Author: Apex Digital

Mowing in Winter

Mowing your lawn at a higher height will allow for better photosynthesis and food supply to your lawn

Our warm-season lawns have slowed down in most states as the temperatures have decreased. Your lawn won’t completely stop growing through the winter in Australia, it will just grow at a much slower rate. Once soil temperatures drop below 14 degrees Celsius your grass will enter a slower rate of growth to conserve energy which is known as dormancy. So, what does this mean for your lawn and should this change how you mow over winter?

Increasing mowing height

An important thing you can do to help your lawn adjust to the cooler temperatures is to increase the height of your lawnmower. Keeping the mowing height nice and high will give your lawn the best chance to absorb sunlight and nutrients. A longer leaf will help block out weeds and help your lawn to retain its colour for longer. A healthy lawn heading into winter will ensure it is better prepared for the cold and frost and help it to achieve a quicker spring recovery.

How often should I mow?

As a rough guide, you will only need to mow your lawn every few weeks during winter. This will differ depending on the turf variety you have. While we recommend you leave your lawn longer, make sure you don’t let it get too long either. While you will not need to mow as often as you were throughout summer it is still important to remain consistent with your mowing schedule. This will help maintain a consistent growth pattern so that your lawn will enter the warmer months in top condition.

Mowing too high

Mow higher than 5-6cm and it will prevent sunlight from properly penetrating the grass profile and you may cause scalping when it comes to mowing again. Scalping will then leave the browning of your lawn, which will leave it susceptible to disease and weeds.

Mowing too low

Like the issue caused by scalping as mentioned above, resist the urge to give your lawn a really low cut in winter in an attempt to get out of having to mow again for a longer period of time. This will leave your lawn much more susceptible to winter weeds and frost as well, which will give you a lot more work to do come spring to get it back to its best.

Removing your grass clippings

When mowing throughout the cooler months make sure you pick up all leaves and grass clippings that are left behind. This will allow the grass to receive as much sunlight as it can throughout the cooler months when sunlight can be limited.

 

---

As always, if you have any more questions please don’t hesitate to contact us for free expert advice on 1800ALLTURF (1800255873) or 07 5543 8304.

This is a common problem when our summer temperatures increase on established and new lawns under 6-12 months old. A well-managed lawn with a good deep root system will survive our hot summers but occasionally we have to help nature to ensure all available water does reach the roots. 

---

 Dry Patch or Heat Stress can be caused by the following;

• Poor, shallow watering techniques encourage a shallow roots system. In the cooler months this won’t be a problem but as soon as temperatures increase the plant may wilt and go into stress. 
• Loss of soil moisture in the soil profile. During a prolonged drought the subsoil may dry out and deep watering with a sprinkler for up to an hour in one spot may be required to start replenishing this moisture loss. 
• Hydrophobic soils can be naturally occurring or caused by certain organics in the profile. These soils once dry, become very difficult to re-wet and a soil wetting agent is highly recommended to combat this problem. 
• High thatch levels in an established lawn can prevent water from migrating into the profile. 

What to do? 

• Reduce stress from foot and vehicle traffic. Minimise any non-essential herbicide applications.
• Watering your lawn. No two sites are the same so the information we provide is a guide only. In South-East Qld we recommend approximately 10mm of irrigation in winter and at least 25mm in summer. Shady areas will not require this amount and exposed sites with sandy profiles may require a lot more. Measure the amount of water you are applying to any one spot on the lawn. A rain gauge is the best tool to measure the amount of water you are applying. Lawns new and old may be affected by extreme heat and dry so be on the lookout for telltale signs of stress which is usually the leaf turning to a blue-grey colour. Left unchecked and the leaf will turn brown and die. This doesn’t mean that the lawn is dead, but it may take a while for the new leaf to regenerate. 
• Reduce thatch annually if required. Dethatch with a specialist scarifying machine or we can recommend a contractor to take care of it for you.
• Improved water penetration with decompaction and aeration. Once again let us know if you need a contractor to carry this out for you. For more information on decompaction follow this link. Apply a soil wetting agent to improve infiltration from dry patches. There are a lot of products on the market, but I like the concept of combining a Kelp or Seaweed product with soil wetting agents. Other products like “Wetta Soil”, “Natrakelp” and “Seasol” can be sourced from your local garden centre or you can source products online from the Lawn Solutions store like “Lawn Rescue” and “Lawn Soaker”. Follow the label instructions and water in well. 

It doesn’t matter how drought-tolerant a lawn variety is, at the end of the day all plants need water. Some need more than others. Depending on when you installed it may take up to 12 months for a new lawn to become truly established. 

---

As always, if you have any more questions please don’t hesitate to contact us for free expert advice on 1800ALLTURF (1800255873) or 07 5543 8304.

This page will help you to identify various types of pests and provide some advice on how to easily manage them yourself.

---

There are three types of lawn grub that eat the leaf of lawns in South East Queensland, these are; Army Worm, Sod Web Worm and Cut Worm, these are all larvae of small moths that are active from spring to autumn but more common in the wetter months from December to May. Lawn grubs prefer healthy, lush turfgrass, so be on guard during this time. 

These small moths seek out the lushest lawn and lay their eggs in flight (Sod webworm) under building eves, underneath the leaves of plants, shrubs, trees and within the turf canopy. Hundreds of microscopic larvae drift on fine threads onto the ground, the ones that land on a lawn develop into grubs feeding on the leaves of the turf plant. If hatching occurs when no wind is present, a heavy outbreak could occur and in an isolated area, this could cause complete defoliation within days. Under severe infestations, the stems of some grasses are sometimes eaten as well. The average life cycle of most lawn grubs during periods of activity is usually around three weeks. A healthy lawn will easily recover from a mild outbreak of grubs however newly established lawns left unchecked can be completely destroyed in severe outbreaks, especially on Blue Couch varieties. 

There are other pests that live in the soil and eat the roots causing unhealthy turfgrass growth. The main pest we see in SE Qld is the Black Beetle larvae. Low populations will generally not be noticeable, however, heavy infestations can cause turfgrass loss. It is difficult to diagnose as the larvae are not visible unless you expose the soil. 

 We have a new pest soon to arrive in South East Queensland.

The “Fall Army Worm” is migrating down the Queensland coast from Asia. This pest looks similar to our regular Army Worm only it is larger and more ferocious. We are yet to see the effects of this pest, but we have been advised that “Acelepryn” offers protection. 

Do you have lawn grubs and how can you check? 

• Check the lawn in the early evening for the presence of this small white moth. Sometimes walking around the lawn will cause them to fly away, 
• Another indicator is the presence of a small red wasp which flies low over the grass during the day, the wasp is searching the lawn for a host grub to lay its eggs into, 
• Another method to check for the presence of lawn grubs is to lay out a wet hessian sack or a large wet rag over the suspected areas in the evening, check under the sack in the morning and the grubs should still be active in the dark cool environment, by thinking it is still nighttime. 

What can you do? 

• For total peace of mind apply the preventive product “Acelepryn GR” in spring/ early summer to prevent infestations for up to 6 months. Acelepryn is non-toxic and safe to use. Its easily applied as a granule through a normal fertiliser spreader and provides protection for all lawn grubs including Black Beetle larvae. 

• For a quick kill, the chemical “Bifenthrin” seems to be the most available chemical available. This product can be used as a protective treatment when applied at regular intervals or as a knockdown treatment to control existing pests. Lawn grubs generally feed at night, so for best results apply pesticide in the late afternoon or as indicated on the label. BEWARE! A new outbreak can occur within one to two weeks of spraying, if there is a lot of lawn grub activity in your area you could expect another re-infestation after the chemical has been used up.  

BEFORE YOU APPLY ANY PESTICIDE (HERBICIDE, INSECTICIDE OR FUNGICIDE) READ THE LABEL, FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS AND BE AWARE OF SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND FIRST AID 

We stock these products at our Tamborine office. Alternatively, you can order online from Lawn Solutions Australia.

How can you prevent it from happening? 

• • Apply the preventative herbicide “Acelepryn” at the start of the lawn grub season. Up to 6 months of control can be achieved at a higher rate. Acelepryn is also effective at preventing Black Beetle when applied in spring. 
• • Bug lights are quite effective. They won’t stop the larvae from dropping in and causing some damage, but they will help catch the moths laying eggs in the area and causing major outbreaks, 
• • Do not overfeed your lawn with high nitrogen fertilizers during the summer months, alternatively use organic fertilisers and seaweed-based products that strengthen the turf plant making it less desirable for grubs to eat, 
• • Keep an eye on lawn areas being defoliated and do the overnight sack test as mentioned earlier. Treat as soon as grubs have been identified. 

 

---

As always, if you have any more questions please don’t hesitate to contact us for free expert advice on 1800ALLTURF or 07 5543 8304.

This page will help you to identify couch mite and provide some advice on how to easily manage them yourself.

---

Couchgrass mites are active where ever couchgrass is grown. For the most part, common couchgrass is the most susceptible while the vegetative propagated hybrid couchgrass like Tifway, Tifdwarf, and Tifgreen are usually resistant.

The couchgrass mite is rarely a problem on short cut turf found on golf course greens, tees, and fairways. Symptoms first appear as a weak growing couchgrass turf. The leaves turn a light green and curl abnormally. The internodes shorten, and the tissue swells resulting in the couchgrass becoming tufted so that a clumping pattern becomes evident in the turf stand. These tufts give the appearance of “witches brooms”. Eventually the grass loses its vigor, thins out, and if severe enough, dies.

The mite is extremely small, invisible to the naked eye – only visible under a microscope. Hand lenses usually do not have the magnifying power to make the mite visible.

The mite appears wormlike with two pairs of legs facing forward. The lifecycle of this mite is quite rapid. Under ideal conditions, the mite can complete its life cycle from hatching to an adult in 7 days. Under most summertime conditions, the adults lay eggs every 2 to 5 days with the mite completing its lifecycle in 10 to 14 days. The mites tend to develop between the leaf sheath and blade. This location makes it often difficult to get a chemical spray to the mite.

Culturally, lowering the mowing height will make for a less favorable environment for the mite. Care should be done not to cause scalping. Removing clippings will also help reduce mite populations. Irrigating and fertilising make for a healthier couchgrass turf. Miticides may or may not be effective. If used be sure to apply with adequate water and suitable spray adjuvants.

Short residual insecticides are effective but may need to be applied multiple times. In the United States many managers try to “outgrow” the mite through fertilisation and irrigation.

 

---

As always, if you have any more questions please don’t hesitate to contact us for free expert advice on 1800ALLTURF or 07 5543 8304.

Unfortunately, when the conditions are right, usually damp and humid, the fungal disease could appear in your lawn. These such conditions have been common in many areas across Australia in recent months.

When these turf diseases take hold, it is important that you identify and target the disease with an appropriate response quickly.

Fungal related symptoms to look out for:

• Coloured patches or rings in your lawn – yellow, white or brown
• Powdery coatings or threads on the grass blade surface
• Thinned out areas, or areas of wet or slimy-looking turf
• Leaf-blades with irregular discolouration or texture

What causes fungal disease?

The most common reasons fungal diseases occur are:

• Weather conditions, particularly temperature and humidity
• Overwatering and watering at night
• Soil compaction
• Over fertilising or using the wrong type of fertiliser
• Incompatible grass varieties for your area
• Poor mowing habits – mowing too low in particular

---

As always, if you have any more questions please don’t hesitate to contact us for free expert advice on 1800ALLTURF or 07 5543 8304.

We often get asked “what is the best fertiliser to use?” and the answer is not always as straightforward as you might think.

There are a few factors to consider when selecting what type of fertiliser is best for your lawn.

What time of year is it?

• If it’s winter, dont bother, most grasses are dormant and won’t respond to the fertiliser anyway
• if its right in the middle of summer just use a more organic & lighter rate fertiliser like Seasol (available at Bunnings)
• The best time to apply heavier fertilisers is at the start of the spring growing season (early-mid September)

Can you water it in & apply it properly?

• Make sure you’re available to water in the fertilisers quite well straight after application, most need about 10mm+ of water to be effectively absorbed into the roots of the turf where it’s needed
• If using chemical fertilisers we highly recommend getting yourself a hand spin spreader, they cost $15-20 all and are great for getting consistent coverage without fertiliser burn issues
  

  Fertiliser burn is a nasty problem, this happens when you apply too much fertiliser to the turf and it burns it yellow/brown and can sometimes cause damage that takes months to recover from.

---

Here are some great quality products we recommend

For a quick green-up that can be applied anytime through Spring, Summer & Autumn

• Professional grade: LawnPride GreenXtra
• Available at Bunnings: Seasol hose on

For slow-release long-lasting chemical fertiliser (best-applied start of spring & start of autumn)

• Professional grade: LawnPride Maintain
• Available at Bunnings: Munns Green Keeper

To maintain optimal soil moisture, use a wetting agent twice a year (Spring & Summer)

• Professional grade: LawnPride HydraMaxx
• Available at Bunnings: Amgrow Wettasoil

It’s always a good idea to mix it up and put down some good heavy organics once every 2 years or so, Dynamic Lifter or compost from your local landscape yard is perfect for this.

---