How do you choose between the shade-tolerant buffalo grass brands?There’s plenty of conflicting information around, and it can be hard to know what’s important and accurate.
Congratulations, you now have a beautiful lawn that will give you years of low maintenance pleasure.
But your organic lawn is a living thing and it does need some care and attention from time to time.
Australia’s climate can be quite tough on turf but if you show your lawn a little kindness throughout the year you’ll be rewarded with strong healthy grass even in the harshest seasons.
Atlas Turf stock a range of quality zoysia, kikuyu, couch and buffalo grasses varieties that are designed to tough it out against drought, shade, weeds and pests.
But remember that when turf is stressed by drought, excessive moisture or shade then it can be more susceptible to weed and pest invasion.
That’s when you and the great range of lawn care products from Atlas Turf can make all the difference.
Naturally, this time of year calendar can only be a general guide and you need to keep track of local seasonal changes and monitor your lawn’s condition for any tell-tale signs that let you know your grass needs some extra love.
Spring is the growing season and ushers in a period of rapid growth and so your lawn will really benefit from some extra food.
Spring is also a great time to lay new lawns.
September
If the grass is growing slowly the soil may have become compacted and need aerating—it’s really easy to do this with our lawn aerator sandals.
You might also add some gypsum and lime but if you’re concerned about the pH of the soil check first with the Manutech Soil pH test kit.
Fertilize—when the grass gets growing you really need to give it some nutritional support. Atlas has a range of excellent fertilizers from liquid seaweed to nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous based lawn pick-me-ups.
Spray for weeds—Amgrow Bin-Die is a good broad spectrum selective weed spray that is tough on weeds but will leave your grass untouched.
If there are any bare patches now is a good time to re-sow and repair damaged areas. Some Lawn Lovers Lawn Rescue might come in handy too.
October
Prevent summer weeds from taking over by spraying with a pre-emergent herbicide/fertilizer. OxaFert will prevent specific weeds from germinating and give your lawn a nutrient boost at the same time.
Prevention is better than cure and hitting pests when they’re laying eggs and as the new grubs are appearing is definitely the way to go.
In hot and humid conditions you may need to spray for Black Beetle too.
Lawn Care Tips for Summer
Remember when mowing your lawns not to cut too deeply, as this can encourage weed growth.
Leaving the grass a little longer will also prevent the soil from drying out so quickly. A good general guide would be to cut no more than about 30% off the length of the grass blades.
December
Water your lawns if they’re not getting enough rain. A good long drink once a week is better for your lawns than frequent shallow watering.
Because your lawn is growing really rapidly you may need to fertilize with Sir Walter Fertilizer.
Get ready for the summer dry spells and check that the soil is holding enough moisture. You might need to add a wetting agent such as Lawn Lovers Lawn Soaker.
January
Continue to monitor your lawn for signs of grass grub such as flying moths or thin and bare patches.
Water regularly and deeply unless you’re getting good rainfall.
You may need to spray for Black Beetle if your area is experiencing particularly hot and humid weather.
February
Keep up the watering and if your soil doesn’t look like it’s holding the moisture you may need to apply some Lawn Lovers Lawn Soaker—it’s really easy to use.
Lawn Care Tips for Autumn
Autumn is an important time in the year for your lawn as it begins to slow down its growth and prepare for the winter.
March
Fertilize the turf to help restore grass health especially if the grass took a hammering over the summer during passionate family cricket matches
April
Apply OxaFert pre-emergent to kill winter weeds such as Winter Grass and Creeping Oxalis before they take hold.
OxaFert will also add some much needed nutrients for building up grass health before the winter.
Don’t leave fertilizer application too late in the season otherwise once the grass stops growing it won’t take up all that goodness.
May
Keep an eye open for weeds and spot spray any weeds that appear.
If the soil has become heavily compacted (common in clay soils) take a walk around the lawn with some Aerator Sandals.
When mowing the lawns leave the blades longer (between 60 –70mm) so that there is more leaf available for photosynthesis during the shorter days.
Lawn Care Tips for Winter
If you have looked after your lawn through the autumn then the grass should be good and healthy and need little attention through the winter.
June
Keep a look out for weeds and spot spray if necessary.
Keep the lawn free of fallen leaves. This is especially important in shaded areas because a healthy grass needs regular doses of winter sun.
Fertilize patches that are looking a little thin.
July
Remove fallen leaves to prevent grass die-back. Keeping the lawn free of leaves and fallen branches will also maintain air flow and reduce disease risks.
August
Spray for Bindi before seeds form. Amgrow Bin-Die, or Amgrow Buffalo Lawn Weeder are great products designed for this purpose.
Keeping your lawn looking lush and healthy will be straightforward with this month by month calendar and the great rage of lawn care products from Atlas Turf.
“We have used and recommended Atlas Turf for the last few years and have been extremely satisfied. Kerrie and Neale grow exceptionally good quality grass of various varieties, that meet both our high standards as well as meeting our customers needs. Availability and delivery has never been an issue and their staff have always been very helpful. If you’re looking at new grass or looking to change suppliers, we would have no hesitation in recommending Atlas Turf.”
– Shelley Conasch, Feature Trees Australia
I would definitely recommend…
“…The turf was delivered and the delivery gentleman from Atlas even informed us, by eye that we had ordered too little turf, and recommended an amount we needed, and was spot on. The process from ordering, to delivering, to laying was all made easier by Atlas and all of their staff, and I would definitely recommend them to any friends or family.”
– Brendan, Sydney
Prompt and lovely to deal with…
“We used Atlas Turf to turf our whole yard, front and back. The staff on the phone were prompt, lovely to deal with and were very knowledgeable not only of their own product but also helped answer many questions about the preparation, maintenance and also a few tips to help lay the turf.”
– Brendan, Sydney
I am extremely happy…
“Just a quick note to let you know that I am extremely happy with my new Sir Walter Lawn. Thank you to the Great Service and Advice I received from all the staff at Atlas Turf.”
– David, Windsor
You were fantastic…
“Just wanted to send you a quick note to let you know how happy we are with our Lawn, right from the start you were fantastic recommending the best lawn for me since I have always lived in a unit it was all a bit confusing. I have a bit of a smile on my face when I walk out on the weekends and my neighbours are all having to mow every weekend but you were right the lawn you selected for me even in summer only needs a quick cut every 3 to 4 weeks to look awesome! Thanks again.”
Remember when mowing your lawns not to cut too deeply, as this can encourage weed growth.
Autumn is an important time in the year for your lawn as it begins to slow down its growth and prepare for the winter.
If you have looked after your lawn through the autumn then the grass should be good and healthy and need little attention through the winter.
