The following is a guide to some general turf care tips for the Perth region. It should be noted that these are some general tips, and your situation might be different.
Spring
Spring is when warm-season grass varieties begin to wake up from their winter slumber. A dose of a higher nitrogen-containing fertiliser is often applied to assist in this waking-up process.
Once soil temperatures are consistently above 20-22 degrees Celsius, we can start the process of preparing the turf for the harsh summer ahead. We wait until the soil temperatures reach this level because it generally correlates with the turf growing quickly and being able to repair itself.
This preparation may involve one of either aeration, vertimowing, top dressing, or a combination of all three. We do this during spring because the temperatures are high enough to encourage growth, but not so high as to cause excess stress to the turf.
It’s commonly said that beautiful summer lawns are created in spring.
Summer
Perth’s summers are extremely harsh and unforgiving. We often see temperatures reach near or even exceed 40 degrees Celsius. When temperatures are this high, vertimowing is definitely not recommended. While we can aerate and potentially top-dress at these temperatures, we prefer to have these tasks completed in advance.
During this time, ensuring that our irrigation practices are up to standard is critical, as well as making sure that this moisture can penetrate and be retained in the turf root zone. This is where our soil wetters come into effect.
During the summer period, our fertiliser applications will often shift from a higher nitrogen-based product to a balance of phosphorus, potassium, and any other micronutrients our soil analysis indicated we need.
During this time, we may also raise our mowing height of cut to reduce stress on the turf.
Autumn
Autumn turf care is straightforward in Perth. The temperatures have dropped, reducing stress on the turf, while still being high enough to support good growth levels. During this time of year, we ensure that the turf is prepared for winter. With winter’s low temperatures leading to minimal growth, if the turf isn’t at its best by winter, it’s too late.
In late autumn, we often apply a slow-release dose of a higher nitrogen-containing fertiliser to keep the turf growing as far into winter as possible.
Winter
Ideally, the turf will have the work previously done to it, allowing it to continue growing reasonably well into winter. If the grass isn’t growing, it can’t repair itself, so we aim to avoid dormancy for as long as possible. Regular mowing will help promote growth, as will the late autumn granular fertiliser we applied.
During winter, we switch from granular fertiliser to a liquid product. Once the soil temperatures drop below approximately 14 degrees Celsius, the microorganisms that break down these granules in the soil become less active. Foliar liquid fertilisers are absorbed by the leaf blades of the turf rather than the roots, allowing us to bypass this issue. This needs to be done throughout winter, as once the lawn goes dormant, it is virtually impossible to reverse this until we get warmer weather again.
It is during this time that we may also oversow a warm-season grass with a rye grass variety, which will grow throughout winter.
Throughout the year, we should implement practices that improve soil health. These include enhancing soil structure, promoting microbial activity, relieving soil compaction, fostering appropriate organic matter levels, and balancing pH levels.
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