We love our low-maintenance, home-grown turf, but even low-maintenance turf needs a little TLC as the long days of summer wind down and the cooler days of autumn and winter approach.
A bit of work now, fertilising and caring for your lawn, is going to make all the difference when your lawn is fighting off frost, shade and weeds come winter time.
If you want to make sure your lawn is in a healthy condition looking good all year round, check out our top picks for lawn feed, and why fertilising is so important in autumn!
Why should I feed my lawn in autumn?
Autumn is one of the most important times in the year for lawn care. As temperatures start to decrease, an unhealthy, dried out lawn is going to go into winter unprepared. It is so much easier to do some preventative lawn care before the cold weather hits, rather than trying to salvage a dead lawn come spring.
By applying a fertiliser packed full of all the nutrients and elements that may have been lost during the sweltering summer heat, you’re giving the lawn back what it needs to survive the cold and minimise winter damage. to not only survive the cold, but to look good doing it.
We suggest applying a quality fertiliser during April and May, especially a slow-release type of fertiliser, which will keep your lawn fed and happy for up to 12 weeks. If you’re really serious about giving your lawn that extra bit of loving, you can even start with some proactive lawn maintenance in March, giving you plenty of time to nurture your lawn back to full health before temperatures plummet.
What type of feed do I need?
There are a few different kinds of lawn care products that you’ll need when considering post-summer lawn care. Exactly what you need is going to vary depending on the type of lawn you have as well e.g. Kikuyu, Couch, Buffalo, Tall Fescue etc.
Pre-emergent herbicide targets weeds before they germinate, making it the most effective way to de-weed your lawn. It forms a barrier on the soil, meaning that any new weed seedlings can’t germinate. Pre-emergent herbicide will usually protect your lawn from weeds for about three months at a time, so it’s best to apply it seasonally.
A nutrient-rich fertiliser is going to feed your lawn with all the essential elements it needs to thrive. While fertiliser is important to apply year round, it’s especially so in autumn––replenishing the lawn with any nutrients it lost during summer’s hot, dry weather, and preparing it to survive the approaching cold winter conditions.
How do I apply my lawn feed?
How you apply your feed depends on whether the feed is granular or liquid.
Granular lawn feed is best applied using a hand spreader, getting it across the lawn evenly before watering it in. This type of feed should be reapplied every 3-4 months to keep your lawn well fed and looking good.
Liquid fertiliser and pre-emergents require a hand-sprayer, or alternatively, you could use a hose-on liquid fertiliser which clips right on to the end of your hose. Liquid feed should be reapplied every 1-2 months, depending on the product.
Don’t forget––pre-emergent herbicides won’t be activated until you’ve watered them in, as this is how the chemical gets right down to the weeds’ roots, so make sure you’ve watered that lawn after application!
For specific product application instructions, just check the product label––there will be detailed instructions on how to apply that specific feed.
What are the best autumn feeds to use?
We’re so glad you asked. Coolabah Turf has a variety of top of the range feed options to keep your lawn in great shape this winter. Just make sure to check which ones are suitable for your lawn type before purchasing. These are our top picks:
LSA Oxafert
Lawn Solutions OxaFert Herbicide & Fertiliser is a pre-emergent herbicide for control of many annual grasses and broad-leaf weeds in warm season turf. It controls weed seedlings as they come into contact with it during germination, and won’t harm your healthy turf as it does its job. This herbicide/fertiliser combo has been designed to control and attack weed growth as well as providing necessary nutrients to your lawn––all in one easy application!
Oxamax
OxaMax is a combination herbicide and controlled release fertiliser for pre-emergent control of Summer Grass, Crabgrass and Winter Grass in turf. It feeds the turf with a slow release of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Perfect for Buffalo and Kikuyu lawns.
Pendi Pro
Pendi Pro is a ready-to-use formulation containing a combination of controlled release fertiliser for nitrogen and potassium feeding, as well as a pre-emergent herbicide for the control of Winter Grass, Summer Grass and Crowsfoot Grass in turf. We recommend Pendi Pro for Kikuyu, Santa Ana Couch, Tif Tuf and Zoysia lawns.
For more information about taking care of your lawn in autumn or for advice about autumn lawn feeds, give one of our lawn care advisers a buzz today on 1800 648 425. You can also click here to have our latest lawn care products delivered direct to your door!
