Lawn & Turf Care Guide

Common Australian Lawn Pests

Most lawn damage in Australia is caused by root-feeding beetle larvae (curl grubs) and leaf-eating caterpillars (armyworm, sod webworm). Timing of treatment is critical.

Common Australian Lawn Diseases

Most lawn diseases are fungal and thrive in specific temperature and moisture conditions. Correct identification is critical — treating the wrong disease wastes time and money.

Lawn Herbicides — Australian Products

Choosing the right herbicide depends on your grass type and the weed you're targeting. Buffalo grass is sensitive to many herbicides — always check the label.

Selective Post-Emergent Herbicides (broadleaf weeds)

Selective Post-Emergent Herbicides (grassy weeds & sedges)

Pre-Emergent Herbicides

Timing: Apply pre-emergent for winter grass in Feb–April (before autumn germination). Apply for summer grass in Aug–Oct (before spring germination). Do not apply to newly seeded or newly turfed lawns.

Non-Selective Herbicides (spot treatment only)

Herbicide Safety by Grass Type

Always read the product label. "Safe" means the active is generally tolerated at label rates. Stress, heat, drought, or over-application can still cause damage to any grass type.

Lawn Insecticides — Australian Products

Match your product to the pest: preventative long-residual products for grubs before they hatch, fast knockdown contact products for active armyworm/caterpillar infestations.

Preventative / Long-Residual Insecticides

Fast Knockdown / Contact Insecticides

Miticides (for Couch Mite)

Recommended Treatment Strategy

For grubs (preventative): Apply Acelepryn in November–December, before peak egg hatch. One application provides up to 6 months protection.

For active caterpillar infestations: Apply a fast-acting pyrethroid (bifenthrin or beta-cyfluthrin) in late afternoon when caterpillars become active. Water the lawn 30 minutes before to bring pests to the surface.

For couch mite: Apply Agador (abamectin) at first signs of witches broom growth. Follow up 14 days later. Combine with Finesse for long-term suppression. Remove heavily infested turf and retop-dress/re-turf.

Lawn Fungicides — Australian Products

Most lawn fungicides are preventative or early curative — apply at first sign of disease for best results. Rotate between chemical groups to prevent resistance.

Fungicide Rotation Guide

Rotate between different FRAC groups to prevent disease resistance building up.

Never use the same chemical group more than twice in a row. Multi-site contact fungicides (Group M) have lowest resistance risk.

Lawn Fertilisers — Australian Products

NPK = Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K). Nitrogen drives leaf growth and green colour. Phosphorus promotes root development. Potassium strengthens stress tolerance and disease resistance.

NPK Guide by Goal

Popular Australian Lawn Fertiliser Products

Fertiliser Calendar

Soil Health Extras

Wetting agents: Seasol Super Soil Wetter & Conditioner, Lawn Soaker (Lawnpride). Apply in spring and autumn to combat hydrophobic (water-repelling) soils — very common in sandy Australian soils.

Soil pH: Most lawn grasses prefer pH 6.0–7.0. Test with a home soil pH kit. If too acidic: apply garden lime (calcium carbonate). If too alkaline: apply elemental sulphur or ammonium sulphate fertiliser.

Top dressing: Apply a thin layer (3–5 mm) of washed river sand or sandy loam in spring to level the lawn, fill low spots, and reduce thatch. Do not bury more than one-third of the leaf blade.

Australian Lawn Care Calendar

Seasonal guide for warm-season lawns (buffalo, couch, kikuyu, zoysia). Cool-season lawns (fescue, ryegrass) have reversed growth patterns.

Watering Quick Reference

The "footprint test": walk across the lawn — if your footprints remain visible (grass doesn't spring back), it's time to water. Deep, infrequent watering encourages deeper roots and better drought tolerance.

Spring Lawn Renovation (Scalping)

A spring renovation resets the lawn after winter dormancy. Best done October–December when warm-season grasses are actively growing. Steps:

Do not renovate if the lawn is still dormant or if overnight temperatures are below 15°C. The lawn needs to be actively growing to recover from scalping.

Soil Science & Nutrition

Healthy soil is the foundation of a healthy lawn. Understanding your soil's pH, nutrient levels, and structure will dramatically improve turf quality and reduce fertiliser waste.

Understanding Your Soil pH

Most Australian lawn grasses thrive at pH 6.0–7.0. Test your soil annually with a home kit ($15–25 from Bunnings) or send to a lab for detailed analysis ($50–80).

• Too Acidic (pH < 5.5): Apply garden lime (calcium carbonate) at 200 g/m². Acidic soils lock up nutrients, causing yellowing and poor growth.
• Too Alkaline (pH > 7.5): Apply elemental sulphur at 30–50 g/m² or use ammonium sulphate fertiliser. Alkaline soils cause iron deficiency (interveinal chlorosis).
• Just Right (pH 6.0–7.0): Nutrients are available, soil organisms thrive, disease pressure is lower.

NPK Deep Dive

Nitrogen (N): Drives leaf growth and deep green colour. Warm-season lawns need 20–40 g N/m²/year; cool-season types need 15–30 g/year. Too much causes soft, disease-prone growth and thatch buildup.

Phosphorus (P): Critical for root development and establishment. Most established Australian soils have adequate P. Over-application pollutes waterways. Use high-P only for new turf (first 6–8 weeks).

Potassium (K): Strengthens cell walls, improves drought tolerance, cold hardiness, and disease resistance. Often overlooked. Apply high-K (3:1:8 ratio) in late autumn for winter preparation.

Trace Elements

• Iron (Fe): Deep green colour without excessive growth. Chelated iron (Iron Guard, FeSO₄) works best. Apply year-round for colour maintenance.
• Manganese (Mn): Deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis. More common in alkaline soils.
• Magnesium (Mg): Essential for chlorophyll. Apply Epsom salts (MgSO₄) at 20 g/m² if deficient.
• Calcium (Ca): Improves soil structure. Gypsum (CaSO₄) helps clay soils without changing pH.

Hydrophobic (Water-Repelling) Soils

Very common in sandy Australian soils, especially Perth, Adelaide, and parts of Sydney. Water beads on the surface and runs off instead of soaking in, leading to drought stress despite regular watering.

How to fix:

• Apply soil wetting agent (Seasol Super Soil Wetter, Lawn Soaker) in spring and autumn.
• For severe cases: use granular wetting agent + fork holes throughout the lawn + slow deep watering over multiple sessions (20–30 mm per session, 2–3 times weekly).
• Test soil water absorption: place a can on the lawn, fill it with water, and time how long it takes to soak in. Less than 5 minutes = normal. More than 30 minutes = hydrophobic.

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)

CEC determines how well your soil holds onto nutrients. Soil type determines CEC:

• Sandy soils: Low CEC (2–5). Nutrients leach quickly. Need frequent light feeding with slow-release products.
• Clay soils: High CEC (20–40). Holds nutrients well. Less frequent but heavier feeding works better.
• Loam (ideal): Medium CEC (10–20). Balanced approach to feeding.

Australian State & Territory Guide

Lawn care varies significantly by region due to climate, soil type, and local pest/disease pressure. Select your state for tailored recommendations.

Watering & Irrigation Guide

Proper watering is critical for lawn health. Deep, infrequent watering encourages deep roots and drought tolerance. Shallow daily watering creates shallow-rooted, drought-sensitive lawns prone to heat stress and disease.

The Footprint Test

Walk across your lawn. If your footprints remain visible (grass doesn't spring back), it's time to water. This simple test tells you when your lawn actually needs water, rather than watering on a fixed schedule.

Watering Dos and Don'ts

• ✓ DO water deeply and infrequently (2–3 times per week, 20–30 mm per session depending on season)
• ✓ DO water early morning (6–8 am) to reduce evaporation and disease risk
• ✗ DON'T water in the evening — wet leaves overnight = fungal disease
• ✗ DON'T water daily — shallow watering creates shallow roots and weak turf
• ✓ DO use a rain gauge or catch-cup test to measure sprinkler output
• ✓ DO water less in cooler months (autumn/winter)
• ✗ DON'T overwater in winter — sitting wet turf + cool temps = fungal disease

Catch Cup Test

Place 6+ straight-sided containers (small cans, cups) across your lawn in a grid pattern. Run your sprinklers for 15 minutes. Measure the water depth in each cup.

What you learn:

• Average depth: How much water you're applying per 15 minutes. Multiply by 4 to get mm/hour (e.g. 6 mm in 15 min = 24 mm/hour).
• Coverage variation: Some cups will have more water than others. Uneven coverage = adjust sprinkler heads or overlap zones.
• How long to run: Once you know mm/hour, you can calculate run time. For 25 mm: run time = 25 mm ÷ (mm/hour).

Watering by Season (Australian Lawns)

Irrigation Systems

• Pop-up sprinklers: Best for residential lawns. Even coverage, adjustable heads, can integrate into timer systems. Cost: $200–600 installed.
• Drip irrigation: For garden beds only, not lawns. Water-efficient but slow coverage.
• Manual sprinklers: Cheapest option (~$30) but labor-intensive and uneven coverage.
• Smart controllers with weather stations: Most water-efficient. Automatically adjust schedules based on rainfall and temperature. Cost: $400–800 installed.

Water Restrictions

Most Australian capital cities have permanent water restrictions. Check your local water authority for:

• Allowed watering days (often 2–3 days per week)
• Allowed watering times (usually early morning or evening, never midday)
• Restrictions on sprinklers vs. hand watering

Tip: Choose drought-tolerant grass varieties (Zoysia, TifTuf Couch, Sir Grange Zoysia) to reduce watering needs by 30–50%.

Complete Product List — Labels Needed for App

All products mentioned in this guide that need their labels sourced and added to the Product Label Search app.

Summary

Total products listed: 31

Already in app: 4 (Bumper 625 EC, Dicamba M, Lontrel Advanced, Sempra) + related labels: Kamba M, Pendimethalin, Bulldock 25 EC, Rovral Aquaflo

Labels to source: 23

Breakdown: 8 Herbicides, 6 Insecticides, 9 Fungicides, 2 Miticides, 2 Combination products