Turf Tips

lawn care tips if you’re going away

December 3, 2018 By Amanda

Nothing beats a summer holiday, but the last thing you want to come home to is a dead lawn. At Wild Horse Turf we suggest that you have turf delivered when you’re going to be around for the next two weeks so you can water it in.

But if your lawn is already established and thriving, and you’re only going away for a week, then you won’t have to do much prep, just give it a mow at the regular height the day before you leave. We sell a variety of hardy turf varieties that can tolerate a lack of water, but there’s no harm in giving it a good soaking before you leave to give it a head start.

However, if you’re planning a longer trip say two-to-four weeks (we’re envious), here’s some pre-holiday tasks that will help ensure you return to a healthy lush lawn not a brown eyesore.

Lawn care tips if you’re away for two or more weeks

Mow – but not too low

While it’s tempting to mow lower so you don’t come home to waist-height chaos, keep in mind that it actually pays to leave your grass a little longer than normal to shade the soil from the scorching sun, especially if you live in the Sunshine Coast area.

Hint: If you arrive home to an overgrown lawn, don’t stress and mow too low, mow a few times over the first week you’re home to slowly get it to optimal height.

If you’ve got someone you can ask a favour of or you can afford to pay someone to mow your lawn while you’re away for a month or so, then this is preferable. But don’t stress too much, an overgrown lawn can easily be tended to when you get home.

Watering – set up sprinkler if can

Often in summer mother nature takes care of the watering of your lawn, with the odd storm or sun shower. However, if trends continue, then Queensland summers will get drier and hotter, so it might pay to consider setting up a sprinkler on a timer for areas of the lawn you care about the most, say a highly-visible front yard.

Tip: There’s bound to be an eager child in your street or circle of friends who will water your lawn for some pocket money, or you could hire a local landscaper to water during your absence.

Remove heavy objects

To reduce soil compaction, remove any heavy objects from your grass, particularly cars. This will save you a big job when you return, because starving a lawn of oxygen, water and sunlight is a sure-fire way to stress out an already untended lawn.

Make sure any lawn furniture and sporting gear is also off the grass, because as well as giving it the best chance to staying healthy, if there’s a storm there’s less chance they’ll get blown around and cause damage to your property.

Hold off on fertilising

Like any proud homeowner, you might be tempted to ensure your lawn is well fed in your absence, but avoid this if possible. The varieties we grow are suited to the climatic conditions of the Sunshine Coast and surrounds and will be okay without fertiliser. In fact, by feeding your lawn before you leave, you’ll increase the chances of a massive growth spurt and mowing headaches upon your return.

Importantly, have a fabulous holiday and remember that if you do come home to a sick-looking lawn, get in touch with us at Wild Horse Turf and we’ll help you whip it back into shape in no time.

Need help deciding which variety is best suited for your coastal, rural or inland property? Get in touch with us today on 5496 9790.

Men of League Golf Day

November 8, 2018 By Amanda

We’re big believers in doing our bit to help folk going through tough times, and that’s why Wild Horse Turf has been sponsoring a charity golfing event for the past eight years. Each year up to 150 golfers converge at Twin Waters Resort for the annual Sunshine Coast Men of League Golf Day.

A national charity, the Men of League Foundation was established in 2002 to provide support to the tight-knit rugby league community. Whether it’s for surgery, rehab, specialist care, mental health or those who find themselves down on their luck, the league supports them.

We’re passionate about this cause, and not just because chief grass grower Dean is former player and thinks rugby league is the best sport in world. But because we’re a family-run turf business in a supportive Sunshine Coast community and we know the value in helping others.

You might also be interested to learn that Dean’s uncle, Bob Hagan and wife Laurel, have been involved with the Men of League since its inception and are heavily involved in the Sunshine Coast branch. Bob has a long association with league, having played for the Bulldogs and the Australian team and later in life being appointed the CEO of the Bulldogs.

So, you can see that we’re a league family through and through, well that and we also have a soft spot for golf, hence our passion for sponsoring this event. As well as donating a $200 cash prize, we also sponsor a hole-in-one challenge to the value of $30,000! And this year one of the players missed out by a mere 26cm – we hope next year this prize will be snapped up.

Event organiser and MC is Tony Durkin, a prominent rugby league journalist who also used to work for the Broncos. He says 144 golfers teed off during the charity day, and as for the hole-in-one, only eight players landed on the green, including himself.

“Wild Horse Turf’s sponsorship of the golf day is a major contributing factor towards our most successful event ever – both financially and socially. Our local committee is most grateful for this support, which has allowed us to continue our welfare work for Sunshine Coast families with ties to rugby league,” says Tony.

In its 12^th year, Tony says the event is growing in popularity and was again sold out this year, with people on the waiting list to take part. He says the response from the Sunshine Coast community is overwhelming but players also travelled from Brisbane, Gympie and the Gold Coast to take part.

“We were also pleased to have two local amateur golfers attend, they were 23-year-old Charlie Dann and 17-year-old Sarah Wilson; they hit tee shots for some of the players. The Sunshine Coast Men of League committee couldn’t be happier with the result,” he says.

Overall this year’s charity event was a smashing success and Dean and the team at Wild Horse Team are proud to be in the position to help local footy players and their families. We can’t wait to be involved in this event next year, and hopefully be able to gift someone $30,000.

Speaking of giving things away, we’re always up for sharing our turf knowledge with you, so drop us a line or call us on 5496 9790 and we can have a chat.

how to identify and treat lawn grubs

November 1, 2018 By Amanda

Lawn grubs are a pest that affects most lawns from time-to-time, especially healthy ones. While this isn’t good news for those who have just installed some of Wild Horse Turf’s high-quality grass, it’s a treatable condition.

Here’s everything you need to know about lawn grubs (often called army worm) including how to spot them and most importantly, how to boot the critters to the curb.

What are lawn grubs and where do they come from?

We’re sure you won’t be pleased to learn there’s a few different varieties of lawn grubs, with the most common one being the Armyworm; it’s the larvae of the Armyworm moth. This is a grey powdery moth that loves to feed on grasslands and pastures. These are found in the thatch layer of your lawn or in the evenings on top of it having a munch, they’re a green/brown colour.

Another grub you might come across is the curl grub, you can spot this because it has a brown head and cream and grey body. They’ll curl up if they’re touched and are the larvae of beetles such as the African beetle. Sadly, they love chomping away on the underground stems of your lawn.

The least common grub in Australia, because it prefers cool season grasses, is the sod webworm. They’re the larvae of the Crambus moth, a silvery off-white critter that flies around a lawn dropping eggs on lawns in the early evening. The small brown/green caterpillars eat blades at night and hide in the base of your grass during the day.

Tip: Keep an eye on your neighbours’ lawns – if they have a grub problem, emerging beetles may migrate toward your grass.

How to test if you have lawn grubs

If you have grubs you will notice sections of your lawn starting to die. To check if you have grubs, lift a piece of brown turf and if it rolls up like carpet or it has no roots, we’re sad to say you probably have grubs.

Also, if you’ve got random and irregular-shaped dead patches in an area of lawn that you water evenly, check for grubs. Keep in mind that if you have a pet, it could be that they have chosen to continually urinate in this spot and that’s why it has gone brown. Another tell-tale sign for those with well-watered lawns is that your turf has become spongy, this can happen before excessive brown patches occur.

You might also have heard of the hessian sack or tea towel test. To identify grubs lay a wet sack or towel on your lawn and overnight grubs will be attracted to the moisture which means in the morning you’ll find the critters attached. This is also one (time-consuming) way you can get rid of grubs.

Hint: An increased presence of birds, moths and wasps hanging around your lawn might also indicate a grub problem.

What can I do to get rid of them?

there are several types of treatments ranging from, granular and liquid chemical concentrates to ready mixed hose-on applicators. Always strictly follow instructions and keep away from waterways.

Keep in mind that grubs can be active during the entire growing season and it may take more than one application to eradicate the little blighters.

Fact: Because grubs love moisture, in drought conditions grub activity is usually slower, in fact it can even disrupt the hatching of eggs.

How can I prevent lawn grubs?

Preferring the nicest lawn in the street, most grubs will avoid a struggling one, but this doesn’t mean you should stop caring for yours. Instead try to keep your home, shed, eaves and fences free of moth nests using a hose and broom, this can reduce moth activity and may help.

Also, keeping your lawns slighter higher might help and only water your lawn when it’s showing signs of heat stress and deterioration because grubs adore moist lawns. By watering less but more deeply, you will promote deep strong roots and help deter lawn grubs. You can also regularly aerate using a garden fork, this also helps to produce grub-hardy roots.

If you’re concerned some grubs might have taken up residence in your lawn or you’ve discovered them and want some advice, get in touch with Wild Horse Turf on 5496 9790.

how to treat and prevent fungus disease in your lawn

October 18, 2018 By Amanda

The Sunshine Coast’s warm and humid weather can be the perfect breeding ground for lawn fungal diseases. You might not be aware that your lawn is naturally full of fungi and spores, and usually these are harmless, until the right (or wrong) conditions cause them to turn on your pristine lawn.

They attack the roots of your turf and cause them to rot. At Wild Horse Turf we’ve worked hard to refine our growing techniques to ensure our grass is resistant to such diseases, yet sometimes they still rear their ugly heads.

The best news is most common lawn diseases are also the most easily preventable. But first let’s look at how to tell if your lawn is going brown because of a fungal disease or something else such as lawn grubs.

How to spot fungal diseases in your lawn

From highly-obvious spots, rings, threads to dead-looking patches brown patches, fungal diseases can take many forms. Examine your grass for signs of dampness, squishy roots and stems or fine white threads in your soil.

Others signs your lawn may have a fungal disease include:

A wet-looking, slimy or greasy-looking lawn
Patches or rings, usually white, yellow, or brown, that grow in diameter.
Discolouration, frayed or distorted-looking blades of grass.
Spots on the stems or blades of your lawn, often gray, black, red or orange.
Powdery or threadlike coatings around and on grass blades

Fact: Mowing your grass too low can encourage fungal diseases.

Three common lawn fungal diseases

Certain diseases strike specific lawn varieties and others thrive during certain times of year or weather conditions, for example brown patch usually strikes during hot and humid weather. Dollar spot tends to arrive when nights are cool and the dew is heavy, whereas during drought conditions in hot weather fusarium blight springs into action.

Because not all fungicides are created equal, you’ll have to figure out exactly which pest you’re dealing with. Dean is Wild Horse Turf’s chief pest inspector and if you’re not sure what you’re dealing with, he can probably help, so take a photo of the problematic area and send it to us for identification.

How to treat fungal disease in your lawn

If you’re prefer organic options, you can pour or sprinkle compost tea, baking soda solutions or neem oil; it’s plant-based and non-toxic. This option is best for small areas. You can also try thinning out trees and shrubs surrounding your lawn to increase the air circulation, because lawn fungi develop in moist, still conditions.

A sure-fire way to sort out fungal diseases is a fungicide that’s targeted to your specific problem. These are available at all hardware stores. Keep in mind it won’t help your grass regrow but it’ll sort out spores.

Tip: If your lawn has diseased patches, be sure to wash and disinfect the underside of your mower after each use.

How to prevent getting fungal disease in your lawn

Don’t be disheartened if you already run a tight ship in regards to lawn care practices, sometimes diseases happen due to weather conditions that are out of your control. Do keep in mind that stressed or unhealthy lawns are much more likely to develop disease.

7 steps to help take control of fungal diseases in your lawn:

Aerate by loosening soil in your lawn every year or two.
Conduct a soil test to identify any nutrient deficiencies as these can lead to stressed lawns and disease.
Apply a rich top-dressing soil to increase drainage and combat fungal diseases.
Make sure you’ve got the right grass type for your climate, soil and sun conditions.
Remove thick build-ups of thatch so your soil can breathe.
Follow good mowing practices such as keeping blades sharp and mowing your lawn to the correct height.
Complete lawn watering at the beginning of each day rather than at night, so it’s not left sitting on a thatch layer overnight (except when establishing a new lawn).

Did you know? Scalped lawns are more vulnerable to fungal disease.

Wild Horse Turf can help guide you through the process of finding the right variety for your specific growing conditions and climate, so shoot us an email with any questions you might have.

how to mow for a perfect lawn

October 15, 2018 By Amanda

Mowing your lawn might seem like a simple enough process, but did you know there’s many factors to consider when cutting grass. For example, the height at which you mow depends on the variety of your turf, and if your mower blades are blunt it can cause damage to the appearance of your lawn.

At Wild Horse Turf we’re keen to give you as much information to ensure your lawn stays in the best shape possible. Here’s all your lawn mowing questions answered and a few of our own special tips thrown in for good measure.

Why can’t I mow my lawn too low?

It’s tempting to cut your grass short so you don’t have to mow it as often, but did you know that it’s a common mistake made by most lawn owners. The luscious green leaves of your lawn actually absorb sunlight and turn it into energy for your grass, and by cutting too much leaf off your lawn will have to draw on reserves stored in its roots. Avoid continually mowing too low to ensure your grass thrives.

Hint: The lower you mow it, the more often you’ll need to mow it.

When can I first mow my new lawn?

Once your turf is rooted to the soil, usually from 14 to 21 days, you can mow it for the first time, as long as weather permits. To test if your new lawn is established, gently lift a corner piece of your turf and see how easily it lifts. Your lawn is good to mow if you can’t lift the turf up at all.

Tip: Never cut more than one-third of the leaf in any one mowing session.

What height should I mow my Empire Zoysia, Sapphire Soft-Leaf Buffalo or Palmetto?

These varieties are meant to be mown slightly higher than others and are best kept anywhere from 40mm to 50mm, with Empire Zoysia ideal at 40mm. If you cut your buffalo lawn too low it’ll lose its dark green leaf and potentially stunt its growth and lose its striking colour. Mowing these varieties too low and reducing the density of thatch layer and lawn sward will mean it’s also at a higher risk of invasion from weeds or pests.

Hint: As a guide, mow weekly in summer and every 2-3 weeks in winter.

My lawn is Tropika Blue Couch or Wintergreen Couch – what height is best?

While best kept shorter than buffalo varieties, ensure couch varieties are about 30-35mm and no more than 30-40% of its leaf is removed during any one mowing session. If you’d prefer a shorter lawn gradually reduce the height over time – just be careful not to scalp it.

Tip: Mowing is the best form of weed control, with pulling them out by hand the next best thing.

Is there a right way to mow a lawn?

There sure is, in fact at Wild Horse Turf we’re pretty fussy about how we mow our lawns! For starters, when using a rotary mower we suggest mowing around the perimeter in a clockwise direction, this way excess green material is thrown back on the lawn not the path.

Next mow in straight lines, if they become crooked you can fix this by overlapping during the next strip. When you come across an obstacle such as garden beds or trees, treat them as you would the outer perimeter and the mow straight where you can.

Hint: When straight lawn mowing, make sure you overlap a little with each pass so the excess room between the blades and outside of wheel is accounted for.

My lawn is odd-shaped – how do I mow it?

The best way is to break your lawn into sections, first cutting the outside perimeter and then mow in straight lines the largest section and work your way down to the smallest areas. As well as saving you time, this will leave lines in the lawn that should look natural – it might take some trial and error but you’ll eventually find a pattern you like.

Tip: Don’t forget to empty the catcher more often when mowing extra-long or wet grass – this will stop excess clippings being left on the lawn.

Should I leave clippings on my lawn?

Now this is a personal preference, but the facts are that clippings can be a great source of nitrogen and can act as a natural fertiliser. If you’re mowing regularly and only removing a small amount of leaf, as we suggest you do, it’s fine for the health of your lawn to leave clippings.

However, leaving too many might cause your grass to lose colour and burn, especially if it hasn’t been mowed for a few weeks. In this instance we suggest removing your clippings. More often it’s a decision you’ll make on how you want your lawn to look.

Hint: Do not leave clippings on lawn when you have weeds or have been weed spraying recently.

Are sharp mower blades really that important?

They sure are, cleaning your mower and making sure your blades are sharp can have a huge impact on the health of your lawn. We suggest you remove grass build-up regularly and that you thoroughly clean your mower about 2-3 times a year.

Dull blades can rip at the grass leaf and leave it bruised, rough-ended and takeaway from its finish – so give them a sharpen after every 24 to 36 hours of use. If you’re handy with a grinder it’s an easy job or you local mower shop will be able to sharpen them for you.

Tip: Sharpening blades can reduce your mower’s fuel consumption by 25%.

We’ve got some more handy lawn care tips here, or you can call Wild Horse Turf on 5496 9790 to get a free quote and advice on the best lawn variety for your property.

how to improve your lawn’s soil

October 11, 2018 By Amanda

If you’ve got an established lawn that isn’t thriving, it could be that your soil is to blame. The soils underneath all grass, including those at Wild Horse Turf’s three farms, are more responsible for delivering good lawn health than anything else.

How can I check the quality of my soil?

Because you can’t visually tell whether your soil is in good shape or not, it’s best to get a pH test kit. Large hardware stores and garden centres sell these for a few dollars. Turf grows well in well-drained soils with a pH level of about 6.0 and 7.0 but usually flourishes at about 6.5. Anything out of this range might go some way to explaining why your lawn isn’t as lush as it could be.

Why is soil so important to lawn health?

A lawn’s soil provides nutrients, water and oxygen to the grass we grow, and if any of these things aren’t right then your lawn will not thrive. And because removing your entire lawn and replacing the soil isn’t an option, there are other ways you can improve the wellbeing of your soil.

Just keep in mind there’s no quick fix and most treatments require time and some expense, but consider it an investment in the long-term health of your lawn.

3 ways to improve your lawn’s soil

Top dressing

Applying a rich organic soil mixture to the top of your turf can improve soil quality. If you know you’ve got sandy soil then top dressing is the best way to give it a boost, just apply a layer of rich soil about 1cm thick on top of your lawn.

It’s important you water it into the grass; if done correctly you shouldn’t be able to see any trace of the rich soil on top of the lawn. If repeated regularly, over the years you will continue to improve your lawn’s soil and the health of your turf.

Wetting agents

If your lawn is repeatedly deprived of water during long hot summers, then over time soils may naturally repel water, this is particularly the case with many Australia soil types. Obviously this isn’t conducive to a happy lawn, so by applying a wetting agent you will break down the repellent waxy coating on the grains of soil.

This opens up the top of the soil to allow more water to flow into and throughout the soil. Once it’s made its way into the soil, the wetting agents help the soil to hold the water for longer and distribute it more effectively. Do this up to three times a year for best results.

Organic Fertilisers

Based on naturally occurring substances, organic lawn fertilisers are usually made up of manure products or substances such as seaweed. Easily bought from your local garden shop or hardware stores; try Seasol or Dynamic Lifter for lawns. If used a few times a year they can help boost the organic richness of the soil that is feeding your lawn.

Hint: Before applying organic fertiliser and wetting agents, aerate your lawn to help the goodness reach soil easier. If you haven’t got a proper lawn coring machine, a garden pitchfork will do the trick.

Improving the quality of your soil is an ongoing process of lawn care and it pays to keep monitoring the health of your lawn and the soil as required. Think of it as helping your lawn to thrive from the inside out.

If you have any questions or are unsure if you soil quality or something else is to blame for your lawn’s lacklustre appearance, get in touch with Wild Horse Turf today on 5496 9790.

Turf Tips

lawn care tips if you’re going away