What to do with your lawn after winter

Lawn care is very important after the winter. Even though the average Australian lawn doesn’t go through extreme freezes, frost and ice are not uncommon during the winter season.

After winter, you may notice your beautiful lawn has some damage, resulting in brown and yellow patches of grass, soggy areas from a lack of drainage, and even bare muddy patches in high-traffic areas.

If you are looking for ways to help your lawn recover from the winter, the following information will help you get your yard back to its luscious green self.

The after-winter lawn cleanup begins

This could be described as the messiest cleanup of the year, so get your gloves and your worst jeans ready.

After a long winter of wind, rain, and grey skies, you can expect to find a lot of fallen debris from the surrounding garden and possibly other gardens in your area. All of this needs to be cleaned up and removed to allow your lawn to make the most of the sun that has started shining again. This needs to be done gently to avoid damaging your lawn any further, as it is in a fragile state after the winter onslaught.

We suggest using a rake carefully, but be prepared to get dirty and use your hands too. This cleanup can be piled for mulch or compost, but you will find your green wheelie bin will be filled to the brim either way!

Get some air into your soil

After winter, the soil under your turf is going to be compacted, particularly if it is heavy with clay. This means it is harder for it to drain water and for nutrients to reach the root system.

There are two solutions to this dilemma:

1. Spike aerator
   
   Simply by using a solid, spike-like nail, spike aerators create a hole in the ground. To aid in aeration, some homeowners strap spiked aerator "sandals" to their shoes or use spike machines, which- while useful in the short term, can actually exacerbate compaction by pressing soil together around the holes they create. They are fun to use though!
   
   

2. Plug aerator
   
   Plug aerators remove a core or plug of grass and soil from your lawn. Usually, they resemble an easy-to-use tool or machine that is manually rolled or pushed into the soil by hand. Professionals say this type of aeration creates the best results.

As fun as the spiky shoes are, you might be better off rolling a plug aerator around the grass.

Get the fertiliser out

If ever there was a time to fertilise your turf, it is after winter. This is beneficial even if you are lucky enough to live in Queensland. Your lawn will need nutrients to support the spring growth that is about to take place. There are several outstanding products we recommend for this purpose.

• Lawn Rescue
  Lawn Rescue is a blend of liquid fertilisers, including seaweed extracts and wetting agents, that are perfect for rejuvenating or reviving your lawn. This product has an easy application process and great coverage.

• Lawn Launcher
  Although the name implies it is only for newly laid turf, Lawn Launcher is also fantastic for damaged grass and roots. Its highly concentrated nutrient formula is ideal for a lawn that has suffered winter damage because it helps establish a stronger root system. You should definitely give it a try!
  
  

Let the mowing begin

Once your grass starts to recover, it is time to start mowing. A lawn that is recovering should be cut a little higher at first. Set your blade to a higher setting to avoid scalping and damaging the grass. This will ensure you don’t lose that nice spring green colour and give it more time to regain strength.

An inch of water a week keeps the doctor away

Water is the lifeblood of your lawn. Watering deeply and regularly in the morning or in the evening to avoid rapid evaporation will help keep the soil hydrated. We recommend an inch of water a week to maintain lawn health. If you would like to monitor hydration levels, you can use the chopstick test.

Chopstick test:

Bury a naked wooden chopstick into the ground for at least 30 seconds. The chopstick will turn dark with dampness. Dust off the chopstick and look at how far the water has seeped into the wood. A soaked chopstick will indicate there is too much water in the soil. Moist patches indicate your lawn will need water the following day. If your chopstick comes out completely dry, your grass probably needs watering right away.

If you are concerned about your lawn overcoming the winter weather, be sure to follow the above advice and take a look at our product recommendations available to purchase online anytime.

Enjoy the spring weather!