A recent survey of 1,000 Aussies nationwide, commissioned by Yates, revealed 77 per cent of us admire other people’s lawns and 81 per cent are dreaming of a better lawn at home.
Whilst 18 per cent of Aussies feel their neighbours are judging the state of their garden, over 40 per cent admit to maintaining their lawns to compete with others in their street. Sixty-six per cent keep their lawn looking good for their own eye candy!
“As temperatures drop across the country, lawn growth will slow however weeds can take off and rapidly infest and take over the lawn. Weeds are one of the biggest problems to watch out for over autumn and winter when it comes to your lawns,” said Angie Thomas, Horticulture Consultant to Yates.
Be a weed warrior
It’s not just bare patches in your lawn that attract weeds. Even in the thickest parts of your turf, winter grass will find a way to snuggle in. This produces multitudes of seeds within weeks that will fall to create an even greater problem for you next year. Pull it out as soon as it emerges – the colour and shape of the tufts of blades distinguish it from your turf. It’s easily pulled as the roots are very shallow. If it’s rampant, apply a selective weed control before it produces seeds.
Bindii also appears in our winter lawns, getting ready to attack your feet or those of your children and pets in spring and summer. It’s more difficult to spot in winter, so spray your lawn now with a selective control before it develops the seed capsules that produce so much pain in spring.
Bindii control can also be used on the visible blight that is big, fat broadleaf weeds – such as clover and that infuriating little creeping oxalis – many of which have deep tap roots that are difficult to pull.
Tip Read labels carefully and use selective weed controls. General-purpose herbicides will also kill your grass.
What weeds to look out for
Broadleaf weeds like bindii and clover start growing actively during the cooler months. Bindii produces prickles and can make the lawn unusable and clover can compete with and overtake large areas of lawn.
Angie’s tips on reducing lawn weeds
- Keep the lawn well fed with an organic lawn food. A healthy, thick lawn is better able to resist weed infestations
- Repair any bare patches in the lawn, as these can be a magnet for weeds
- Apply a selective herbicide over the lawn while weeds are still small and before they have had a chance to flower and set seed. For buffalo lawns, it’s important to apply a buffalo safe weed killer
- Applying Yates Dynamic Lifter during autumn will also promote a lush green lawn as winter approaches and add valuable organic matter back into the soil.
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