We all love a lush green lawn! It adds to the appeal of your property and gives you a sense of peace, and serenity.

I'm sure you've driven down a street with beautiful landscaping and thought wow. Take that same street with the same houses, and remove the landscaping. You'll often see this around a new development or older suburb and I guarantee you won't have that wow feeling. You won't exactly be able to pin point why but if you were to compare the two side by side you would realise straight away it is the lawns and landscape!

So here are our top 5 do it yourself lawn care tips to help you achieve that lush green lawn and be the envy of all your neighbours!

1. Buy the right mower for your size and type of lawn

If you aren't sure! Ask, ask, ask. Find out what type of lawn you have, the size of your block and even take photos.

You may also find a lawn care professional that will come out to give you a free lawn health check to provide you with this information. We at Lawnworks Mowing offer this to all of our clients.

Once you have this information, go to a few lawn mowing suppliers and with this information find out which mower is the best for your lawn. It may seem a little pricey however, a mower will last you years and is a good investment.

If buying the right mower for your lawn is out of your price range, it is best to engage a professional to mow your lawn as the wrong mower can do more damage than good.

2. Feed your lawn with a slow-release or organic fertiliser to maintain a healthy, strong lawn

Many people miss this crucial step in their lawn care.

If your grass is wilting and yellow, it likely needs nitrogen, the main ingredient in lawn fertilizers. Nitrogen optimizes health, which makes grass less susceptible to diseases. For instance, lawns suffering from nitrogen deficiencies are more prone to diseases such as rust, red thread and dollar spot.

Although quick-release fertilizers can help with these problems, they also encourage rapid growth that is vulnerable to fungal growth and similar problems. On the other hand, slow-release nitrogen reduces the risk of grass developing these diseases, with less threat of fungus.

3. Use wetting agents in summer to keep soil moist

Adding a wetting agent and organic mulch to the soil can help protect your plants from drying out and can improve the overall appearance of your garden beds.

Wetting agents help the soil to absorb and disperse any water that falls on it more evenly and effectively. Even if your garden receives large amounts of rainfall during summer, the addition of a wetting agent can help to ensure that the soil is able to absorb all of the water that falls instead of remaining on the surface. Soils with wetting agents are able to hold on to moisture for longer, which may mean watering less if you live in a drier climate while still being able to enjoy a vibrant garden.

4. Cut the grass by less than 2cm (this is in reference to the grass removed not from root to tip)

It is important that you never cut off more than 2cm of grass, being the top third of the grass. Mowing too closely can stress the lawn and expose the earth, encouraging weed growth.

You also won't need to use a grass catcher, and you can use the clippings as mulch.

5. Don't cut the grass shorter than 5cm

You may think cutting the grass shorter will extend the time between having to mow your lawn however, your lawn won't be as drought resistant as longer grass.

It is also important the grass is kept at this length because the more "traffic" walked over the lawn, the longer the grass should be. If your lawn is too short, your lawn will become stressed and potentially die from the high traffic on the area.

For more information or a free lawn health check, contact us today on 0410 959 959 or contact@lawnworksmowing.com.au

You can also find more lawn care tips on our website at www.lawnworksmowing.com.au/blog

There is a misconception that fertilising your lawn only causes it to grow faster meaning more mowing! Just like our bodies require nutrients for optimal health, so does your lawn. Not fertilising your lawn simply to save time mowing may cause weeds to take over, killing your lawn.

So, when is the best time to fertilise my lawn?

Autumn. All warm season grass varieties will become dormant over the colder months, so autumn is a great time to make sure your lawn is fit, healthy and strong for the harsh colder weather ahead of it.

How often should I fertilise my lawn?

We recommend fertilising three times a year, with autumn being the most important of them all. This fertiliser will provide your lawn with a good nourishment before winter and will encourage healthy root development, with a stronger lawn making it harder for weeds to establish through over winter.

What else can I do to ensure my lawn stays healthy?

Aerate your lawn. Autumn is also a great time to aerate your lawn with a garden fork as it helps rejuvenate a tired lawn and get it ready for winter. As a guide, in most areas you should aim to have your lawn winter-ready prior to Easter to ensure you haven’t left it too late.

Contact us today on 0410 959 959 for a lawn maintenance quote for a customised fertilisation and weed spray program for your lawn.

It goes without saying that you have one shot at getting it right when trimming your hedge however, there are other reasons why selecting Lawnworks Mowing as your garden maintenance professionals is important other than just ensuring your hedge looks its best.