With the rise and interest in the good old Australian lawn these days we see more and more people everyday wanting to take their first steps into lawn care.

Welcome to lawn care

Lawns in Australia are a part of our DNA they are as iconic as the Hills Hoist and the mighty Holden. At some point, of our lives we can all recall something memorable that happened outside on the lawn whether it was the famous backyard cricket test match as a kid or as simple as helping to wash the car to spending time with the family rolling and running around and just having fun, it is this space that creates a calming affect for one and all.

Lawn care can be seen as a daunting process as not everyone was born with the so-called "green thumb". Yet it doesn’t have to be as everyone has a different idea or plan of the goals they want to achieve and remember at some stage we all started in the same position right here as a beginner.

As with any job or task we set for ourselves it always pays to take a step back first and access the situation and put and plan in place, this is where we do our research and ask the relevant questions so we can start the transition of that grassed area and turn it into a lawn.

Now before you race out and buy this and that “willy-nilly” your first step is to identify your turf variety. There are many different turf varieties available these days and this can determine as to what products you actually purchase and apply, if you are unsure by all means simply send us some close up photos to info@lawnpride.com.au and the LawnPride team will assist in identifying what variety or varieties you have.

Once your turf variety or varieties have been determined you are now on your way to learning all the basics in lawn care. Lawn care is not a race, as a beginner, baby steps are the best way forward and you will thank us in the long run.

What are these baby steps? These are the simple yet key elements or factors in building the foundation of a healthy lawn.

Mowing

Some see mowing as a chore yet as a beginner and wanting to achieve those goals you have set, you will have to learn to get over this and get acquainted with your trusted mower as this becomes the most important practice when looking at maintaining your lawn.

There is no better feeling than standing back and looking at a lawn that has a fresh cut but there are some simple points to be aware of. Before we fire up the mower and get into it take a step back and access the overall condition of your mower, take into account oil levels, check for fuel leaks and ensure your mowing blades are sharp and in good condition.

Regular mowing is not just about maintaining a desired height, regular mowing also assists in turf health and increases density giving you that lusher look over time. Determining your height of cut is dependent on your variety, as some varieties of turf prefer to be mown taller than others. Couch can be mown at very low heights where Buffalo varieties do prefer to be mown higher for example.

To help determine your height there is a rule that when mowing never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf as this will minimise risk of scalping and ensure your lawn still looks aesthetically pleasing.

How to pick the best mowing height for your lawn.

Watering

Just like the human body, your lawn as you know is a living plant and just like us requires to be hydrated if not it will appear tired and run down. Watering is just as important as mowing as you want to ensure you have adequate moisture content available to your lawn to survive.

The amount and time you water is purely based around the weather elements and your location as some lawns will require more watering than others and this can be a learning experience itself.

When watering, short sharp waters are frowned upon as they help create a shallow rooted plant with regular and deep watering preferred the lawn will amass a larger more vigorous root mass which is far more beneficial.

Watering in the morning far out ways any other part of the day, the reason for this is watering early reduces evaporation rates and allows you to have a dry lawn heading into the night, as excess water on the lawn at this time can lead to heightened disease pressures.

Maintaining moisture levels in your lawn.

Weeds

As a beginner it is safe to say you may have a degree of weed content contaminating your lawn which is a common issue with most. Weeds can come in all shapes and sizes and the best place to start here is again identifying the weed as this will determine your method of control.

Weed control these days has been made a lot easier due to a wide range of herbicides available that will cater for both broadleaf and grass weeds although it does pay to read the label as not all herbicides may suit your variety.

When using herbicides or any product for that matter ensure you read the label carefully, as it will list all the requirements of you as the purchaser to perform the task safely, if you’re not confident in using chemicals don’t forget hand weeding is also an option.

Guide to weed control in your lawn.

Fertilising

To achieve good health, you need good nutrition, and this is the same for your lawn. A slow-release granular fertiliser with the right nutritional inputs to suit your turf variety will have your lawn stepping in the right direction, with timing of these applications best performed when the lawn is actively growing or by way of a tailored program.

Gone are the days of throwing fertiliser out by hand, by using a dedicated fertiliser spreading device you will ensure your fertiliser application is uniform thus giving you the best results, as always follow the directions outlined on the product and your lawn will be singing in no time.

How to apply fertiliser.

Get started on your lawn journey

Giving your lawn a new lease on life isn’t that difficult, with these simple steps you will be able to transition grass to a lawn sooner than you expect.