Maintenance
Some ongoing maintenance will ensure that your turf looks good for years to come.
Once all your turf is laid give it a really good soaking with water within half an hour of laying the turf. You will need to keep your turf damp for the first 2 – 4 weeks until the roots have begun to establish and the turf cannot be lifted.
After around 2 weeks you may need to mow your lawn. Ensure you mow at the level recommended for your turf type. It is particularly important that turf not be mown too low.
Regular watering of your turf will keep it in good condition. Water when your lawn needs it – how often will depend on your climate, soil and turf type. As a guide a deep watering once or twice a week is preferable to frequent light watering as it promotes deep root growth to create a more drought resistant lawn.
Watering
Mowing
Your lawn will benefit from regular mowing however it is very important that you not mow the lawn too low. Fescue must not be mown any lower than 50-60mm high, and kikuyu 30 to 50mm. Clippings which are left on the lawn contain nutrients which are usable to the turf – just ensure that these are evenly spread and not too thick or you will reduce the amount of light and water your turf is getting.
Fertilising
Regular fertilising, especially during spring to support the grass through its growth period, and autumn to keep your grass in the best condition and set it up for the cold winter months.
It is important that the fertiliser you choose has a good range of nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and potassium) to support not only leaf growth but also shoots and root health. We use and recommend Multi-grow.
Ensure that all fertiliser is watered in well to avoid burning your grass. If you feel your lawn should be greener you would need to use a product containing extra nitrogen (urea) however it is important you follow label instructions and it must be watered in well as it can burn the grass.
For areas which get a lot of wear the ground may become compacted. If this occurs your soil and turf will benefit from aerating. For this you can core the ground with a corer, spiked roller or garden fork and then apply fertiliser again ensuring it is well watered in.
Weeds
Broadleaf weeds can be easily managed using targeted broadleaf sprays available at nurseries or garden centres. Always follow the label instructions for application and safety.
Pests
The main pest in this area is the African Black Beetle.
Symptoms:
• irregular dead areas of turf eaten below ground
• bare patches, loose turf (easy to pull)
• You observed or observe large numbers of black beetles in your lawn this spring.
• Large numbers of birds continue to land on your lawn and appear to be feeding (on lawn grubs).
• You find very large numbers of witchetty grub-like larvae in garden beds adjacent to your lawn (five to six grubs per spadeful)
Black beetles overwinter in lawn grass before mating and laying eggs anytime during spring. During late spring and early summer, the overwintering generation of beetles dies. Meanwhile, the grubs or larvae that started life early in spring begin to emerge as lawn foraging beetles. At this stage, it’s possible to have both adults and larvae feeding on your lawn and if the problem is ignored, dead lawn patches quickly appear.
Control: Application in Spring of a product containing Imidacloprid (eg. Confidor). The aim is to kill the black beetle larvae in spring well before they begin damaging your lawn by feeding on their roots.
