All Coolabah varieties are tough as nails, self repairing, and have low water requirements once established. The single sacrifice we ask our customers to make when purchasing a drought tolerant, environmentally friendly turf variety is to accept the fact that its appearance and colour could deteriorate during winter while it is dormant – a small price to pay for sustaining your global environment while preserving your local landscape and lifestyle investment.
Winter dormancy is a normal characteristic of C4 warm season varieties. The degree of colour loss however could vary from year to year pending seasonal conditions and location of turf. The appearance of any turf located in an east facing or exposed position will suffer more than turf in an area protected by shade or near a fence or building.
Please also be advised that while turf is dormant, winter weeds may penetrate through to the top of the surface. Winter weeds will disappear from your turf once warmer weather helps your lawn become active again so do not FRET! This is a naturally occurring part of your lawns life cycle!!
We recommend hand weeding where possible, or phone the Coolabah office to find out more about suitable selective herbicides available for sale.
Remember that all Coolabah lawns need heat to thrive – they do not enjoy cold temperatures!
The upshot is – during this period of dormancy – your lawn will need NO maintenance. So put your feet up and enjoy the footy – no mowing, no watering, and no fertilising again until the Spring.
Talk to the Coolabah Crew to find out how to reduce discolouration during winter with better management practices.
Annual management guide for drought tolerant turf
Apply Lawn Solutions Fertiliser – Premium Lawn Food to your new lawn 5-6 weeks after installation.
Once your new lawn is established follow the lawn maintenance guide below to protect your lawn landscape investment and ensure you always have the best looking lawn in the street.
OCT Week 1: Apply Lawn Solutions Fertiliser – Premium Lawn Food.
NOV You may also choose to dethatch your lawn during the early part of November if it becomes spongy and difficult to mow. Apply Lawn Solutions Fertiliser – Premium Lawn Food after de-thatching to enhance your lawn’s recovery.
FEB Pending turf condition an additional application of Lawn Solutions Fertiliser – Premium Lawn Food may be required during this period to assist with turf health.
Oxafert: Oxafert is a preventative, pre-emergent herbicide and fertiliser in one easy-to-use application. It is used for the control of annual grasses and broad-leaf weeds in warm season turf. NB: Not suitable for Santa Ana or Nullarbor Couch lawns.
Seasol – Complete Garden Health Treatment: A plant conditioner (not a fertiliser) to help protect lawns from frost damage and promote winter colour retention.
Dethatch: The mechanical removal of the upper layer of dead turfgrass tissue (thatch) from your lawn.
ColourGuard: A natural product that re-introduces a green pigment to your lawn. Apply once lawn growth has slowed/stopped but before frost-affected.
Lawn Solutions Fertiliser – Premium Lawn Food: Fast and slow release granules packed with essential nutrients and trace elements. Please only use at label rates.
You can download our handy little fact sheet here.
Products available from:
- Online Store – coolturf.com.au
- Your local Lawn Solutions Centre
- Coolabah Turf HQ Lawn Shop
NB. This is a guide only. If your lawn incurs any additional stress it may require further management.
You may notice some weed invasion during winter dormancy – this is a normal part of a warm season grass’ life cycle in our region. You may choose to either hand weed where possible, or apply a selective herbicide to assist.
