Episode: #7 14/10/2006
Presenter: Sue McDougall

Its time to prepare the lawn for the hot months ahead and there are some essential things you can do to ensure it will be water wise, whilst still looking bright green and fantastic.

With the driest winter on record, we all need to conserve water for the coming months and Sue has the 5 top water wise tips for a great lawn.

First up, ensure there is no competition from weeds as they compete with the lawn for the moisture in the soil and always win. If hand weeding is going to take you a month of Sundays, apply a selective broad leaf weed killer like Yates Zero Bindii and Clover Gun.

Fertilise lightly and regularly from now until May. Applying a fertiliser all at once is only going to cause you work. The lawn will green up instantly and put on all this amazing new growth and you will find yourself mowing it every weekend. By feeding it lightly with Yates Lush Lawn Master the growth is controlled. Too much fertiliser also makes for a thirsty lawn.

Grab the lawn mower and lift the blades so it is not cut so short. The green leaves will shade the soil and protect the soil surface from the sun, reducing evaporation. Even if you only lift them up a centimetre it makes the world of difference to helping save water.

A strong healthy lawn will be-able to cope with diseases much better than a stressed one. One that shows up at this time of the year is a fungal disease called dollar spot; it causes irregular dead patches. If you suspect that is what your lawn has then check it in the morning and you will see white fluffy fungal growth on the dewy turf.

Don?t forget to apply a wetting agent like Yates Waterwise Granular Soil Wetter for Lawns. Any water that is applied needs to get to the root system. On older couch lawns it is also a great idea to vertimow to reduce the build up so the water soaks in.

If you have any more queries or tips regarding lawns or any aspect of gardening, wether you are a beginner or an experienced gardener the Garden Gurus online gardening club is for you.

Search a huge data base of frequently asked questions, have your questions answered by one of the Gurus and become a part of one of the most exciting and inspiring garden clubs around. Visit the Garden Gurus website and join up now.

The garden featured is called Adel-Sen in Oakford and you only saw a sneak preview of it, but it is huge and open on the 15^th October 2006 as part of Australia?s open Garden scheme from 10-4.30pm

Adel-Sen
233 Foxton Drive
Oakford WA 6121

Australian Open Garden Scheme
www.open.garden.org.au

Featured Products

Waterwise Granular Soil Wetter

• Contains coir peat, which is a renewable organic resource. It attracts and traps nutrients as well as improving soil structure and potting mix which means reduced water usage.

Zero Bindii and Clover Gun

• Controls bindii, clover, creeping oxalis and other broadleaf weeds such as dandelions in most types of lawns and also pathways
• Easy to use.
• Combination of two selective weed killers, which allow a broad range of weeds to be controlled.
• Contains a wetting agent.

Lush Lawn Master

• A premium slow release lawn food with added wetting agent.
• Promotes even growth and encourages stronger root development.
• Added wetting agent granules promote deep watering of hard soils and delivers nutrients deep down to the roots.
• Part of a complete range of premium lawn care products.
• Continuously feeds for up to 3 months to build a stronger, thicker lawn.
• Added wetting agents promote deep watering and minimise nutrient run off.
• Suitable for all lawn types.