A lush green lawn in the summer makes spending time outside even more enjoyable. In Australia, we have hot dry summers, so we need to remember to keep the moisture up to help our lawns stay healthy. If dry patch occurs apply a liquid wetting agent. Liquid wetting agents work very quickly, however you also need to do your retic audit. Wetting agents can burn the lawn if enough water is not applied immediately to water them in.
Watering/Wetting Agents
Make sure you’re watering your lawn regularly, especially if you’re not getting a lot of rain – remember, one long soaking is much more beneficial to your grass than frequent shallow waterings. Not sure how much water your lawn is actually getting? Try our free water catch cups! These are a great way to not only calculate the amount of water you’re giving your lawn, but also to test how well your retic system is performing.
Adding a wetting agent to your lawn can also be especially helpful if you’re finding that your soil is not holding enough water (hydrophobic). UWA testing has shown that wetting agents work best if applied in September, December and February.
Fertilising
A good time to fertilise is just before Christmas (at the same time as you apply your granular wetting agent). At this time of year your grass will well and truly be growing, so will quickly take up any nutrients that you put down. Remember to always use a fertiliser made for your area, this will make sure that you have the added trace elements that are lacking in your soil type.
Perth soils should always have a fertiliser which has added iron and manganese.
Pests
Through the warmer months, it’s worth keeping an eye out for signs of pests. Black beetles in particular LOVE hot, humid conditions. If you notice thin or bare patches appearing in your lawn – it might be time to apply a quality insecticide!
Weeds
Just like your lawn, there are some weeds that will be loving the warmer, more humid weather. At this time of the year, typically broadleaf weeds will be making their presence known (we’ve all encountered the dreaded Bindii over Christmas break!!). To keep these under control, it is recommended to apply a granular pre-emergent (like oxafert) at the start of the season – remember this controls for weeds at the point of germination (before they appear).
However, if you can already see the weeds in your lawn it is too late to apply a pre-emergent. You will need to go for a standard herbicide, we recommend Bow and Arrow as it is one of the most effective herbicides on the market.