Grass-Tastic: Unlocking The Secrets To a Lush Lawn
For thousands of Aussies, the lawn is their happy place. Some use it for run-arounds. Some use it for liedowns. Some just admire it from higher ground. Whatever your purpose, our lawns are an ever-reliable source of pleasure and pride.
If you’re keen on growing your own patch of green, we’ve got good news. It’s actually pretty easy to keep a lawn in top shape. Here’s some simple tips and tricks to keep your lawn happy.
GET GOING ON MOWING!
GET GOING ON MOWING
Your guide to cutting
Find the ideal feel
Not sure on the right length? Use your feet. Make sure it feels comfortable under your bare feet - ideally with a bit of spring to it.Never mow too low
You may think you’re getting the jump on growth by going low. But unfortunately, the grass will often only grow back faster. What’s more, a “low mow” can make for a patchy look and even damage the grass.
Prime-times
Try to mow earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon, outside of those peak sunshine hours. You also don’t want to water the grass immediately before or after you mow. When the grass is too dry or too damp, a mow can put unnecessary stress on your lawn.
Maintain your mower
A great cut comes from a mower in great nick. Make sure you service yours on the regular. Keep the disc and under-deck clean, ensure the blades are sharp, and change your engine oil and spark plug as per the service book recommendations.
Catch and release
Don’t allow your catcher to fill right up to the brim. The more weight your mower is lugging around, the lower it sinks down. This can cause an uneven cut across your lawn. It’s best to empty your catcher early and often.
MULCH APPRECIATED
Your guide to mulch mowing
A mulching mower uses a modified disc and blade system - and doesn’t use a catcher. It cuts the grass just like a normal mower, but then recuts those clippings to a super-fine state before forcefully blowing them back down onto your lawn.
These clippings eventually break down on the lawn, adding valuable nutrients and organic matter back to the soil. This layer will also protect against rapid drying and potential sunburn over Summer.
But a mulch-mow isn't always the best way to go. Avoid mulch-mowing whenever:
• Your grass is damp
• People will be active on the lawn afterwards (ie. picking up clippings under their feet)
• Your grass is too long
• The weather or season is cooler and damper, meaning the clippings can’t break down as quickly, risking the spread of fungal diseases
THIRSTY WORK
Your guide to watering
With maintenance, mowing and regular feeding, you’ll find that your lawn can tolerate dry conditions rather well. However, there’ll always be times when it needs a bit of extra water.
Here’s some tips to watering your lawn well:
• Don’t water in the evening. Your grass will stay wet overnight, which can lead to fungal diseases
• Avoid watering when it’s windy
• Water less often, more slowly, and for longer. This will encourage deeper moisture penetration, getting right down to the roots.
• If you find nothing soaks in when you water, apply Scotts Lawn Builder + Wetting Agent or Scotts Everydrop LiquidSoil Wetter
• If using a lawn sprinkler, invest in one with adjustable patterns, so you don’t waste water on your paths and drives. It’ll also pay to fit a mechanical tap timer, so you can set specific times for the tap to turn off.
TOP TIP
Mulch-mowing can boost your lawn’s ability to retain water. Mulched clippings act like micro-mulch, keeping moisture in the soil for longer and reducing how often you’ll need to water.
THE NEED TO FEED
YOUR GUIDE TO FERTILISER
When it comes to maintaining the perfect lawn, fertilizing is key. Luckily, it’s also easy. The average lawn takes less than ten minutes to fertilise and rewards you with growth for months afterward.
With a high-quality fertiliser like Scott’s Lawn Builder, your lawn not only gets greener, but tougher: able to resist everything from dry conditions to weed invasion. Here’s some tips:
• Rake the lawn before you start, clearing away leaves and other debris.
• Allow at least two days after mowing before you fertilise.
• Allow about a week after feeding before you mow again - and leave the catcher off the first time, so you don’t remove fertiliser from the lawn.
• Choose the Scotts Lawn Builder that’s right for your lawn variety and for the time of year.
• Read the directions for use on the bag, and don’t apply at a heavier rate than what’s been recommended. Otherwise, you run the risk of burning your grass.
• For the best results, feed three times a year – early Spring, early Summer (before it gets too hot), and mid to late Autumn.
• If you only feed once a year, do it in late Spring to early Summer.
• ALWAYS use a spreader (handheld or wheeled) for even coverage across the lawn.
• Follow the directions on the pack for watering advice.
• Don't store an opened bag of lawn food for more than 6 months.
GREEN FAST, FEED SLOW
YOUR GUIDE TO 2-IN-1
Not so long ago, gardeners had to choose between long-term feeding or short-term greening. But with our recent advancements in fertiliser tech, you can now have the best of both worlds. With Scotts Lawn Builder
Extreme Green, you can fertilise on Wednesday, and have your lawn emerald-green for the barbie on Saturday, all without having to feed again for three months.
To get started, you'll need:
• Leaf rake
• 4kg bag of Scotts Lawn Builder Extreme Green Granular Fertiliser
• Fertiliser spreader (handheld or wheeled)
Step 1
Work out how much fertiliser you’ll need by measuring your lawn in square metres (one large stride = 1 metre approx). Read the directions on the bag to see how many grams per square metre to apply, then add that amount to your spreader hopper. Use the Spreader Setter information on the bag to find the correct aperture.
Step 2
Walk the full area of your lawn while spreading the fertiliser. Use a pattern that allows a little bit of overlap on the edges of the spread. If you’re using a hand-held spreader, you might also find it easier to walk backwards. PRO TIP: apply half the fertiliser in a north-south direction over the entire area, and then the other half in an east-west direction. This will give you more even coverage.
Step 3
After you’re done spreading, water your lawn right away to activate the quick greening component. Better yet, you can even time your application with the forecast, spreading just before it rains.
TOP TIP:
For a quick and easy green-up, use Scotts Lawn Builder Extreme Green Liquid in the Easy Sprayer bottle.
Watch the video to see how it's done.
LAWN OUT OF BREATH?
YOUR GUIDE TO AERATION
Even with just a little foot traffic, the soil under your lawn can quickly become compacted. This makes it harder for the grass roots to breathe - and for water and nutrients to get down to the root zone.
Compaction problems typically show up as worn areas (that are slow to repair) or dead patches. All-round poor performance of the lawn may also be a sign. The good news? Fixing compaction problems is simple.
You’ll need:
• Spring-tined lawn rake
• Garden fork or spiked lawn roller
• Washed river sand or Scotts Lawn Builder Topdress Mix
• Scotts Lawn Builder lawn fertiliser (type appropriate for your lawn or purpose)
Step 1
Using a metal tined lawn or leaf rake, remove all dead grass and other material from the lawn.
Step 2
For smaller areas: Grab a sturdy garden fork and push it around 5 cm into the soi. Then gently rock backand-forth to open the holes up. Do this across the whole lawn area at around 10cm spacings.
For larger lawns: Hire a spiked lawn roller, partly fill it with water, and then roll over the whole lawn. PRO TIP:
It’s much easier to drag than to push!
Step 3
Spread washed river sand or Scotts Lawn Builder Topdress Mix over the area. Then, if you haven’t previously applied any, spread an appropriate Scotts Lawn Builder fertiliser across the area. Rake this mix in well before watering.
