Plant Care
Lawns
A lawn can be easy to care for but remember it’s made up of living plants and, as with all living things, their needs must be considered. Choose a grass that is suitable for your climate and conditions. Most grasses are sun-loving plants. In very shaded areas it may be better to select a non-grass ground cover.
Establishing a Lawn
Preparation for growing Lawn
- Install any underground drainage that may be required
- Bring in improved soil if necessary – 8-10 cm over a poor base
- In heavy or clay soils, dig in some Yates Gypsum Claybreaker
- Prepare surface by digging or rotary hoeing to a depth of 10 – 15cm
- Rake and level surface the water
- Leave for two weeks until weeds germinate
- Spray with Zero Glyphosate to destroy weeds
- Within the next two days lightly rake surface
- Blend in some Dynamic Lifter Organic pellets
- Smooth out and adjust final levels with a rake
Sowing Lawn from Seed
- Sow at right time of year – check your packet
- Sow on a still day (grass seed is very light)
- Spread at a rate according to directions
- Spread from side to side – in one direction and then another
- Over large areas, mix seed with sand to get more even distribution
- Rake lightly
- Keep moist throughout germination period. In hot/windy weather this may involve watering three or four times each day
- Mow for the first time when grass is 10cm in height
- Yates All Season LawnSmart lawn seed will grow happily in a wide range of conditions
Establishing a Lawn with Turf
- Follow soil preparation instructions but, instead of mixing in Dynamic Lifter pellets, use Dynamic Lifter Turf Starter (which also contains water-storing crystals to help prevent turf drying out in the establishment stage)
- Arrange for turf to be delivered as close as possible to laying time
- After delivery, keep turf moist at all times
- Begin laying turf in one corner and complete one strip before starting a new one
- Stagger joints if possible
- Lay across the slope
- Topdress with 90:10 sand/loam to even out hollows that remain after turf is established
Fertilising Lawn
Regular light fertilising during the growing season is better than infrequent, heavy fertilising. Use a correctly balanced fertiliser (such as Thrive Granular Lawn Food). Dynamic Lifter Lawn Food is made up of fine, slow release organic particles so it’s less likely to harm earthworms and encourages biological activity in the soil. Dynamic Lifter Advanced for Lawns combines Dynamic Lifter particles with fast-acting nutrients. This give lawns a quick boost followed by a gentle trickle of organic nutrients. Yates Lawn Master is a slow release, top quality lawn food that evenly releases nutrients over a three month period.
Mowing Lawn
With established lawns, cut warm season grasses to 2.5 cm and cool season grasses to 5 cm. Cut as frequently as possible and remove as little growth as possible.
Never mow grass too low or ‘scalp’ the grass. Grasses need their leaves to make food for the plant and to shade the root system. Remove grass clippings or use a mulching mower.
Watering Lawn
Some lawns require a large amount of watering so, depending on the situation, other ground covers may be more appropriate.
Couch is the most drought tolerant grass. Other warm season grasses such as kikuyu, buffalo, carpet grass and Queensland blue couch are reasonably drought tolerant. As a rule, cool season grasses need more water, although turf type tall fescue is reasonably drought tolerant once established.
Water in the morning rather than the evening and give thorough less frequent soakings rather than short, frequent waterings. Don’t allow surface runoff.
Grass Types
Warm Season’s Grasses
These grasses grow best in late spring, summer and early autumn.
Couch: A hard wearing lawn that survives with little care. A running grass that can be established from seed, runners or turf. Only germinates reliably when temperatures are between 20 and 30 degrees celsius. Hates shade and likes a soil pH of 6- 7. Many cultivars available from turf suppliers. Hybrids are also available.
Kikuyu: A fast growing running grass that is vigorous and needs to be regularly mown to keep it as a good looking lawn. Takes a small amount of shade. Can be established from runners, seed and turf.
Buffalo: Running grass that forms a dense, coarse textured lawn that is hard wearing but slow growing. Grown from turf or runners. Newer cultivars (e.g. ‘Palmetto’ are softer and have improved shade tolerance.
Carpet Grass: Running grass with broad leaves. Best grown in subtropical or tropical areas. It is tolerant of acid soils but is regarded as a weed in finer turf.
Queensland Blue: A fine-leafed running grass that suits frost-free districts and has fine blue-green leaves. Queensland Blue Couch is for the warm climate lawn enthusiast and can be established from seeds or turf.
Durban Grass (Sweet smother grass): – Shade-tolerant running grass. Grow from turf or runners. Suits warmer climates. Mow high.
Empire Zoysia A recently released grass type that is said to have good wear and drought tolerance.
Cool Season’s Grasses
Grow best in autumn and spring. Keep well watered during hot summers.
Chewings Fescue: This grass is often mixed with other grasses to form a fine turf. It is normally grown from seed.
Kentucky Bluegrass: Grown from seed. It is usually only available in seed mixtures. Spreads by underground runners so is self-repairing if damaged.
Bent: A fine textured lawn grass that has relatively high maintenance requirements. Can be established from runners or turf.
Turf Type Tall Fescue: Selected forms of what was originally a coarse, hard wearing lawn grass. Modern cultivars are finer and softer. Once established, they are more drought tolerant than other cool season grasses but leaves always need to be left at least 5cm long. Available as seeds or turf.
Ryegrasses: Fine-leafed perennial ryegrasses are most often included in seed mixes. They germinate readily and grow quickly but need good watering during dry periods. Usually grown from seed.
Comments (24)
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Brett
Yates site member
08:48, 21 September 2009
I have Sir Walter Buffalo and I would like to use a weed & feed type product to feed the lawn, and to remove the clover that has come back with Spring. However, upon reading the back of the products it states not to use with Buffalo lawns. What can you recommend as an appropriate solution?
stephen
Yates site member
08:20, 04 October 2009
hi brett,i would spray the clover with a selective broad leaf herbicide which should be safe for the grass.as always read the directions.once the clover dies,the bare area can be patched,or replanted with grass runners from an inconspicuous part of the garden.remember brett,a healthy,well maintained grassed area will outcompete most weeds.stephen
GORDON
Yates site member
14:56, 06 October 2009
hI I AM NOT QUITE SURE IF I HAVE ALREADY SENT MY REQUEST I WANT TO REDO MY LAWN I WANT TO KILL EVERY THING RAKE THE DRY GRASS AND WEEDS OFF AND APPLY 2INS OF GOOD LAWN SOIL THEN REGRASS MANY THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.MEMBER OF YATES WHAT CONTROL CAN I USE Regards Gordon
Maria
Yates site member
08:51, 10 October 2009
How can i stop birds attacking my new turf Thankyou Maria
Greg
Yates site member
17:52, 06 November 2009
I have a special shade tolerant grass I have put in and at first it knitted well and grew amazingly fast, noe it seems to be dying underneath but has green growth on top? Weird, anyone have any advice?
Brendon
Yates site member
08:51, 12 November 2009
I have a large front lawn area on a rural property in NE Victoria, which I would like to sow with a drought tolerant grass. This lawn will not be watered over the summer months and we are looking for the best type of lawn to suit us.
mwahahahahha
Yates site member
23:50, 17 January 2010
stfu
Therese
Yates site member
16:10, 15 November 2009
I have heard that Kikuyu is sensitive to broadleaf herbicides. How can I effectively get rid of bindi, clover and broad leaf weeds?
vincent
Yates site member
15:46, 03 December 2009
can you tell me a fast grass to grow and kids can play on it thanks all
Max
Yates site member
09:02, 13 December 2009
Hi Vencent,
You can not beat kikuyu for speed of growth and wear & tare of kids its recovery is exelent BUT! be prepared to control it and not let it control you.
Fertilise 3 times a year(slow releace) mow regularly & deep water once weekly.(TIP)always cut edges at 90 deg.to lawn.& deep as possiable stops runners getting away Good luck & merry christmas
Heather
Yates site member
18:25, 15 December 2009
I have left it rather late to plant some Kikuyu roll-on turf in Perth. Is it to late to plant during Perth’s hot summer?
MICHELLE
Yates site member
15:18, 28 December 2009
I have laid a new front lawn with rolls of turf its a month old now. When do I do the first mow? what height? catcher on or off? do I fertilizer or spray for lawn grubs after. Awaiting anyone advice thanks
aaron
Yates site member
21:43, 06 January 2010
hi, not sure if this has been answered yet, but it is ok to lightly mow 10-14 days after it has been installed and has taken root. when cutting just cut so you are only just cutting the lawn. usually you can tell if it has taken root by gently pulling on the grass. as for fertilising or other such products, they generally state on the packaging that lawns younger than 3 months should not be treated. i think this is because it may kill an un-established lawn. check the labels for information before using. hopefully this helped. :)
SUSAN
Yates site member
17:23, 08 January 2010
Would like to know what lawn/grass seed is best for growing under Gum Trees. Preferably drought tolerant as property is situated outside of Kerang Vic.
Tom
Yates site member
07:54, 29 January 2010
Have Lawn Grubs Short fat whitish .Also have wild birds feeding and a dog
Can you recommend treatment that is safe pleawe Have about 100 sq metrs to treat
Dermott
Yates site member
14:10, 14 February 2010
here have a look at this
http://www.yates.com.au/products/lawn-care/pest-disease-and-weed-control/yates-weed-n-feed-granular/
Graeme
Yates site member
16:42, 01 April 2010
Hi, I have 2 acres of pasture grass, what type of fertilizer would you recommend? Located in Mornington pensula how often should I fertilize and what times of the year? I have a sprayer, tractor driven, do you sell in bulk quantizes?
Thank you
Graeme
Margaret
Yates site member
12:02, 18 April 2010
Hi,
I have a small suburban lawn. I have alot of Indian Doab weed coming through
the patches of Mercury Bay weed that I am trying to get established.
I have been researching this hard to kill weed on the internet, but there is
not alot of definitive info about what type of spray to use to kill it.
Can you please suggest what would be a good spray to kill this Indian Doab?
Many thanks,
Margaret NZ
frank
Yates site member
10:07, 18 May 2010
We need to sow a lawn (grass) area in our local cemetery. No watering is possible!!! Please advise suitable type. Thanks.
frank
Yates site member
10:09, 18 May 2010
Hopefully you can help
linda
Yates site member
15:20, 01 June 2010
what type of grass seed shoud i buy to plant in subtropical areas in queensland we had lawn grub this year and the grass has died in patchers everywhere thank you linda
Karen
Yates site member
09:53, 06 June 2010
Can i roll out kikuyu grass in June…
Sherenne
Yates site member
13:10, 09 August 2010
Hi, my lawn is kikuyu and in winter it taken over by clover, what can I spray it with?
Jim
Yates site member
14:16, 14 August 2010
Hi,
Does anyone have a list and rates of chemicals that kill grasses (winter & summer) in kikuyu lawn and buffalo.
thanks.
Jim
Mohammad
Yates site member
13:14, 23 August 2010
Hi
Does any know if Dynamic Lifter Organic Lawn Food is suitable for Buffalo Sir Walter lawn?
Nothing on the package saying if it is suitable or now!
Mohammad
alan
Yates site member
08:36, 03 September 2010
for sydney what are the best times to feed a buffalo lawn, also what is best time to aerate the soil and how often
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