Choosing the best lawn grass for your home

One of the most important decisions you will make when thinking about growing a lawn, is what variety you will grow.     Choosing the right variety and type of lawn affects how well it will grow and how easy it will be to maintain.   Firstly match the right lawn to your soil type and climate.  If you live in a tropical area you may look at varieties like carpet grass.  In sub-tropical areas you may like to look at using a newer variety of buffalo lawn like Sir Walter.  If you are in a temperate and mediterranean area you may like to use soft buffalo like Sir Walter, a hybrid Couch like Winter Green, or a seed variety like Tall Fescue.    In cool temperate areas you may like to grow a soft leaf buffalo, or a seed grass like Tall Fescue, Rye or Bent. 

So, do your research and match your lawn type with your climate and soil.    In regard to soil, some lawn varieties will grow better on clay soils then others, or some grow better on sandy soils then others.   However, when it comes to soil it is best to try and improve your soil before you plant or lay your lawn.  The optimum soil for most lawns, generally speaking, is a sandy loam.   However, you may not be in a situation to change your soil or you may already have a lawn in place that needs improvement.    Either way there are ways you can improve the growth of your lawn. 

How to improve drainage in turf & lawns

If you are starting a new lawn, or if you are improving and old lawn, the first place to start is to look at your soil and drainage.   Drainage will affect how well your lawn grows and also maintains consistency of growth across the lawn area.    Generally speaking, you want to have nice consistant growth across the lawn, and avoid damp spots.   When preparing a new lawn it is best to investigate the soil already in place, can it be improved? or do you have to bring in new soil to start your lawn on.  Does the area drain well? or do damp spots develop when under heavy rain or irrigation. 

If you find that your have a perennial problem with bad drainage there are a number of things you can do.  1.  Your soil may already drain, but is slow draining.  You can contour the land in this situation, so that excess water drains somewhere else.  This means making changes to the levels of your lawn so that the water is redirected, so it does not pool.  2.  You can change or improve your soil type so water is directed deeper into the soil profile.  3.  You can use underground drainage techniques like Slotted Hose, which is also called Agricultural line.  To capture water and redirect it.

If you find that your soil is too well drained as occurs in sandy soils, then you will need to look at ways to improve the soil to hold more water.

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How to improve your soil for growing turf & lawn

Once you have had a good look at your drainage situation, it is now time to have a look at your soil.  The best soil for a lawn is a Sandy Loam,  this type of soil allows for enough drainage and enough moiture holding, for the lawn to grow well.   Also, a sany loam provides for easy levelling and good retention of fertilisers.  

The root system of a lawn grows down to around 30cm below the level of the lawn, however the top 20cm is the most important.   If you have decided to completely improve your soil problem by bring in soil, keep in mind that you require around 15 to 20 cm of soil depth of good soil, although less may be needed in some situations.  Many soil supply companies sell soil mixes which are suitable as a substrait for a good lawn.  These soils are usually a mixture of sand, clay, and in some situation organic matter. 

If you have an soil situation which is harder to change, or you would like to do things on a more economical basis, you can improve your present soil.  Generally speaking if you are attempting to improve your present soil you will need to dig in a soil improver.   If you have a clay soil, you will need to dig in a more sandy soil, and or organic matter to increase drainage.   One way to do this is to use a Rotary Hoe.   It can be a difficult process if your soil is a hard clay, but it will be worthwhile in the long run.   When using a Rotary Hoe,  your soil improver is placed on the surface and then the Rotary Hoe is used to dig the soil improver into the clay.  Usually you can improve the first 20cm of soil using this method.   It is worth adding enough soil improver so to the make the whole process worthwhile, as it can be a lengthy exercise.   Most handyman hire companies hire out Rotary Hoes.

If you have a sandy soil you will need to add organic matter, top soil, and in some cases a soil with some clay.   Clay has the benefits of holding moisture and nutrients.   Basically you follow the same process as above, however it is a much easier process with a sandy soil.   Using organic matter is important to help hold and release nutrients and moisture.  Cow and sheep manure and excellent soil improvers, and fertilisers, and a good choice when improving your soil.  

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How and what to fertilise your lawn & turf with

If you have a lawn in place, or if you are trying to renovate your lawn, then your choice of fertilisers is important.   There are three main types of lawn fertilisers.  1.  Traditional granular fertilisers 2. Liquid fertilisers 3. Organic fertilisers.   Each of these has benefits, all will under correct conditions make your lawn grow to a more or less extent. 

1. Granular fertilisers are the most commonly used.  They have the benefits of being slow or quick effecting depending on the blend you choose.   Generally speaking most lawn fertilisers are simply NPK, the three major nutrients required for plant growth.   You can purchase lawn blends and these are most used on lawns.   Each region due to climatic and soil conditions has different blends that are available.   When spreading your granular fertiliser it can be done by hand or by using a fertiliser spreader.   When spreading by hand use gloves and broadcast the fertiliser in sweaping movements, the trick is not to put too much in one spot.  The general application rates for granular fertiliser are around 30 to 50 grams per sq mtr.   Better to do a light application, and then a second light application over the top to get good coverage.   Fertiliser spreaders are the most popular way of fertilise you lawn.   Hand held and push models are available.   Hand held models are easy to use and spread a light spread so coverage is good, however they are not suitable for large areas.  Push models are the best way to cover a large area and suited to lawns over 200 sq mtrs.   Generally minimum of around three applications are required per year (or more) mostly in spring, summer and autumn. 

2.  Liquid fertilisers are also popular.  Liquid fertilisers have the drawback of needing regular applications, but the effect is quicker acting and produces lush growth.   When using liquid fertilisers applications once a month during the growing season are required.    Liquid fertilisers are best suited to gardeners who take great pride in their lawns as the treatments are frequent.  Most liquid fertilisers are NPK based, they can come ready made, which connect to a hose, or granular which you need to mix.   Newer types of ready made liquid fertiliser, also have seaweed solution.  Seaweed solution has many great benefits, particularly in overcoming fungal problems in soil (which are common).  Seaweed solution is also a great soil improver and helps activate soil micro organisms. 

3.  Orangic fertilisers have their own benefits also, particularly in helping to build up soil organic matter.   Organic fertilisers are usually very slow acting, however they do create long lasting growth and build up soil nutrients.  Most organic fertilisers are based on chicken manure.   Organic lawn fertilisers are usually pelletised, making them easier to spread.  The best way to spread organic fertilisers is to broadcast them by hand.   Around 80 to 100 grams per square mtr is required.    It is important to let organic lawn fertilisers break down before mowing.   Around three applications are required each year, once in spring, summer and autumn for best results.   The one drawback to using organic fertilisers is that they can have a strong odor, regular watering after application will reduce the smell of organic fertilisers. 

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