Story: Building Your Lawn
Episode: 2
Presenter: Sue McDougall
Air Date: 28 August 2021

While lawns in Australia do well during the warmer months of the year, they tend to struggle over winter. It’s important to give them a boost to help them through the colder months.

• Buffalo lawn is known for its broad leaf and dark colour.
• Gardening is all about keeping the soil healthy – doing this over winter will result in a quick turnaround from the winter yellows.
• Low soil temperatures result in a few problems – the growth rate slows down, and weeds and moss appear where the soil isn’t draining water. Take to a lawn with a pitchfork to aerate the soil.
• If there is moss over the soils surface, it will be stopping the lawn covering. Too much moisture and not enough sun add to this issue.
• Buffalo runners are formed on the soil surface and lay over each other. Other varieties, such as couch, form their runners underground.
• After aerating, apply a light top dressing of soil improver or fine compost that has been formulated especially for lawns. Grab a rake or use your hands to fill in the holes – make sure to use the back of the rake to make the job easier.
• The soil temperature starts rising around August/September, so this is the time to use a fertiliser. Use a fertiliser with added iron and a special formula for Buffalo lawns – this added iron promotes a deep green and strong, healthy growth.
• Slow-release formulations release their nutrients gradually over time, releasing through moisture and temperature.
• Scotts Lawn Builder Buffalo Slow-Release fertiliser has a very low phosphorus level, meaning it can be used across the country with no risk to waterways.
• Using a lawn spreader will help control the amount of fertiliser you use on your lawn. You can use a battery-powered handheld spreader, the Scotts WIZZ Lawn Spreader with Scotts exclusive EdgeGuard and HandyLock technology to direct the product and minimise wastage.
• It is a good idea to keep up a liquid fertiliser regime – this is absorbed by the foliage quickly and binds to stems and leaves, ensuring it won’t wash off in the rain.

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