Summer lawn care tips

Step 1: Give the lawn a good feed!

There's not much more inviting than a lush green lawn! To encourage deep green growth, apply an organic based lawn food like Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Lawn Food. It contains gentle, slowly-releasing nutrients to help green up the lawn, but also enriches the structure and moisture retention of the soil and encourages earthworms and beneficial soil micro-organisms. Having happy microbes is the secret to a good lawn, because the microbes break down fertiliser into a form that lawn grass can absorb.

Party tip: don't apply Dynamic Lifter just before guests arrive; when it begins to work its organic magic on your lawn, it pongs for a day or so!

Step 2: Aeration

If your lawn's going to be well and truly ‘loved’ over summer and get trampled by lots of happy feet (and paws) then it'll benefit from being aerated. Aeration will help loosen up hard and compacted soil underneath the lawn, make it easier for water and air to penetrate down into the roots. Aeration makes it physically easier for grass roots to grow.

Aerating the lawn can be as simple as pushing a garden fork down through the grass and around 10 cm deep into the soil, then gently lever the fork back and forth a little to open up the holes the fork tines have made. Do this multiple times over the lawn; it's hard work but the results are really worth it!

For large lawns, mechanical aerators can be hired that really save a lot of effort. Lawn 'coring' for peak aeration is best left for autumn, as it leaves visible holes in the lawn.

Step 3: Mowing and tidying

If you plan to mow before guests arrive, it's best to do it a few days ahead of time. This gives any stray grass clippings time to disappear, so they won't stick to anyone's feet. Don’t be tempted to do a harsh low mowing just before; this risks scalping the lawn and creates bare patches in the weeks ahead, which will invite in weeds. It’s better to do two or three mows a few days apart, removing just the very tips of the grass foliage each time.

Edging paths and driveways always adds an extra sharpness to your lawn. If you have a dog, do a quick poo check just before everyone gets there.

Step 4: Fix bare patches

Bare patches aren't just unsightly, they're the perfect opportunity for weeds to push in. Make patch repair a priority when getting your lawn ready for summer party season. To fix the bare patch, remove any dead grass or weeds and gently cultivate and loosen the soil to create a nice soft and crumbly surface. Next scatter some Yates Seed'n'Feed over the patch and gently rake into the surface. It's very important to water the patch regularly as the new grass establishes.

You can repair and renovate your lawn all year round, as Yates Seed'n'Feed contains the same seed varietals as Yates Sow Anytime Lawn Seed, so it will germinate at temperatures as low as 3°C.

Step 5: Holiday weed control

Often the first thing you notice about a lawn is weeds. Broadleaf weeds like Capeweed, Dandelion, Catsear and Plantain (Lamb's Tongue) are a different shape and colour to the lawn grass, really stand out and ruin the look of a lawn. Luckily, it doesn't need to be complicated or time consuming to create a weed-free lawn. It's really easy to use Yates Weed’n’Feed. Don’t come back from holidays to a lawn full of weeds! Before you head off on a road trip, give the lawn a shot of Weed'n'Feed.

A word of warning though; selective weedkillers like Weed'n'Feed can cause stress to grass during hot weather. Most lawns in NZ are cool-season species, which are at their best in spring and autumn. Hot summer conditions don't really suit them, so they need to expend a lot of their energy to get through the season. If the weather is very dry and very hot, chances are your grass is already under stress: applying Weed'n'Feed in these conditions can add to that stress and show up as burnt grass. You'll get much better results if your lawn has been well watered in the weeks prior to applying Weed'n'Feed, so the lawn soil retains some moisture.

Kikuyu may be drought-tolerant, but it's especially sensitive to selective weedkillers, which means there's a higher risk of burning it with Weed’n’Feed or Yates Turfix. The risk is lessened during winter while kikuyu is in its dormant phase, but much higher during hot weather or periods of drought. We recommend choosing Yates Weed’n’Feed Granular for kikuyu and couch lawns.

Step 6: Watering for dry weather

Give your lawn long sessions of watering. that wets the soil to a considerable depth. This encourages deep rooting and results in a more vigorous, higher quality turf. Short, frequent waterings during hot weather will encourage shallow rooting of the grass: this reduces its potential intake of water and nutrients. It also makes the lawn more susceptible to weed invasion, fungal diseases and pest damage. Aim to do a ‘deep’ water 1-3 times a week.

To check if your lawn needs to be watered, tread firmly on the grass. After removing your foot, if the grass doesn't spring back and lays flat, it’s an indication your grass needs to be watered. If the grass springs back, then it doesn't need to be watered.