Lawn Maintenance

Canberra Blend Lawns flourish in the Spring growing season. You can utilise this to promote deep root growth with a deep watering routine. Deep watering will encourage the roots of your lawn to grow deep into the soil, enabling it to source increased water and nutrients. To develop a deep watering routine you should water less frequently but thoroughly. Ideally 11mm or half an inch over the whole area. For sprinkler systems you can check how long it takes by placing several straight sided containers on different areas of your lawn and see how long it takes them to fill to half an inch (this will also highlight any areas of your lawn missing out). A good hint if you are experiencing problems with runoff is to water at intervals to allow water to penetrate the soil.

Santa Ana Couch should be watered twice a week throughout Spring depending on rainfall. 

Canberra Blend Lawns get the most benefit from fertilizer when they are actively growing in Spring and Autumn. To achieve an even balance of nutrients, Canturf Grow Green should be added in small regular meals three times in each growing season, six weeks apart. Grow green + has been specifically designed for our grasses and contains a balance of Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium as well as essential trace elements to ensure your lawn stays well fed. Always water the lawn thoroughly after feeding or apply during a steady rain.

Santa Ana Couch should get an application right at the start of spring after its first mow of the season. This and two follow up applications, each six weeks apart, will green your lawn up nicely and wake it up from its winter dormancy. Always water the lawn thoroughly after feeding or apply during a steady rain.

For both Canberra Blend Lawns and Santa Ana Couch, the best time to control weeds is when the weed is most active, which is usually spring and autumn. A healthy vigorous lawn is the first line of defense against weeds, however, even the best lawns can be affected. The best method of weed control is hand removal including all roots. Some weeds may require spot spraying with an herbicide.

For broadleaf weeds a selective herbicide will target the broadleaf weeds but not our grasses. Some weeds will need a non-selective herbicide such as Roundup or Zero, but these will kill all plants including the lawn. Herbicides and more information on which to use with our turf is avaliable at our Canturf Farm. Call us on 02 6228 1991 for more information. Always spot check any herbicide before using it on your lawn.

Canberra Blend Lawns can benefit from over sowing. The spring growing season before it gets hot but after the frosts end is a great time to seed cool climate lawns. Drought, wear and dog urination can leave your lawn showing signs of stress and in need of some seeding. Remove dead matter, top dress and reseed in conjunction with Lawn starter fertiliser. Please see our Seeding a New Lawn section or Products for more information on our seeds.

Santa Ana Couch is a sterile seeding lawn meaning it does not come in seed form. As a very hard wearing, self-repairing lawn most damage should be temporary. A fertilise can help it bounce back and mowing without a catcher can help it spread. Otherwise in extreme cases turf can be used to patch.

Canberra Blend can benefit from dethatching if required. The best time to dethatch Canberra Blend is August just prior to Spring. See the Winter Lawn Care section for more information.

Santa Ana Couch can benefit from dethatching in early spring. Thatch is the dead and decaying plant material that builds up at the base of the grass plant. In areas effected by thatch the entry of air, water and nutrients is reduced. Vigorous hand raking may be enough to remove the dead material, or you can hire a dethatching or scarifying machine if necessary. 

Canberra Blend won't show signs of infestation in Spring but the laerve are about to get laid and the damage they do won't be seen until Autumn. The best defense against Scarab Grubs is prevention, an application of Acelepryn in early November will prevent the initial infection before the damage occurs. Adding O'Connor's Strawberry clover to your lawn can also lesson the likelihood of future infestations as the beetles dislike the thick legume roots.

Santa Ana Couch is much less susceptible to scarab grub infection. It is also a self-repairing grass so most damage to the lawn can be fixed with mowing and fertilising. If you're concerned Acelepryn can be applied in early November.

Canberra Blend Lawns need to be watered frequently throughout the hottest months of Summer. Canberra Blend being cool climate grass needs adequate water to flourish in our hot, dry summers. Factors such as wind and heat can dry out your soil profile quickly and stress your grass. It's best to monitor the weather, ground and grass. Watch for signs of dryness, such as the lawn turning pale or wilting, and water immediately. The deeper your root growth the less frequently you should have to water but your soil make up, age of turf and past watering regime all effect the amount of water. A good rule of thumb is to water if it's above 28^oC. Please give our office a call for more recommendations.

Santa Ana Couch should be watered twice a week in the summer months. 

For any lawns fertilising in the heat of Summer can increase the likelihood of burning the lawn and is not recommended for a healthy lawn. 

Canberra Blend Lawns are best left untouched with herbicides in the hot summer months unless there is a large outbreak. If needed make sure you are watering enough so as not to compound stress elements.

Santa Ana Couch thrives throughout the summer months, and you can utilise herbicides if needed. The best time to control weeds is when the weed is most active. Santa Ana will often out compete weeds, but the best method of weed control is hand removal including all roots. Some weeds may require spot spraying with an herbicide. Herbicides and more information on which to use with our turf is available from our Canturf Farm. Always spot check any herbicide before using it on your lawn.

Canberra Blend is best left unstressed in the Summer months unless compaction is prevalent. The best time to aerate is in April and August to aid in new growth.

Santa Ana Couch can benefit from aeration in areas of compaction and hard wear where the entry of water and nutrients are restricted. This problem can be remedied by coring or aerating the soil. Give the soil a good soaking, and with a pitchfork penetrate to a depth of 10-15 cms. For a large area, coring machines can be hired. Aeration is also useful for incorporating lime, gypsum, or coarse sand into the soil to improve drainage or pH. 

Canberra Blend Lawns flourish in the Autumn growing season. You can utilise this to promote deep root growth with a deep watering routine. Deep watering will encourage the roots of your lawn to grow deep into the soil, enabling it to source increased water and nutrients. To develop a deep watering routine you should water less frequently but thoroughly. Ideally 11mm or half an inch over the whole area. For sprinkler systems you can check how long it takes by placing several straight sided containers on different areas of your lawn and see how long it takes them to fill to half an inch (this will also highlight any areas of your lawn missing out). A good hint if you are experiencing problems with runoff is to water at intervals to allow water to penetrate the soil.

Santa Ana Couch should be watered twice a week throughout Autumn depending on rainfall.

Canberra Blend Lawns. It's time to start your Autumn fertiliser regime. Much like in the Spring growing season Canturf Grow Green should be added in small regular meals in Autumn to replenish nutrients and ensure a healthy, lush and vigorous lawn that is less susceptible to weeds. To achieve an even balance of nutrients, apply three times six weeks apart. Always water the lawn thoroughly after feeding or apply Grow Green fertilizer during a steady rain.

Santa Ana Couch should recieve two meals, six weeks apart, of Canturf Grow Green at the beginning of Autumn ending well before dormancy (around Anzac day). 

For both Canberra Blend Lawns and Santa Ana Couch, the best time to control weeds is when the weed is most active, which is usually spring and autumn. A healthy vigorous lawn is the first line of defense against weeds, however, even the best lawns can be affected. The best method of weed control is hand removal including all roots. Some weeds may require spot spraying with a herbicide.

For broadleaf weeds a selective herbicide will target the broadleaf weeds but not our grasses. Some weeds will need a non-selective herbicide such as Roundup or Zero, but these will kill all plants including the lawn. Herbicides and more information on which to use with our turf is avaliable at our Canturf Farm. Always spot check any herbicide before using it on your lawn.

Canberra Blend Lawns in the Autumn growing season can benefit from seeding if required. We here at Canturf regularly seed our fresh pivots in March allowing the young grass to enjoy both the Autumn and Spring growing seasons before its first hot summer. When over sowing, choose a Canturf seed to complement your turf type. Remove dead matter, top dress and reseed in conjunction with Lawn starter fertiliser. Please see our Seeding a New Lawn section or Products for more information on our seeds.

Santa Ana Couch is a sterile seeding lawn meaning it does not come in seed form. As a very hard wearing, self-repairing lawn most damage should be temporary. A fertilise can help it bounce back and mowing without a catcher can help it spread. Otherwise in extreme cases turf can be used to patch.

Canberra Blend can benefit from Aeration or coring in the peak of the Autumn growing season. Bare patches or poor growth can often occur in compacted soils, where traffic may be high. In these areas the entry of water and nutrients are greatly restricted. This problem can be remedied by coring or aerating the soil. Give the soil a good soaking, and with a pitchfork penetrate to a depth of 10-15 cms. For a large area, coring machines can be hired. Aeration is also useful for incorporating lime, gypsum, or coarse sand into the soil to improve drainage or pH.

Santa Ana Couch can benefit from aeration in early Autumn but as it heads towards dormancy any holes created from aeration may not have time to repair. It is best to not aerate after March, any later won't permanently damage your turf but is not recommended. It's best to aerate in the Spring or Summer months.

Canberra Blend can benefit from dethatching if required. Thatch is the dead and decaying plant material that builds up at the base of the grass plant. In areas effected by thatch the entry of air, water and nutrients is reduced. Dethatching does stress your lawn so doing it mid growing season is a good idea. Vigorous hand raking may be enough to remove the dead material, or you can hire a dethatching or scarifying machine if necessary. Buildup of thatch can be prevented through aeration and correct watering to encourage a deep root system. After dethatching some oversewing might be required.

Santa Ana Couch is heading towards dormancy and any damage created from aeration may not have time to repair. Dethatching now could created damage that won't be fixed until it comes out of dormancy. It is best to dethatch Santa Ana in Spring.

Canberra Blend may have signs of scarab infestation throughout Autumn. Whether that be patches dying off from root damage or birds digging up your lawn to get at the grubs. Unfortunately treatments won't be effective as the grubs have reached maturity and are mostly unsusceptible to available sprays.

Luckily as it gets colder the grubs will become beetles and fly away ending the ongoing harm. An application of Canturf Lawn Starter Fertiliser and keeping the lawn well watered will help root growth and can fix some root damage. Any damage they leave will need to be re seeded or in extreme cases re turfed. The only silver lining is the damage comes at a good time to seed. 

The best defense against Scarab Grubs is prevention, an application of Acelepryn in early November will prevent the initial infection before the damage occurs. Adding O'Connor's Strawberry clover to your lawn can also lesson the the likelihood of future infestations as the beetles dislike the thick legume roots.

Santa Ana Couch is much less susceptible to scarab grub infection. It is also a self-repairing grass so most damage to the lawn can be fixed with mowing and fertilising. If you're concerned Acelepryn can be applied in November.