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There's something quietly satisfying about a well-tended lawn heading into the cooler months. The mornings are getting crisper, the light is shifting, and if you've been paying attention, your grass has started to slow down, too. Winter in Victoria asks a little less of your lawn, but what you do now, in these last weeks of autumn, can make all the difference when the warmth returns in spring.
Lift that mower
As growth slows, it's worth gradually bringing your mowing height up slightly over the next few months. The extra length on the grass blades helps your lawn absorb nutrients and the extra bit of sunlight that it will benefit from through the cooler period. Plus, a lawn that's mown too low is more susceptible to winter weed infestations and frost, which are two things we try to avoid as we head into winter. Mowing around 5 - 6cm is generally the sweet spot, and make sure you remove the lawn clippings to allow the whole surface access to that valuable sunlight!
Give it one last feed before the cold sets in
Autumn is your final real window to fertilise before winter dormancy slows nutrient uptake considerably. An application of a fertiliser, such as the Exceed Liquid Fertiliser, will help to strengthen cell walls and improve your lawn's resilience against frost and cold stress, because it has good levels of potassium present. Think of it as tucking your lawn in with a warm blanket before the temperature drops.
Stay on top of weeds while you still can
Weeds like winter grass and broadleaf varieties are already looking for their opportunity. Getting a pre-emergent herbicide down in early to mid-autumn, before soil temperatures drop below around 14°C, gives you a real head start. Once winter grass has germinated, it's much harder to manage, so acting now will save you a lot of frustration come July! Here at Coolabah, we recommend Oxafert because it acts as both a fertiliser and a herbicide. Two birds, one stone!
Check your drainage
Waterlogged soil is one of the biggest causes of lawn decline over winter, particularly in areas with clay-heavy ground. If you noticed any low spots pooling after rain last year, now is a good time to address them with some top-dressing or minor levelling, before the rain really starts to fall and soil gets too muddy and messy for any renovations! Good drainage keeps roots healthy, reduces disease pressure, and means your lawn bounces back faster when spring arrives.
Ease off the water
With cooler temperatures and less sunlight, your lawn simply doesn't need as much irrigation through winter. Overwatering during the cold months is one of the most common mistakes homeowners make, because it encourages shallow root growth and can contribute to fungal issues. Let the rain do most of the work, and only step in if you're heading through an unusually dry stretch.
Go easy on the foot traffic
A frost-covered lawn is a vulnerable lawn. Walking on frozen or heavily stressed grass can damage the cell structure of the leaf blades, leaving brown patches that take time to recover. Where you can, try to keep foot traffic to a minimum on those cold mornings, especially first thing when the frost is still sitting on the surface. We know the frosty lawn can make for some fun ice-skating for the kids, but it is best avoided!
A lawn that heads into winter in good condition is one that comes roaring back in spring, ready to take on barbecue season. A little attention now is worth a lot come September!
If you're not sure what your lawn might need heading into the season, our team is always happy to chat it through with you. Give us a call with any of your questions or concerns. We know Victorian lawns, and we're here to help!
