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Beat Summer Weeds Before They Even Start
Summer in Australia means barefoot cricket, backyard BBQs, and a lawn that's begging to be used. But summer also brings weeds that love nothing more than gate-crashing your turf party.
Here's the thing: chasing weeds all summer is exhausting. But a smart prevention strategy? That sets you up to win before the battle even starts.
Why Prevention is Your Secret Weapon
Summer weeds such as Summer Grass, Crowsfoot, Creeping Oxalis and Crabgrass target weak spots. If there are thin or stressed patches in your turf, it leaves light and space for weed seeds to take hold. Your best bet is to start the season with thick, healthy turf and shut down their entry points completely.
Step 1: Deploy Pre-Emergent in Mid-Spring (Your First Line of Defence)
If you have a Coolabah lawn, you will have seen this step listed on your Lawn Maintenance magnet. So, if summer weeds have been a problem before, or you just want to dominate this season, then a pre-emergent herbicide is your opening move.
Coolabah recommends Oxafert or Oxafert Plus.
Oxafert creates a barrier in the soil that stops weed seedlings at germination, before they have the chance to break through. Typically, we recommend an application in mid-spring, around the time that temperatures start climbing. Oxa-Pro does the same thing, however it delivers a nutrient boost at the same time, strengthening your turf while blocking weeds. Double whammy! This single proactive step can slash summer weed pressure and give your Coolabah lawn the head-start it deserves.
Step 2: Build Turf So Thick Weeds Can't Get a Foothold
Strong, dense turf leaves zero room for competition. Here's how to build it:
Feed Your Lawn Right
Well-timed fertiliser through spring and summer helps your grass thicken up fast. A vigorous, well-fed lawn naturally crowds out weeds before they get comfortable.
Mow Regularly (And Don't Scalp It)
Regular mowing keeps turf dense and healthy. If you've got a few weeds showing, mow before they seed to stop them from spreading across your lawn.
Keep your heights right:
- Sir Walter Buffalo: 30–40mm
- Eureka VG Kikuyu: 25–40mm
- TifTuf: 10–25mm
- Nullarbor Couch: 12–20mm
- Sir Grange: 20–40mm
Water Deep, Not Often
Deep, infrequent watering builds strong root systems that give your grass the resilience to outcompete weeds, even under summer heat stress. For a comprehensive guide to watering your lawn in summer, check out the Coolabah guide here.
Step 3: Stay Sharp, Deal With Stragglers Fast
Even with the best defence, a few weeds might sneak in around edges, paths or garden beds.
If you spot them nice and early, you should be able to pull them out by hand, but just make sure you are pulling out the entire root. Otherwise, a lawn-safe selective herbicide for your grass type is an effective method.
If the weeds have already seeded, we suggest a quick mow. Make sure your lawn mower has the catcher attached, to prevent the seeds from spreading over the rest of the lawn.
Being in a consistent, healthy rhythm of fertilising, mowing and watering will help your lawn fight against weed infestations. The healthier your turf stays, the less room weeds have to move in.
How This Works With Your Coolabah Turf
Whether you're running Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo, Eureka Premium VG Kikuyu, TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda, Sir Grange Zoysia or Nullarbor Couch, this pre-summer weed prevention plan fits perfectly with your Coolabah care calendar.
Our slab-cut turf establishes fast and responds brilliantly to pre-emergent treatments backed up by proper feeding, mowing and watering. The result? Thick, resilient turf that weeds can't penetrate, and way less work for you when summer kicks into gear. Think of all that extra time you can have enjoying the backyard!
Your Summer-Proof Lawn in Three Moves
- Apply pre-emergent (Oxafert) in mid-spring, or when the weather starts to warm up where you live
- Feed, mow and water properly to build dense, healthy turf
- Stay alert. Knock out those stray weeds early!
A few hours of smart prep in early December will save you weeks of frustration later.
Questions? Need advice on weed ID or treatment? Our Lawn Doctor team has your back: lawndoctor@coolturf.com.au
Get in. Get it done. Enjoy your summer.
