4 Tips for Summer Lawn Care
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.
Soil Soak Granular Wetting Agent is a long lasting commercial grade non ionic granular wetting agent.
Maximum: 1
pack (6 units)
Lawn Doctor Turf Shop are giving away free water catch cups to help you drought proof your lawn. Just come in store and get your free catch cups and advice on how to use them. Maximum 1 pack (6 units) per customer as we get limited free stock from Water Corp to last a year.
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.
Baileys 311 is a premium, fully granulated, balanced formula of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements iron and manganese.
THIS DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR FREE THURSDAY DELIVERY - STORE PICK UP ONLY
Eco-Prime Emerald is a easy to use fertiliser for your lawn. 20 kg bags.
THIS DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR FREE THURSDAY DELIVERY - STORE PICK UP ONLY
Knights Coastal Special Lawn Mix is a granular fertiliser formulated specifically for the conditions Perth lawns face — sandy, free-draining coastal soils that leach nutrients quickly, and a climate that demands consistent colour and root health through both dry summers and cooler winters.
The balanced nutrient blend replenishes the nitrogen, potassium and trace elements that Perth's sandy soils cannot hold between applications. Unlike high-nitrogen products that push rapid lush growth, Knights Coastal is formulated for steady, sustained feeding — building genuine root depth and lawn density rather than quick but shallow top growth.
Apply with a rotary spreader at the recommended rate and water in immediately after spreading. Suitable for all lawn varieties including Sir Walter Buffalo, TifTuf, Zoysia Australis and Nullarbor Couch.
Best used as part of a year-round fertilising program with applications in autumn (April/May), late winter (August) and spring (October). The autumn application is the most critical — it builds the nutrient reserves the lawn draws on through winter.
20kg BAGS DO NOT QUALIFY FOR FREE THURSDAY DELIVERY - STORE PICK UP ONLY
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!
1.5 kg per 100sqm.
Acelepryn GR is Australia's leading professional-grade insecticide for lawn pest control, used extensively by turf managers, sports ground curators and lawn care professionals across the country. For homeowners, it represents the same level of protection in an easy-to-apply granular format.
Acelepryn GR controls the full range of turf-damaging insects including armyworm, lawn grubs (African black beetle larvae), billbug, cutworm and mole crickets. Its active ingredient, chlorantraniliprole, works through contact and ingestion with very low mammalian toxicity — making it one of the safest insecticides available relative to its efficacy.
In Perth, armyworm is the primary target. Armyworm populations peak in late summer and autumn (February to April) and can devastate a lawn in a matter of days if not treated promptly. Acelepryn GR provides both curative treatment for active infestations and preventative protection applied ahead of the known risk period.
Apply with a rotary spreader and water in immediately after application. A single application provides season-long protection in most conditions. Compatible with all turf varieties.
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.
Bow & Arrow Herbicide is the standard for broadleaf weed control in the Australian turf industry providing outstanding control of broadleaf weeds in turf.
OxaFert is one of the most practical and popular products we stock for Perth lawns — a granular pre-emergent herbicide and fertiliser combined in a single application. Instead of applying a separate pre-emergent and fertiliser, OxaFert does both jobs at once, saving time and reducing the number of products needed.
The pre-emergent component creates a chemical barrier in the top layer of soil that prevents germinating weed seeds from establishing a root system. It is effective against the most common winter weeds in Perth — wintergrass, crowsfoot grass and oxalis. Timing is critical: OxaFert must be applied before weed seeds germinate to be effective. In Perth, the target window is May to early June, before soil temperatures drop consistently below 15°C.
The fertiliser component provides a balanced nutrient feed at the same time, supporting colour and root health through the transition into the cooler months.
Apply with a rotary spreader at the recommended rate, then water in immediately. Do not apply to dry soil without watering in — the pre-emergent must be activated by moisture to form the soil barrier.
Compatible with Sir Walter Buffalo, TifTuf, Zoysia Australis and Nullarbor Couch. Check label for application rates specific to your variety.