrass-enhancing bio-stimulant that contains iron and amino acids. It will help maximise turfgrass colour retention and promote lateral growth, making it ideal for improved winter dormancy transition.

If you are looking to use it for the first time or if you want to use it regularly as part of a lawn care program, it’s best to apply at a lower rate.

When applying liquid fertilisers, like all products, it is best to ensure you read the label instructions and apply as per the specific application rates provided. By doing so, you will ensure the product and your lawn perform to their full potential.

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

Ultimate Guide to a Successful Lawn Renovation

Posted on September 27, 2024October 28, 2025 by Sarah

Are you wanting to renovate your lawn this spring? In this blog, we go through the steps that you need to take, plus our favourite tips and tricks to get the best results.

Skip to: Should I Remove Lawn Weeds Before or After Renovating My Lawn? When Should I Renovate My Lawn? How Do I Dethatch and Scalp My Lawn? How Do I Top Dress My Lawn? What Products Should I Use When Renovating Your Lawn?

[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQDQ6TtEWGw” width=”720″ height=”580″ title=”Trial Plot Lawn Renovation at Lawn Solutions HQ”]

Should I Remove Lawn Weeds Before or After Renovating My Lawn?

For best results, we recommend removing weeds before commencing your scalp/dethatch. If only a few weeds are present, the best and easiest way to remove them is to pull them out by hand. Alternatively, you can look at using a targeted herbicide.

To remove common broadleaf weeds like Clover, Bindii, and Oxalis, we recommend using a broadleaf herbicide like All Purpose Weed Control.

When Should I Renovate My Lawn?

Although it is tempting to start renovating your lawn after the first warm day in spring, it is best to wait until temperatures are consistently warmer. But what does this mean? Well, you need to wait till your lawn is consistently growing. This is once you have noticed that the grass needs to be mown regularly. By doing this, you are ensuring that the grass will be able to repair itself quicker and, therefore, get your renovation results sooner.

Before commencing your renovation, we recommend looking at your region’s extended forecast. See if any potential cold snaps could impact your lawn during its recovery period.

How Do I Dethatch and Scalp My Lawn?

When dethatching and scalping your lawn, it is important to know what type of lawn you have to avoid damaging your turf.

Kikuyu and Couch lawns can be scalped and dethatched more aggressively than other turf types as they have a strong underground rhizome from which they can repair. With Zoysia grasses, we recommend dethatching and scarifying lightly as zoysia is a slow grower. With Buffalo grasses, as they mainly grow by their above-ground runner system, it is best only lightly to dethatch and scarify. You will need to ensure that there are still the above ground runners in tack for the grass to repair from.

How Do I Aerate My Lawn?

Aerating your lawn is a great way to help bring air, water and nutrients back into your soil’s profile. Aerating can be done in a few different ways, including aerator sandals, garden fork, tyne aerator, and for larger areas, often a motorised aerator is used.

When aerating with a garden fork or tyne aerator, drive the fork down into the soil profile. With a tyne aerator, the tynes should eject soil to the surface. With a garden fork, give the fork a good wiggle to help decompact the surrounding soil. Repeat this process across the lawn, around 10cm apart.

How Do I Top Dress My Lawn?

When top-dressing your lawn, we recommend ensuring the top of the leaf blade is still popping through. It is important not to go too heavy and completely smother the grass, as it can deprive the lawn of sunlight and oxygen.

When choosing your top-dressing material, it is important to consider your goals. Are you top-dressing to improve the levels of the lawn and correct any depressions? Or do you want to improve the soil profile? If you want to perfect your lawn’s levels, we recommend using a washed or screened river sand. If you are wanting to improve the soil profile, a sandy loam with 80% sand and 20% loam is ideal.

What Products Should I Use When Renovating Your Lawn?

With all lawn renovations, it is recommended to apply fertiliser to help boost the turf’s growth while the lawn is being repaired. We recommend using a granular fertiliser, something like our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser is ideal.

This time of year is also ideal to get your prevention products down now. To help prevent the growth and spread of seasonal grassy weeds like Summer Grass, Crab Grass, and Crowsfoot, we recommend applying Oxafert or Oxafert Plus. Both of these products will help stop the germination of weed seedlings before they become a problem in your lawn.

Now is also ideal for getting your application of an Acelepryn powered insecticide like Grub Guard Ultimate. Grub Guard Ultimate, powered by Acelepryn delivers excellent preventative control against a large range of damage causing pests, including African Black Beetle, Armyworm and Argentine Stem Weevil.

Following your renovation, ensure you are irrigating the lawn regularly while it is vulnerable, especially if you do happen to encounter a few hot days following your renovation.

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

How to Patch Up Bare Areas with New Turf

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

Does your lawn have big bare patches of dirt, and do you want to find the best and quickest way to get turf growing there again? In this blog, we look at the best way to fix bare patches in your lawn.

Skip to: How big is the bare patch in your lawn? Matching your new piece of turf with your existing lawn, Preparing your area for new turf, Repairing bare patches with new turf, How do I care for new turf?

How Big is the Bare Patch in Your Lawn?

Generally, if your bare patch is larger than an A4-size piece of paper, it is best to use a roll/slab of turf to patch up the lawn. This will be a much more efficient and quicker method to get your lawn looking its best.

If your bare patch is smaller than an A4 piece of paper, it is best to encourage the surrounding grass to grow and spread back over. For more information on how to do this, please check out our blog here.

Matching Your New Piece of Turf with Your Existing Lawn

In order to get the most seamless match to your existing lawn, you firstly need to know what type of grass your main lawn is. When identifying your lawn type, you will need to look closely at the runner of the grass and analyse the grasses leaf and stolon structure. If you don’t know what to look for when examining your turf, check out our handy grass identification video here or our blog here.

If you are still unsure what type of grass your main lawn type is, get in contact with us or your local turf supplier for an identification.

Preparing the Area for Turf

To prepare the area for turf, you will first need to rake out any of the dry or dead plant material that is currently there. If there are any weeds growing there, you will need to remove them as well. Either pull these out by hand or look at removing them with a non-selective herbicide like Roundup or Zero. When preparing the area, try to make the patch as square as possible to make installing the turf as easy as possible.

Following this, turn over the soil base with a garden fork to help decompact the soil profile. Then if you need to raise the soil levels, bring in some new sandy loam or turf underlay mix.

Repairing the Bare Patch with Turf

After preparing the area, get in contact with your local Lawn Solutions Australia member and pick up the amount of turf you need.

Once you have picked up your turf, it is best to install it as soon as possible. This will prevent the turf from drying out, especially if doing this on a hot day.

Cut the turf to the required size and shape, then lay it over your prepared area. If you have any leftover soil, you can use this and lightly top dress around the joins between your existing turf and the new grass. Water in the turf well, as you would a new lawn.

How Do I Care for the New Turf?

For the next few weeks as the new turf establishes, ensure you are watering regularly to help prevent the roots of the grass from drying out.

For your first mow, it is best to wait till it has had a chance to establish its roots down into the soil base before mowing. You can test if your turf has grown into the soil by gently pulling up a corner of the new turf. If the turf does not lift, it is ready for a mow.

Over the coming weeks post-installation, your new turf patch will be able to knit together with your existing lawn. Ensure you are mowing the area regularly and keep up with regular lawn maintenance to get the most out of your lawn.

For more lawn care tips and advice, make sure you 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.

10 Facts About Grass You Probably Didn’t Know

Posted on August 19, 2024May 26, 2025 by Sarah

Grass is all around us — in our parks, around our homes, and even in the fields where our food is grown. But how much do you really know about it? Take this turfgrass trivia challenge and find out which fun facts you already know — and which ones might surprise you!

Fact 1 – 1 Acre of Grass (4,047m2) Will Supply Enough Oxygen for 64 People a Day!

This accounts to 63m2 creating enough oxygen for one person per day (Maryland Agricultural Statics Service). This is far greater than trees, where 1 acre will produce enough oxygen for 18 people per day (Growing Air Foundation).

Fact 2 – Wheat is a Type of Grass!

Wheat, the most widely grown crop in the world is actually a type of grass! All grains, including rice, corn and oats are all examples of different grass types.

Fact 3 – The Leaf of Grass is Made up of Around 75% – 85% Water

Grass is mostly made up of water! This is similar to selected veggies and other plants, with lettuce up to 96% water, celery and tomatoes being 95% water and cauliflower 92% water.

Fact 4 – The Temperature on a Natural Green Lawn in Summer Can Be 10 Degrees Less than Bare Soil, 20 Degrees Less than Asphalt, Concrete or Pebbles and 40 Degrees Less than Synthetic Grass!

You want your home to be as cool as possible on hot summer days. A natural turf surface can significantly help cool your home! On a 28-degree day in Sydney, a synthetic sports field measured a whopping 88 degrees, posing serious health hazards (Turf Australia).

Fact 5 – There are Currently 11,500 Accepted Species of Grass.

Another estimated 1,500 species of grass taxonomists (biologists who group organisms into categories) have yet to be added to this list as it is still considered a work in progress (National Museum of Natural History).

Fact 6 – Zoysia Grasses Have More Genetic Diversity that a Plant Breeder Can Use to Create New Grasses Compared to Other Grasses like Buffalo.

Zoysia grasses have around 600 unique Zoysia plants that have been collected from across the world. These 600 grasses are used as the foundation for breeding new Zoysia grasses. Whereas buffalo grasses have around 30-40 plants to create new buffalo grasses.

Fact 7 – Pink Flamingos Are the Most Popular Lawn Decoration

Did you know that around 250,000 pink flamingo lawn decorations are sold each year? Although these are not a common decoration here in Australia, they are more commonly found on lawns across the United States.

Fact 8 – Frank J. Scott Wrote the First Lawn Care Book in 1870

The first lawn care book, The Art of Beautifying a Suburban Home Grounds, was written by Frank J. Scott, in New York, USA. This book has more recently been selected by scholars as being culturally significant, therefore it has been preserved, reproduced and is generally available to the public.

Fact 9 – Grass Grows on Every Continent, including Antarctica!

Yes, even grass grows in Antarctica! One of the main grasses growing in the cool regions of the Antarctic Circle is Deschampsia antarctica, more commonly known as Antarctic Hair Grass.

Fact 10 – TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda Was Hand Selected Out of Almost 30,000 Different Bermuda Turf Varieties

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda was bred by one of the world’s leading turfgrass breeders, the University of Georgia. This grass was chosen out of almost 30,000 other grasses due to its superior qualities in drought tolerance, shade tolerance, wear tolerance, and winter colour. TifTuf is also the only turfgrass in Australia to be awarded with the Smart Approved Watermark. This award is for its superior drought tolerance, needing on average 38% less water than other turf varieties.

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

How to Avoid Burning Your Lawn

Posted on August 14, 2024May 26, 2025 by Sarah

Did you know that there is such a thing as giving your lawn a little too much love? We take a look at how lawn care products affect your lawn and how to avoid burning your lawn.

Skip to: How to avoid burning my lawn with fertiliser? How to avoid burning my lawn when using herbicides? How to use non selective herbicides? How do I help my lawn recover after burning it?

How to Avoid Burning My Lawn with Fertiliser

Fertilisers are one of the main culprits of burns on your lawn. When using fertilisers, it is always best to follow all application instructions and apply the correct amount of product to your area size.

Granular fertilisers often need to be applied to a dry lawn and then watered in so that the granule is washed into the lawn’s profile. When using granular fertilisers, apply the granules to the area evenly. Using a fertiliser spreader will assist with this.

When using liquid fertilisers, the main cause of burning can be overapplying products to your area. Ensure you know how big your lawn area is and measure how much product is required for your space. When using a hose on product, check the area size it covers and apply it to the whole space.

How Can I Avoid Burning My Lawn When Using Herbicides?

When using herbicides on your lawn, there are a few steps you can take to avoid burning from occurring. Before purchasing a product, check the label to ensure it is safe for your lawn type. Some herbicides are not safe for all lawns.

Another common cause of burns is applying too much product, this can be done in multiple ways. Before application, make sure you know the area size you want to treat and mix your herbicide accordingly. If using a hose on product, ensure you apply it across the whole lawn and not just concentrated to where the weed is growing, as this can cause burns to the grass underneath.

How to Use Non-Selective Herbicides

As the name suggests, non-selective herbicides like Roundup and Zero with the active ingredient Glyphosate will target all plant material that they touch, including your lawn. This means when using them, you will need to be very careful where you spray and even when walking over sprayed areas.

These herbicides are best used to completely remove all plant material in areas where you are looking to completely renovate or treat weeds in paved or concrete areas. However, if there is a weed growing in your lawn and no selective herbicide is available for its removal, you may have to use a non-selective herbicide. When this is the case, the best application method is to carefully apply the non-selective herbicide with a weed wand or small paint brush for an accurate application.

When non-selective herbicides are not carefully applied, they can also kill off the surrounding grass.

How Do I Help My Lawn Recover from a Burn?

If your lawn has become burnt, there are a few things you can do to help it recover.

What should I do if a burn has just occurred on my lawn?

If a burn has just occurred, the most important thing to do is water the lawn well. This will help wash away excess product and encourage new growth. Following this, keep up with regular mowing to stimulate new growth.

What should I do if I have killed a patch of grass?

The first thing to consider is the size of the area. If the patch is smaller than an A4-size piece of paper, the surrounding grass should be able to grow and spread back over it. If the area is larger than this, you may need to use a turf roll to patch up the lawn for a faster recovery. Please check out our Repairing Bare Patches blog for more information here.

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

Game On: Woodburn Sports Fields Rise from Floodwaters

Posted on August 9, 2024November 13, 2024 by Sarah

WITH CLARENCE VALLEY TURF

Clarence Valley Sports Fields Maintenance is a part of the Clarence Valley Turf Farm owned by Travis and Helen Stone, located in Seelands via Grafton NSW. The company was employed by the Richmond Valley Shire Council to refurbish parks and sports fields located in Casino and Woodburn, NSW. These areas were decimated by the floods in the Northern Rivers area in February and March 2022, having a severe effect on the sports fields in the area.

The flooding experienced in Woodburn was like nothing that had come before, it was much higher than a one-in-five hundred- year event. The residents quickly moved to higher ground, but the waters continued to rise. There were stories of some individuals having to shelter in the dark on the local bridge with the full force of flood waters surging around them, before the immense relief when a small group of boats found them and took them to safety. Woodburn

School provided shelter for hundreds of locals who waited many days for the water to recede and access roads to open again. The devastating effect of the flood was considerable, with 154 properties in Woodburn being damaged, along with community buildings, infrastructure, and local businesses pertinent to employment in the region. With damage to so many homes, Woodburn had a long journey of rebuilding in front of them. Once the waters had receded, the council quickly established a Recovery Advisory Group to work with residents and support the recovery, along with the support of the Australian Defence Force personnel who came to help with the clean-up.

Such a large volume of water had a devastating effect on the region’s local sporting infrastructure. This inundation led to the deterioration of the playing surface at Woodburn Oval, causing undulations, cracks and compaction issues that significantly compromised its usability. Consequently, there was a need for levelling to address these unsafe undulations and resurfacing to rectify surface imperfections, invasive weeds, and grasses to create a uniform surface. This restoration process involved the decompaction and working over of the soil profile, topdressing, slight levelling/shaping of the playing surface and laying new turf.

Woodburn flooding: Woodburn oval

Despite interruptions due to rain, the Clarence Valley Sports Field team were able to complete the preparation and repair of the soil over eight days ready for brand-new turf to be installed on the newly levelled surface. Over four days a team of turf layers installed 8,250m2 of TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda turf, bringing the field back to prime condition for residents and visitors. The one-in-five hundred-year flood might have destroyed the sports field, but a team of qualified professionals from Clarence Valley Sports Fields Maintenance were able to bring it back to life within a matter of days.

Casino flooding: Queen Elizabeth Park

Floodwaters also inundated the main street of Casino at Queen Elizabeth Park on Monday, February 28th, following days of incessant rainfall. Evacuations were initiated in low-lying areas as flash floods persisted, prompting the river to breach its banks. An emergency shelter was set up at Casino High School, with volunteers offering aid such as meals, warm clothing, and blankets to evacuees. As water encroached upon shops along Walker Street, volunteers assisted in fortifying entrances with sandbags and relocating stock and equipment to higher ground. By Tuesday morning, water levels began to recede, revealing wandering cattle in the town, which were promptly gathered by council rangers. The subsequent cleanup commenced, with many shops reopening by Wednesday and cleanup crews removing debris from local residences. Approximately 270 properties incurred damage, along with local sports facilities, roads, and infrastructure. The force of the floodwaters resulted in severe erosion of the riverbank, uprooting trees and destroying years of habitat restoration efforts.

The remediation of Queen Elizabeth Park commenced with a request from the council for the flood-affected grass areas to be also repaired through the installation of TifTuf. Clarence Valley staff administered pre-emergent herbicides and controlled- release fertilisers before sprigging TifTuf across an 8,500m2 area, followed by rolling and watering the park upon completion of the project.

Despite the challenges posed by the flooding across the region, the restoration efforts stand as a testament to the resilience and determination of the community, recognising the importance of rebuilding and revitalising recreational space for the community.