How to care for your lawn through the seasons

Most of us with a lawn know that it needs a certain amount of care and attention to
keep it looking it’s best. Mowing, whipper snipping and watering, however, are just
the basics, and depending on the season, your lawn may need more attention to
keep it looking green and healthy.

Feeding your lawn throughout the year
The ideal time to fertilise your lawn is at the beginning of each season (except for winter). To prepare your lawn for its spring growth, apply a complete fertiliser high in nitrogen in September, applying the same fertiliser in early December. For the autumn season, apply a fertiliser high in potassium in March, which will help to maintain the health of your lawn during the colder months.

Aerating or dethatching your lawn
Dead growth (also known as thatch) can be good for your lawn, acting as a mulch, but too much and it prevents light, air, nutrients and moisture reaching the roots. The result is a brown and dead looking lawn.  

To remove this thatch you can either aerate your lawn or dethatch it, both of which can be labour intensive, but are definitely worth the time and energy involved. The best time of the year to aerate or dethatch your lawn is during early spring, so that it is ready for its new growth.

Spring tasks for your lawn
To help the new growth gain traction in spring, rake away all the dead growth as this lets light reach the new shoots (if there is an overabundance of thatch then your lawn will need to be aerated or dethatched, as above). Fertilise your lawn, don’t over water it, and sprinkle lawn seeds over any dead patches.

Summer tasks for your lawn
Apply your summer fertiliser and water early in the mornings, before the day is too hot. Morning is better than evening for watering, as during the evening the overnight humidity can lead to fungal growth in your lawn. Leave your lawn to grow higher in summer, as this protects the roots from the heat of the day and reduces evaporation.

Autumn tasks for your lawn
Fertilising your lawn is important in autumn, as it strengthens the grass and helps it to withstand the cold winter temperatures. Lawns can dry out quickly in autumn, due more to the windy weather than the heat of summer, so don’t forget to water your lawn regularly.

Winter tasks for your lawn
​Apart from regular mowing and whipper snipping, all you really need to do in winter is keep up the watering, making sure not to over water as this can kill your lawn during winter.
For more information on our lawn care services in and around Cairns, call us on 0418 488 774 or send us an email today.