after lawn care

Lets face it, nothing looks or feels better on a balmy New Zealand summer afternoon then a lush green lawn surrounding your home while you (or your children) run barefoot over the soft, sweet smelling grass. Even the smell of freshly cut grass can conjure memories of summers gone by.

Once you have your new lawn seeded and underway, it is important to continue looking after your lawn to ensure good growth and healthy looking grass without the weeds!

Of course, you'll find plenty of information about lawn care in out other articles that cover irrigation and fertiliser tips, both of which are important components of healthy green lawns.

You can keep your lawn looking good all year round just by following a basic maintenance plan that will help you keep on top of weed growth, watering and lawn feeding. However, at the most basic level, just watering and mowing your lawn will help keep it looking fine.

Mow Your Grass!
Unmowed grass will eventually "go to seed", and nothing looks untidier then a weedlike mess of stalky grass, weeds and prickles in your backyard. The majority of grass seed is designed to grow in full sun and for a healthy lawn you should leave your mulched lawn clippings on the lawn every few weeks as the left over decomposing grass provides nutrients to the soil. It will look a little messy for a few days, but is beneficial to the soil.

Many lawn care experts believe that a lot of New Zealand lawn care problems could be avoided if the grass is mowed at the correct height and by keeping your lawn mower blade sharpened. By mowing your grass at its best height will help to increase the density and good look of your lawn. Rule of thumb is to never remove more than one third of the leaf in any one mowing.

Your new lawn should be allowed to grow good leaf before the first cut which is normally at least five centimetres tall.

Down with Weeds!
The best way to combat weeds in your garden is to maintain a healthy lawn. Many people prefer to remove lawn Weeds by pulling out by hand (at the roots). However applying a specific lawn herbicide is a more effective and less time consuming option. Lawn herbicides are designed to kill weeds but not the grass in your lawn.

Let It Rain!
Firstly, it is important to adhere to any water restrictions in your area. If none are in place, irrigation is your best friend when it comes to watering your lawn and promoting growth, however don't go overboard with the watering as over-watering is much worse than under-watering!

The best times to irrigate your lawn are in the early morning or early evening when there is generally less wind and heat. Try to avoid using your Irrigation in the heat of the afternoon as this an cause the water to evaporate quickly, while watering late in the evening can cause the lawn to stay wet all night, which encourages disease development.

Fertile is Good!
Fertilising your lawn is a process designed to provide the lawn with the nutrients it needs for optimum growth. Regular soil testing will help determine what fertilisation program you require. You can purchase soil test kits from your most garden centres.

The best time to feed your lawn is when it's actively growing and in need of nutrients, while the ideal time to add Fertilisers to your grass is normally before a good rainfall or you irrigate.

Website editor - Rachael de Hek