Summer is the height of the growing season for warm season grasses and with the right lawn care practices your lawn should be looking sensational.
WATER
Less frequent, deeper soakings will train the root system to become more self-sufficient and robust, particularly with drought tolerant varieties. In many parts of Australia that receive regular rainfall, such as the Eastern seaboard, you may not need to wanter much at all.
During long periods of dry weather, a weekly soaking may be required; please remember to abide by any water restrictions if you don’t have access t tank or recycled water. To get the most out of any rainfall, apply wetting agents, which improve the water penetration to your lawn’s roots – there are numerous products available from all local garden or lawn centres.
FERTILISING
Providing the essential nutrients throughout summer will keep your lawn looking healthy an strong. By supplementing the lawns natural growth and encouraging super strong root systems. Many fertilisers will need to be watered in as soon as possible after application, so check the instructions before starting.
MOWING
Make sure you mower is in good working order and the blades are sharp. With regular mowing you should aim to remove no more than a third of the leaf blade to encourage dense, healthy growth. If you mow too short, it will lead to stress and potential weed invasion. For buffalo lawns in summer, never mow below 25mm.
During dry periods, keeping your lawn on the longer side will reduce stress and help save water. Longer grass acts as a sun shade for the soil, this reduces evaporation and shades out the weeds.
WEEDS
As with any time of year keep an eye out for any weeds and remove them before they get out o control, particularly before setting seed. The combination of mowing too low and a lack of nutrients can lead to weed infestation. Once those weeds get out of control it is virtually impossible to bring things back. Aerating and top dressing can be done during summer, if necessary, but don’t leave it until it’s too late!
