Autumn Lawn Ground Control

Did your lawn cop a beating this summer?

Whether it was backyard cricket, festive gatherings or getting scorched in the heat, it may be looking a little worse for wear… But don’t despair, now is the time to restore ‘lawn and order’ and get it looking as good as new! Plus, by giving your lawn a bit of love now, it will be better prepared for the chilly months ahead and ready for a fantastic spring.

Cutting it fine

Does your lawn feel spongy underfoot? If so, you can lower the mower to help remove the thatch to encourage new growth.  Otherwise, for most lawns, keep the mower high and catch the clippings.

Feed me

The air temperature is cooler but the soil is still warm enough to promote growth, so it’s a great time to feed your lawn.  Use an organic based lawn food like Yates Dynamic Lifter Concentrated Lawn Food or Munns Professional Buffalo Booster, which contain nitrogen for rich green grass growth and potassium to promote improved lawn health into winter.

Weed control

Get on top of the weeds now to help prevent the grief later! For couch, kikuyu, rye and fescue lawns apply Yates Weed’n’Feed or for buffalo lawns use Yates BuffaloPRO Weed’n’Feed.  These easy to use hose-on products will help control the most common broadleaf weeds in your lawn, including bindii, clover, dandelions, capeweed and thistles.

Create a brand new lawn

Mild conditions in early to mid autumn are ideal for starting a new lawn from seed or rolls of turf. The warm soil will encourage new root growth and lawn establishment before winter and cooler air temperatures make it easier to keep the new lawn moist.

How to start a new lawn from seed

• Remove any existing lawn and weeds by spraying the area with Yates Zero Weedkiller. After the grass and weeds have died (in around 2 weeks), rake up all the dead foliage.
• Lawn seed needs a nice soft surface to grow in. Using a rake, create shallow furrows across the soil.
• Mix the required amount of lawn seed for your area with Munns Superstart Seed & Turf Starter Fertiliser. This will make spreading the seed much easier and encourage better seed germination and establishment.
• Broadcast the seed and Munns Superstart mix over the area and then lightly rake it into the top soil.
• Gently water the area. It’s very important to keep the soil moist while the seed germinates and the young grass seedlings established. 

How to start a new lawn from rolls of turf

• Remove any existing lawn and weeds by spraying the area with Yates Zero Weedkiller. After the grass and weeds have died (in around 2 weeks), rake up all the dead foliage.
• If the soil surface is hard, apply a layer of lawn top dressing and spread Munns Superstart Seed & Turf Starter Fertiliser across the area.
• Lay rolls of turf in a brick pattern, fitting each piece together snugly.
• Water the area thoroughly. It’s very important to keep the soil moist while the new turf establishes. 

Lawn pest & disease control

Lawns can be attacked by a range of insect pests and diseases. Here’s the ‘how to’ on how get them under control and keep your lawn healthy and looking great.

Lawn armyworm

Armyworm are caterpillars of night-flying moths, which chew through grass foliage and stems and cause rapidly expanding dying and dead patches of lawn. You may also see birds pecking in the lawn – they’re after the caterpillars.

Apply Baythroid Advanced for Lawns as soon as armyworm symptoms are noticed. It’s best to apply Baythroid during the late afternoon, as armyworm caterpillars emerge late in the day to feed.

Baythroid Advanced for Lawns will also control adult African black beetle, which lays eggs that hatch into damaging curl grubs.

Lawn diseases

Lawn diseases can appear as circular brown or dying patches of grass. Moist and cool weather during autumn can lead to lawn diseases such as brown patch and winter fusarium. To help reduce the incidence of lawn diseases, water lawns in the morning so the grass has a chance to dry off during the day. Wet grass foliage overnight can promote disease.

At the first sign of any disease, apply Yates Zaleton Dual Action Systemic Fungicide over the lawn  using a sprayer or watering can.