Most people seem to
have a thorough understanding of lawn maintenance for the warmer months. You
could even say that there is a collective Aussie consciousness on the
importance of lawn care during summer - that is if you don’t water your lawn,
it will burn and shrivel like the Wicked Witch of the West. So, why is there
little
maintaining a lawn in winter
tips readily available or why do us Australians who love our patch of hallowed turf
so much in summer pay little respect to its upkeep outside of the warmer
months?
Lack of education
is fundamentally at the root of this question and the great news is that winter
lawn care tips are simple to remember and easy to follow.
If you want to look
summer fit, do you change your diet and hit the gym three weeks before summer? Maintaining
your lawn is much like body maintenance, they both require preparation,
planning and ongoing love. Here’s how to let your lawn rise to the occasion...
Education and Preparation
The maxim ‘failing
to plan is planning to fail’ has never been so relevant for healthy winter
grass.
Where there is a theory, there is science and the science
behind this is pretty simple: during the winter darker months, there is less
light, more cloud cover and less chance for your lawn to photosynthesise,
retain nutrients and grow. So like your body’s propensity to consume more food
in winter - it’s craving for comfort fuel building food; your lawn will crave
nutrients, and healthy soil but the reduction in temperature will not allow
this. As a result your lawn will not retain that lush green hue that you are
used to unless you begin your preparation in autumn.
You Must Change Your Habits
We all have our habits and quirks…some positive and some negative. We all know how difficult
the negative habits are to break, yet when we continue to abuse them we usually
prolong the damage and make it harder for ourselves to cut ties from their vicelike
grip. This is where your planning is fundamental - make a plan and stick to it. As the seasons
change, so too must your lawn maintenance habits.
Alter The Blade
On Your Mower
As less sunlight is apparent during autumn,
our lawn’s growth will decrease. Increasing the height slightly on your blade
to leave more green leaf will be pivotal to maximising the nutrient supply to
your lawn. Conversely, it’s important to be conscious of any leaves that fall from
deciduous trees left on your lawn, as they can starve the grass of much needed air
and sunlight and potentially damage the grass.
As a rule of
thumb, it's advised not to cut your grass lower than 2.5cm. If you continually
cut your grass too low, you can run the risk of browning and damaging your
grass (scalping), which essentially makes it more vulnerable to weeds and
diseases.
Watering - Less is More For Winter Preparation
As the soil and air temperature
decreases, so should your watering habits.
Most of us have a tendency to either
over-water during the colder months which can increase the possibility of turf
diseases or rotting of the thatch layer, or under water.
During autumn, your lawn will usually receive an adequate supply
of nutrients from dew and infrequent rainfall but the general rule is to
continue to check water levels in the soil and water when required. Leading
into spring you can begin to slowly increase water levels.
Don’t Neglect Your Fertilising Plan
Your fertilising habits should be
included in your plan. It is essential
that you are using the correct fertiliser. Winter fertilisers should
always be used as it contains higher levels of iron and adjusted nutrients
which are essential to strengthening the lawn through the colder months.
It is
advised that you apply a high quality winter
fertiliser in May that includes a mix of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium - or one month prior to the onset of winter and then apply again in
July.
Killing The Two Nasties – Weeds and Wintergrass
It is imperative that as ongoing healthy
maintenance of our grass, we take care of weeds and Wintergrass.
Weeds will become more prominent
leading into winter and the longer we leave them the more they will multiply
and the more problematic they will be to eradicate. It is essential that you
treat them as early as possible before they spread. Ouch! Think of your back?
Likewise with Wintergrass, just like
your mother-in-law, it isn’t going away any time soon. If your lawn has
sprouted it previously, it is almost guaranteed to return the following year.
It must be treated when it’s young and can be treated pre-emergent from May.
Pruning - A Prune a Day keeps the Damage Away
Once again planning is essential
here, with a pre-emptive approach highly
recommended. If you neglect your overhanging bushes and trees you will
increase the risk of damage. Unlopped branches left to wilt will cast a shade
in winter and cause areas of your lawn to deteriorate. So when is the best time
to get out the shears, pruners and lopping tools? Autumn of course!
Final Measures – Sow and Soak
Ok, so you have now taken all the
necessary measures to prepare your lawn for winter. You have followed our basic
winter care tips, what now?
How does it look? How does it feel?
Get down and grab a handful. Is the soil moist enough? Good. You have done a
fine job. Does your lawn look patchy? Not so good. You may need to sow some
seeds; which in autumn would be the ideal time – the colder months are for seed
germination and aeration will also help with the germination process.
Once you are satisfied with how it
looks and feels, why not give it a couple of good long soaks in preparation for
spring and summer. And then you can clean the barby, dust off the deck chairs,
take the cricket kit out of storage and eagerly wait for summer.