Tips for revitalising your lawn after the long hot summer
You can bring the green back!
Crispy might be great when it comes to chips, but it’s not so appealing when it’s the only word you can think of to describe your lawn at the end of a long, hot summer.
Many Australians don’t bother to water their lawns, choosing instead to rely on natural rainfall but even hardy grass types cannot withstand many weeks of drought and heat. Most lawns will survive no water for up to four weeks but any more than that may be terminal.
If your lawn is crunching when you walk on it, don’t despair! According to Rusty Garton, the Co-founder of Australian Lawn Fanatics, many lawns can be revived and then with simple maintenance, never need to get “crispy” again.
Here are Rusty’s steps to bringing the green back:
- Be gentle when mowing – Keep the mower blades as high as possible so the lawn retains all the moisture that it can. Make sure the blades aren’t blunt as they tend to rip the lawn, leaving it with jagged leaf edges which quickly dry out and turn brown.
- Thatch control – If your lawn is only brown in patches it may have “thatch” which is decomposed plant matter that builds up under grass roots. Use a thatching rake to loosen the build-up and this will allow more water to reach the lawn’s root system. Aerating the lawn can also help.
- Hey kids, get off my lawn! – Where possible keep human and pet traffic at a minimum as foot pressure compacts the soil making it harder for the lawn’s roots to penetrate soil moisture. An overall reduction in lawn traffic will help it spring back to life more effectively once the drought is over.
- Smart watering – If your area is in drought you can help your lawn to survive by watering twice a week for 15 minutes between 6am and 8am and then once a week for 45 minutes. To make grass drought tolerant it is vital that the roots grow deep into the soil and the right watering practice will achieve this.
- Moisture retention agents are a secret weapon – These are the most underrated products on the lawn market and should be in every garden shed. They are easy to click onto your hose and can cover an area up to 150 square metres. During a dry spell or a drought, use a moisture retention agent every 4 or 5 weeks to extend your watering and make it more effective.
- Change your grass – You may need to consider replacing your lawn with drought-tolerant turf. Zoysia grasses like Native Nara and Empire thrive across Australia. My Home Turf (myhometurf.com.au) will help you determine which grass is right for you.
Now that the dry spell is coming to an end it is a great time to consider replacing of installing new lawn – have a look at our Quick Reference Guide to make your ideal choice.
