Spring is finally here, which means warmer temperatures, longer days and a lawn that is ready to wake up after the cooler months.
For many Sydney homeowners, spring is one of the most important times of year for lawn care. Warm season turf varieties such as Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo, Sir Grange Zoysia, Eureka Kikuyu, and Zoysia Australis begin actively growing as temperatures rise, making spring the ideal time to address winter damage, weeds, soil compaction and thinning areas before summer arrives. If your lawn is looking a little tired after winter, now is the time to give it some attention.
Why is spring such an important time for lawn care?
During winter, warm season grasses slow their growth considerably. Depending on the variety and location, your lawn may become less dense, lose some of its colour and take longer to recover from foot traffic.
As temperatures increase in spring, your lawn begins actively growing again. This provides an opportunity to repair damage and improve the overall health and appearance of your lawn before the heat of summer arrives. Spring is also a great time to identify problems that may have developed over winter, including weeds, compacted soil, thatch, uneven areas and bare patches.
When should I start spring lawn care?
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is rushing into spring lawn care too early. It is better to wait until temperatures are consistently warm enough for your lawn to be actively growing. Applying fertiliser or undertaking major lawn renovation while the grass is still dormant or growing slowly is unlikely to provide the results you are looking for.
In Sydney, this timing can vary from year to year depending on temperatures and weather conditions. Rather than relying solely on the calendar, look for signs that your lawn has started growing again, such as needing to be mowed regularly. We recommend waiting until the lawn is actively growing before applying spring fertiliser.
Start by checking your lawn
Before reaching for the fertiliser or mower, take a good look at your lawn. Look for bare patches, thin or weak growth, yellow or discoloured areas, weeds, excessive thatch, compacted soil, uneven areas, heavy foot traffic, signs of insect damage and poor drainage.
These problems can have different causes, so identifying the issue first will help you choose the right treatment.
Remove weeds before they take over
Spring is one of the most important times for weed control. As temperatures rise, many lawn weeds become increasingly active. Common weeds found in Sydney lawns can include Bindii, Clover, Oxalis and Cudweed.
Removing weeds while they are still small is much easier than allowing them to mature and produce seed. For a small number of weeds, hand removal may be all that is required. Where weeds are widespread, a suitable lawn herbicide may be necessary. We recommend Lawn Solutions Australia All Purpose Weed Control. The convenient clip-on hose attachment ensures effortless application, eliminating the need for tedious measuring and mixing of concentrates. It’s user-friendly and perfect for anyone looking for a hassle-free solution to weed problems.
Give your lawn a good mow
As your lawn starts actively growing again, mowing frequency will usually need to increase. Before your first major spring mow, check your mower blades. Sharp blades create a cleaner cut and help avoid tearing the grass.
Avoid removing too much leaf at once. If the lawn has become long over winter, gradually bring the mowing height back to your preferred level rather than cutting off a large amount of leaf in a single mow.
A useful general rule is to avoid removing more than approximately one third of the leaf blade during a single mowing session. The ideal mowing height and frequency will depend on your turf variety and growing conditions.
Should you fertilise your lawn in spring?
Spring is an excellent time to fertilise a warm season lawn, but timing is important. Wait until your lawn is actively growing before applying fertiliser. Once the grass is actively growing, nutrients can support healthy leaf growth, stronger roots and improved lawn density.
A quality fertiliser can help provide the nutrients your lawn needs as it enters its main growing period and prepares for summer. We recommend Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser - it's ideal for all lawn varieties and is packed with essential nutrients and trace elements to encourage strong growth and rich colour.
Does your lawn need aerating?
If your lawn receives a lot of foot traffic, the soil underneath it may become compacted. Compacted soil can restrict the movement of air, water and nutrients through the soil profile, making it harder for the roots to grow properly.
Aerating your lawn creates spaces in the soil and can help improve water and nutrient penetration. Spring is a good time to aerate once the lawn is actively growing. A garden fork can be suitable for smaller areas, while larger lawns may benefit from mechanical aeration.
What about thatch?
Thatch is a layer of dead and living organic material that develops between the grass leaves and soil surface. A small amount can be beneficial, but excessive thatch can interfere with water, air and nutrients reaching the soil. If your lawn feels unusually spongy underfoot, excessive thatch may be one possible cause.
Spring can be a suitable time to dethatch once the turf is actively growing, although not every lawn needs to be dethatched every year. The need will depend on your turf variety, mowing practices and lawn condition.
Check your watering system
Before summer arrives, check your irrigation system. Turn on your sprinklers and make sure each area is receiving adequate coverage. Look for blocked sprinkler heads, leaks and areas that are receiving too much or too little water.
Spring generally does not require the same amount of irrigation as summer. Natural rainfall may provide much of the moisture your lawn needs, depending on the weather and soil conditions. For an established lawn, a deeper watering when required can encourage stronger, deeper root growth rather than relying on constant shallow watering.
Does your lawn need a complete renovation?
Sometimes basic maintenance is enough. Other lawns need more significant work. A spring lawn renovation can involve weed control, dethatching, aeration and fertilising. However, a full renovation is not necessary for every lawn. We recommend renovating when there are specific issues to address, such as significant thatch, uneven levels, soil compaction or a desire to substantially improve the lawn.
Spring lawn care checklist
Before summer arrives, check that you have:
- Inspected your lawn for winter damage
- Removed existing weeds
- Checked your mower blades
- Increased mowing as growth increases
- Fertilised once the lawn is actively growing
- Aerated compacted areas if required
- Assessed the thatch layer
- Checked your irrigation system
- Repaired bare areas
- Looked for signs of pests
Need new turf instead?
Sometimes a lawn has simply reached the end of its useful life. If your existing lawn is severely patchy, damaged, uneven or difficult to maintain, replacing it with fresh turf may provide a much better result than trying to repair it.
Spring is an excellent time to lay new turf in Sydney because temperatures are warming and warm season grasses are entering their active growing period. At Greenway Turf Supplies, we can help you choose the right turf variety for your garden, lifestyle, sunlight levels and soil conditions. Get in touch with our team for expert advice today.
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