FAQs - Maintaining your Lawn
Maintaining your Lawn
Establishing a new lawn requires careful planning, preparation, and patience to ensure successful growth and long-term health.
1. CHOOSE: Start by selecting the right turf variety for your climate, soil type, and intended use of the lawn.
2. PREPARE: Prepare the soil by removing weeds, rocks, and debris, and then till or loosen the soil to a depth of 10-15 cm to promote root growth. Level the soil surface and amend with organic matter such as compost to improve soil structure and fertility. Fertilise your lawn with a quality under turf fertiliser containing water crystals such as LawnPride’s Under Turf Starter Fertiliser.
3. TURF: Lay your instant turf evenly over the prepared soil, ensuring good root-to-soil contact.
4. WATER & FEED: Water the newly seeded or sodded lawn regularly, early in the morning, midday and in the afternoon, to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged and provide protection from foot traffic or excessive wear until the grass becomes established. Apply a slow-release fertiliser to feed your lawn and provide essential nutrients for healthy growth. You can reference our free Lawn Care Programs on our website to find the best fertiliser for your lawn type.
5. MAINTAIN: Monitor the lawn closely for signs of lawn pests and diseases, or nutrient deficiencies to address any issues promptly. Regular applications of Bio stimulants, such as LawnPride Rootmaxx and LawnPride Kelp ER, for the first six weeks to aid with the lawn’s root system establishment. With proper care and maintenance, your new lawn will establish and thrive, providing a lush and vibrant outdoor space for years to come.
For more information and to explore our available product range, click on the links below:
LawnPride Page – Lawn Care Programs
LawnPride Blog – Laying New Turf
LawnPride Blog – What is an Established Lawn?
Creating a lawn schedule is essential for maintaining a healthy and vibrant lawn throughout the year.
Identify key tasks and maintenance activities required for your lawn such as: regularly mowing, the best mowing heights, deep watering, applying fertiliser, aerating your lawn, and weed control and pest prevention. Consider factors such as your grass type, climate, soil conditions, and seasonal variations when determining the frequency and timing of each task.
Divide the year into seasons and allocate specific tasks to each season based on their optimal timing and relevance to the lawn's growth cycle.
Focus on fertilising to promote root development and thickening of the turf before Winter dormancy, while emphasising watering and pest control during the warmer months of Spring and Summer.
Use a calendar or planner to schedule these tasks at regular intervals, taking into account any external factors such as weather forecasts or special events. Review and adjust your lawn schedule as needed throughout the year to accommodate changing conditions and optimise lawn health and appearance.
LawnPride has readily available Lawn Care Programs on our website that can take the hard work away for you. Feel free to download and edit the program to suit you and your parameters. Contact us for some additional lawn care tips when deciding timings and product applications.
By creating and following a comprehensive lawn schedule, you can effectively manage lawn care tasks and ensure consistent maintenance for a beautiful and resilient lawn.
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Creating a low-maintenance lawn involves selecting the right grass species, implementing smart design choices, and adopting minimalistic lawn care practices.
Choose a low-maintenance grass variety, such as fine fescue or zoysia grass, that is well-suited to your climate, soil type, and sunlight conditions, will require less mowing, watering, and fertilisation compared to traditional turfgrass species.
You can also reduce the size of your lawn by incorporating landscape beds, mulched areas, or hardscape features to minimise the area of lawn to maintain.
Limit the use of fertilisers and insecticides, opting instead for organic alternatives or integrated pest management practices to promote a healthier, more resilient lawn.
Finally, adjust your mowing frequency and height to match the growth rate of your grass and encourage deeper root growth. This change can improve drought tolerance and reduce maintenance needs.
By taking a strategic approach to lawn care and design, you can create a low-maintenance lawn that is both beautiful and sustainable.
Maintaining a healthy lawn without using chemicals involves adopting natural and sustainable practices that promote soil health, biodiversity, and resilience.
Select native or well-adapted grass species that are naturally resistant to pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical interventions.
Implement proper lawn care practices such as mowing at the appropriate height, watering deeply but infrequently, and aerating the soil to improve drainage and root development.
Encourage beneficial insects and organisms by incorporating diverse plantings, providing habitat features such as hedges, shrubs and natives and avoiding using broad-spectrum pesticides that can harm non-target organisms.
Practice integrated pest management (IPM) techniques such as hand weeding, using natural predators or repellents, and rotating cultural controls to manage pest populations effectively.
By prioritising soil health, biodiversity, and sustainable lawn care practices, you can cultivate a healthy and resilient lawn without relying on chemical inputs.
The best time to dethatch a lawn is during the growing season when the grass is actively growing and can quickly recover from the process.
In most regions, this typically occurs in the Spring or early Autumn when temperatures are moderate, and the grass is in its peak growing phase.
Dethatching in the Spring allows the grass to recover and fill in any bare patches before the Summer heat sets in, while dethatching in early Autumn helps prepare the lawn for winter dormancy and promotes vigorous growth in the following Spring. Avoid dethatching during periods of extreme heat or drought, as this can stress the grass and impede recovery.
Timing dethatching to coincide with other lawn care tasks, such as overseeding or fertilising, can maximise the benefits and minimize disruption to the turf.
By choosing the right time to dethatch your lawn, you can effectively remove thatch buildup and promote a healthier, more resilient turf.
Dealing with thatch buildup in your lawn requires a proactive approach to encourage decomposition and prevent excessive accumulation.
Aerate your lawn to improve soil drainage and encourage microbial activity, which helps break down thatch naturally. You can achieve the best results using a specialised aeration machine; however, a garden fork can also work.
Dethatching the lawn using a specialised dethatching rake, powered dethatcher, or vertical mower to remove excess thatch and promote airflow and water penetration into the soil. Be cautious not to dethatch excessively, as this can damage the grass roots and soil structure.
Lastly, adopt proper lawn care practices such as mowing your lawn at the appropriate height, watering deeply but infrequently, and avoiding excessive fertiliser applications which are known to contribute to thatch buildup.
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively manage thatch buildup in your lawn and promote a healthy, resilient turf.
For more information and to explore our available product range, click on the links below:
Utilising organic methods can be highly effective for caring for your lawn while minimising environmental impact and promoting long-term soil health.
Organic lawn care practices focus on using natural, non-synthetic products and techniques to maintain healthy turfgrass and soil. This includes incorporating organic fertilisers such as compost, manure, or natural plant-based fertilisers to provide nutrients to the soil and promote lush, vibrant grass growth.
Organic pest control methods, such as introducing beneficial insects, using companion planting, or applying natural repellents, can help manage pests without harming beneficial organisms or contaminating the environment.
Additionally, cultural practices such as proper mowing, watering, and aeration can be optimised to support organic lawn care principles.
By adopting organic methods, you can create a beautiful and resilient lawn while minimising the use of synthetic chemicals and promoting a more sustainable approach to lawn care.
Using compost on your lawn can provide numerous benefits for soil health and grass growth.
Compost is a natural and nutrient-rich soil amendment made from decomposed organic matter, such as yard waste, food scraps, and leaves. When applied to the lawn, compost enriches the soil with essential nutrients, improves soil structure, and enhances microbial activity, promoting healthy root growth and vigorous grass growth. Compost helps retain moisture in the soil, reducing the need for frequent watering and increasing drought tolerance.
To apply compost to your lawn, spread a thin layer evenly over the grass using a shovel, rake, or broadcast spreader. Water the lawn lightly after application to help incorporate the compost into the soil. Repeat the process annually or as needed to maintain soil fertility and promote a healthy, lush lawn.
By using compost as a natural soil amendment, you can enhance the health and vitality of your lawn while minimising the need for synthetic fertilisers and chemical inputs.
Keeping moss out of your lawn involves addressing the underlying conditions that favour moss growth and promoting healthy turfgrass.
Moss typically thrives in areas with poor drainage, compacted soil, low fertility, or excessive shade.
To discourage moss growth, improve soil drainage by aerating the lawn to alleviate compaction and promote better water infiltration. You can achieve this by trimming back overhanging branches or pruning nearby trees to increase sunlight exposure and reduce shade.
Adjust your lawn care practices favouring grass growth, such as mowing at the appropriate height, watering deeply but infrequently.
Apply lime to raise soil pH and improve grass vigour, as moss tends to prefer acidic conditions.
Avoid overwatering or excessive fertiliser application, as this can create conditions favourable to moss growth.
By addressing these underlying factors and promoting healthy turfgrass growth, you can effectively discourage moss from taking hold in your lawn.
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Maintaining a healthy lawn during drought requires careful water management, proper lawn care practices, and adjustments to promote resilience and water conservation.
Begin by watering deeply and infrequently, preferably during the early morning hours to minimise evaporation. Focus on watering the root zone rather than the entire lawn surface, using a soaker hose or irrigation system to deliver water directly to the soil.
Adjust your mower height to a slightly higher setting to promote deeper root growth and shade the soil, reducing moisture loss.
Consider reducing or eliminating fertiliser applications during drought conditions to avoid stimulating excessive growth that requires more water.
Aerate the soil to improve water infiltration and reduce compaction, allowing moisture to penetrate deeper into the root zone.
Finally, consider incorporating drought-tolerant grass species and the use of soil moisture retention aids such as our soil wetter, called LawnPride Hydramaxx, as this will be highly beneficial during dry periods and extended periods of drought.
Implementing these strategies will help you maintain a healthy lawn even during periods of limited water availability and promote long-term sustainability.
For more information and to explore our available product range, click on the links below:
Preparing your lawn for winter is essential to ensure its health and vitality during the cooler months.
Step One: Aerating the soil to alleviate compaction and improve drainage, allowing air, water, and nutrients to penetrate deeply into the root zone.
Step Two: Apply a slow-release fertiliser rich in potassium such as LawnPride Turfmaxx to strengthen the grass roots and enhance cold tolerance.
Step Three: Rake up fallen leaves and debris to prevent matting and suffocation of the grass, which can lead to disease and pest issues.
Step Four: Keep the lawn mowed at a slightly higher height than during the growing season to promote better plant Photosynthesis and help prevent fungal diseases.
Step Five: Continue watering the lawn during this period as needed to ensure the grass roots remain hydrated and healthy throughout the winter.
By taking these steps to prepare your lawn for winter, you can help it withstand the cold weather and emerge strong and vibrant coming into spring.
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The best soil pH for your lawn depends on the type of grass you're growing, as different species have varying pH preferences.
In general, most turfgrass species prefer soil pH levels between 6.5 and 7.3, which is slightly acidic to neutral. Maintaining soil pH within this range ensures optimal nutrient availability and uptake, promotes healthy root growth, and helps to minimize the risk of nutrient deficiencies or toxicities. However, it's essential to consider the specific pH requirements of the grass species in your lawn, as some varieties may tolerate slightly lower or higher pH levels.
Conducting a soil test can provide valuable insights into your lawn's pH level, allowing you to adjust it as needed through soil amendments such as lime to raise pH or sulphur to lower pH.
By maintaining the right soil ph for your lawn, you can create an ideal growth environment that supports lush, vibrant turfgrass growth.
For more information and to explore our available product range, click on the links below:
LawnPride Blog – How to test your soil
LawnPride Blog – pH levels & how they affect your lawn
LawnPride Blog – Guide to soil amendment and nutrition management
Adjusting soil pH involves applying soil amendments to raise or lower the pH to the desired level for optimal turfgrass growth.
To raise soil pH (make it more basic and less acidic), apply agricultural lime according to the recommendations provided by a soil test. Spread the lime evenly over the lawn using a broadcast spreader, and water the area thoroughly to help incorporate the lime into the soil. Keep in mind that it may take several months for the effects of lime to be fully realised, so plan accordingly.
To lower soil pH (make it more acidic and less basic), apply elemental sulphur, acidic organic materials or use our product LawnPride Descend. It is imperative to follow the recommendations provided by a soil test and apply the amendment evenly over the lawn. Water the area thoroughly after application to aid in the breakdown and incorporation of the amendment into the soil.
Regular soil testing is essential to monitor changes in soil pH over time and adjust soil amendments as needed to maintain the optimal pH range for healthy turfgrass growth.
For more information and to explore our available product range, click on the links below:
LawnPride Blog – Guide to Soil Amendment and Nutrition management