Sarah, Author at Lawn Solutions Australia

Get the Jump on Winter Grass Weeds

Posted on March 31, 2021February 17, 2026 by Sarah

Winter Grass Weeds

Winter Grass & Rye Grass

An invading weed or grass species during the cooler months can be a real nuisance and undo all the hard work you put into getting your lawn looking superb during the warmer months. Here are two of the most common culprits that appear during this time and what you can do to remove them from your lawn.

Skip to: Winter Grass, Rye Grass, Treatment for Winter Grass and Rye Grass That Has Already Appeared, Timing and Application Variation, Mixing and Compatibility.

Winter Grass

The dreaded Winter Grass, also known as Poa annua. This prolific seeding grass that grows in tufts is prevalent in many lawns throughout the cooler months and can be quite a handful to eradicate. If you have an invasion of Winter Grass, you will definitely want to treat it before it germinates. If you allow it to drop its seeds, next winter it will be back, twice as badly as it was the previous year. A good plan of attack is to treat it as soon as it appears before it goes to seed, with Winter Grass Killer post emergent herbicide. Selective Winter Grass control in Blue Couch, Common Couch, Brent, Buffalo (including Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo) and Brown top Lawns. Cannot be used on kikuyu lawns.

Hand chipping the tufts out as you see them appear will also help to manage any continued emergence.

Another great way to get on top of Winter Grass weeds is through prevention. Applying a pre-emergent herbicide like Oxafert will help to stop Winter Grass before it even emerges from the soil. By acting with a combination of both pre- and post-emergent treatments you will get on top of the Winter Grass infestation a lot quicker and significantly reduce any existing Winter Grass seed bank that has developed within the soil over time.

oxafert preemergent — Oxafert Pre Emergent Herbicide

Oxafert 3kg – Treats up to 100m2

Oxafert Plus 20kg – Treats up to 660m2

Ryegrass

Ryegrass is a cool season, seeded grass variety. In the cooler months it can appear or be oversown into warm season turf varieties, particularly in the more southern states. Some people like to embrace it during the cooler months for some added green, but it will make for a very inconsistent lawn and lead to more mowing throughout winter. Ryegrass can be difficult to control in turf as it transitions out with the weather heating up.

There are a couple of ways to transition ryegrass, one is reducing water as the weather heats up and the other is using commercially available options including Tribute, Ferris WG Herbicide, Monument and Destiny Herbicides.

[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npl4cBX-Law&t=10s” title=”Winter Grass Weeds”]

Treatment for Ryegrass and Winter Grass weeds that have already appeared

Ferris WG Herbicide

Ferris WG Herbicide is safe for use on couch, kikuyu, and most buffalo varieties. This herbicide can also be used to remove broadleaf weeds including Bindii, Black Thistle, Catsear, Cotula, Cudweed, Guildford (Onion) Grass, Medic, Mouse Ear Chickweed, Oxalis, White Clover, Onion Weed and False Onion Weeds. Duke will also remove other grass weeds including Rye Grass, Winter Grass (Suppression), Bahia, grass (suppression and seedhead reduction).

Monument Herbicide

Monument Liquid Herbicide can be used as a post-emergent herbicide on various warm season turf species. Monument Herbicide is highly effective in controlling Poa annua, Ryegrass, Kikuyu (suppression only), sedges and a wide spectrum of broadleaf weeds:

Burr Medic
Bindii
Ryegrass
Winter Grass
Catsear
Chickweed
Clover
Cotula
Creeping Oxalis
Curled Dock
Milk Thistle
Mullumbimby Couch
Nutgrass

Monument is safe to use on the following warm season grass varieties:

Common Couch
Durban Grass
Hybrid Couch
Queensland Blue Couch
Zoysia

DO NOT USE on Kikuyu, Buffalo, Fescue, Ryegrass, Bent Grass or any other grass not listed above.

Monument Herbicide is a complete couch solution for Poa annua control when used in combination with Barricade Pre-Emergent.

Application Timing and Rate Variation

Monument delivers long lasting herbicidal action with follow-up applications rarely needed, unless targeting an unwanted kikuyu infestation.

Autumn applications for Kikuyu suppression should ideally be applied around the end of March and repeated at the end of April. Applications to control
Poa annua or Ryegrass should ideally be made when these weeds are still actively growing and not towards the end of the growing cycle when plants are alive but not actively growing. Active weed growth =systemic xylem and phloem movement essential for systemic herbicide action.

Application by thoroughly covering the leaves and shoots is best, it can then be washed off the leaves and into the soil to promote root uptake for complete systemic action.

Mixing and Compatibility

Monument mixes completely with water and produces a homogenous easy to apply suspension. Be sure to observe the mixing instruction with regards to water pH and the addition of a non-ionic surfactant.

Users of this product MUST make an accurate written record of the details of each spray application within 24 hours following application and keep this record for a minimum 2 years. Make sure you thoroughly read the label before use for all other details and ensure correct application rates are applied. If you are inexperienced in the usage of these sort of products, we recommend that you contact a local licensed spraying expert for application.

Monument Liquid Turf Herbicide 100ml is available on the Lawn Store here.

The Wide World of Turf

Posted on March 31, 2021May 30, 2023 by Sarah

Let’s take a look at some of the main varieties of grasses from around the world…

Did you know there are over 10,000 different types of grasses found across the world? With hundreds of thousands of variations found within these different types and genus.

Many of us know some of the main varieties of grasses that feature in Australian lawns. Buffalo Grass, Kikuyu Grass and Couch Grass being the three most common that we see in the majority of home lawns and public areas across the country. With many other native grasses that can be found across the landscape and bushland areas as well.

But what about the rest of the world? What grasses do they have for their lawns? Do they grow kikuyu in England? Do the Americans have buffalo grass?

Asia

The Asian continent covers a large area and as result experiences a vast range of climate conditions. Grasses most synonymous with Asia include the group of grasses known as Zoysia’s. These grasses thrive in hot conditions, particularly in East Asia with the temperate and tropical climate.

Common grasses of the Zoysia Grass genus include – Japonica (Korean Grass or Japanese Lawngrass), Matrella (Manila Grass) and Macrantha (prickly couch). Many of these grasses have also found their way to Australia with similar climate conditions experienced here.

Centipede Grass is another grass variety also found in Asia native to Southern China. Like many of the zoysia’s, Centipede Grass grows quite slowly and doesn’t require frequent mowing.

The USA

The USA, like Asia, experiences significant differences in climate from the north to the south, which has also led to a large variety of grasses being used for lawns. In addition to this, the USA has taken a leading role in developing and breeding new turf varieties, primarily stemming from the performance needs of their highly competitive sports industry.

Some of the common grasses you might see in USA lawns include:

Kentucky Blue Grass (KBG) is a cool season grass type that performs well in the more northern states and has an admired blue-green colour. While Kentucky is known as the Bluegrass state, KBG is actually native to northern Asia and parts of Europe.

Bermuda Grass (Couch Grass) is a warm season grass commonly used in the more southern states and performs well in over 100 countries within tropical and subtropical climates. Bermuda grass is known for its hard wearing, fine leaf and is commonly used on sports fields as well as home lawns.

St Augustine (Buffalo Grass) is a thick, broad leaf, warm season grass well known for high shade tolerance and weed resistance. St Augustine primarily grows best in the south-eastern USA states including Texas, and also in Mexico and South America.

Other grasses commonly found in US lawns include Perennial Ryegrass, Zoysia Grass, Bahia Grass, Fescue and Seashore Paspalum.

Europe

When you think of Europe you primarily think of the cold climate areas that for many months of the year experience snow and frost. These areas almost exclusively will feature lawns of the cool season grass varieties. Those that grow best in colder conditions like Fescue and Ryegrass. In fact, it’s common for a blend of these cool season varieties be used together in the same lawn.

Common cool season grasses found across Europe include:

Creeping Red Fescue, Ryegrass, Common Bentgrass, Annual Meadowgrass and Brown-top Bent Grass.

Africa

Kikuyu grass that is also found in Australia was originally from the highland regions of East Africa and named after the Kikuyu tribe. Kikuyu is still the most popular lawn variety in many African countries, with another indigenous grass known as LM grass.

LM Grass has other common names you might recognise including Durban Grass and Sweet Smother Grass. LM Grass has a creeping growth habit like kikuyu, but it grows much less invasively. Other warm season grasses like buffalo and couch are also prevalent in many African countries.

Lawn Solutions Australia researches and develops turf varieties, grasses from around the world, suitable to thrive in the Australian climate. With long-loved favourites like Sir Walter DNA Certified soft leaf buffalo and newer options like TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda (Couch grass) and Sir Grange Zoysia (Zoysia Matrella).

If you are looking to choose a new grass for your lawn, check out our helpful turf selector here.

‘Lawn-Weekend’ Fertilising Tip

Posted on March 31, 2021April 1, 2026 by Sarah

We share a helpful fertilising tip that will remind you when to fertilise your lawn!

Skip to: Fertilising Tip for Autumn, Fertilising Tip for Spring, Fertilising Tip for Summer, What Should I Fertilise With? How to Apply a Granular Fertiliser? Should I Fertilise My Lawn in Winter?

But first, why should I fertilise my lawn?

Fertilisers contain a mix of essential nutrients that your lawn needs to stay healthy and thrive. As our soils usually don’t contain all these nutrients a fertiliser is required.

By giving your lawn a boost of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, the lawn will be able to grow faster, will improve in colour, have better root establishment, and improve the health of your lawn.

Fertilising your lawn at specific times of the year will allow you to see the full benefit and nutrient uptake. We recommend fertilising your lawn 3 to 4 times a year.

Fertilising Tip for Autumn

A fertilise in autumn will help your lawn repair from stresses over summer and repair itself faster. Fertilising now will also help prepare your lawn for the cooler months by extending your lawns colouring and encouraging growth.

In most areas you can use the Easter long weekend as a guide as to when to fertilise your lawn enters the cooler months in its best health.

Fertilising Tip for Spring

Spring is another important time to fertilise as the grass will start to grow faster as the weather begins to warm up. When fertilising in spring, timing is key! Apply too early and you won’t get the full benefit of the nutrient uptake of an actively growing lawn. Your lawn will start to actively grow when soil temperatures rise above 14 degrees Celsius. However, it is not until the soil temperature is consistently this for it to be actively growing.

We recommend using the October long weekend as a guide for when this is most likely to happen. For Western Australia, Victoria, Northern Territory and Tasmania who celebrate Labour Day earlier in the year, use early October as a guide.

Fertilising in Summer

Fertilising in summer will help your lawn maintain an even growth pattern. Summer fertilising will help your lawn improve its colour and will help reduce stress caused to your lawn over the hotter months.

We recommend using the Australia Day long weekend as a guide to fertilising your lawn in summer.

What should I fertilise with?

When fertilising we suggest using a slow-release granular fertiliser such as Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser. A slow-release fertiliser will release a small amount of nutrients over a longer period for a more consistent nutrient uptake.

We also suggest using a granular fertiliser as they are easy to apply to the lawn either by hand or using a fertiliser spreader.

When using granular fertiliser, it is important to make sure that you water the granules in really well into the soil profile to help avoid leaf burn.

How to apply a granular fertiliser

When using a granular fertiliser, it is important to avoid over fertilising your lawn and spread the granules evenly throughout.

To ensure you are not over fertilising your lawn, read and follow the application rate on the product you are using. Then you will need to measure out how much of the product you will need for your lawn size.

To you spread fertiliser evenly, we recommend using a fertiliser spreader. This will help stop over fertilising areas which can result in uneven growth and colouring. It is best to use a systematic approach of walking back and forth to cover the area evenly.

Do I need to fertilise in winter?

When choosing a fertiliser for winter, you need to look at what your lawn needs to stay healthy in the cooler months. The key components to look out for when fertilising in winter are Potassium and Iron. Potassium will aid in the plants’ cell function and strength. Iron will help improve leaf colour and strength. If you are needing to apply an Iron based product, we recommend Iron Guard Plus.

If you have fertilised in autumn and prepared your lawn well for the cooler months, your lawn can go without a fertilise till spring. However, if you haven’t, you can fertilise in winter. For fertilising in winter, we recommend using a liquid fertiliser that will be absorbed by the leaf of the grass, something like our Exceed Liquid Fertiliser. Exceed Fertiliser is available in a 2.5L Concentrate and a 2L Hose-On.

ColourGuard Plus

ColourGuard Plus is a natural grass pigment that contains a liquid fertiliser component. This will instantly improve your lawns colour for up to 3 months, while giving the lawn a fertilise at the same time.

For more information, check out our other fertilising blogs here.