Maintenance of "Sir Walter" Premium Lawn
Mowing should commence after rooting takes place, but only a light trim should be necessary for the first couple of mows. Mowing height should be about 45mm – 65mm in areas of full sun and upwards of 75mm for the shady areas. Regular mowing helps control weeds and encourages the lawn to thicken up. Be careful not to mow your lawn too low when it is still young. Your mower needs to be in good condition as blunt mower blades can easily damage a freshly laid lawn.
Watering of lawn (once established) will depend on soil type and weather conditions, generally one good soaking a week, less in shady areas. A buffalo lawn will take up to 12-18 months to be fully established, in that time watch for yellow patches which will generally be lack of moisture.
Fertilizing of "Sir Walter" lawn after laying will be slightly different until your lawn has become established. We recommend fertilizing 4-6 weeks after lying then every 8-10 weeks for the first 12 months until established is completed, C.K. (Crop King) 88 is a good starter fertilizer in this period, vary the type of fertilizer you use, use organic base fertilizer at least once a year. Apply dolomite every year at the rate of 10kg per 100 square metres. After establishment use a slow release fertilizer like Premium Buffalo Blend available from KG Landscaping & Design.
Rates: Crop King 88 – 2.5kg per 100 square metres Premium Buffalo Blend – 2.5kg per 100 square metres
Spring Time you may consider mowing your “Sir Walter” lawn a little lower than usual and lightly aerating your soil, this helps to keep the thatch layer that can build up in check, it also allows more oxygen into the root zone. Any low spots can be top dressed, and then fertilize your whole lawn ready for the summer months. This is a good time to apply lime/dolomite/gypsum.
Weeds hand weeding is the preferred option for control of all weeds in your buffalo lawn. However “Sir Walter” one of the most tolerant buffaloes on the market and a herbicide with an active ingredient of Bromoxynli will give control of most broadleaf weeds (Chemspray – Bin Die Selective lawn herbicide). Some damage may result, trial a small area first.
CARE OF "SIR WALTER" PREMIUM LAWN
Preparation of site: A good quality loam soil to a depth of 100mm to 150mm leveled and drained, free of weeds, is a good foundation for a healthy lawn. To obtain this we recommend the following:
- Spray Round-Up or Glyphosate, 7 days prior while existing lawn is healthy to kill all weeds. 150mls of “Round-Up” to 15 litres of water will do 100sq. metres.
- Remove vegetation – Bobcat, hand rake or hire turf cutter.
- In heavy soil or clay areas use Gypsum to break the soil up, at 25kg per 100sq. metres.
- In light/sandy soil areas use Dolimite/Lime raked in at 25kg per 100sq. metres.
- Add soil as needed to achieve at least 150mm. Ask for under turf mix available from Landscape Supplies.
- Allow 35-40mm for turf slab and make sure all areas will drain.
- Light fertilize with Crop King 88 or similar product before laying turf – this is essential.
- Compact soil to the stage when you only leave a boot mark, not a boot indent.
Installation:
- Lay one strip around the perimeter first, then lay turf across the slope in a brick-work fashion between the perimeter strip, press edges firmly together and cut where necessary with a sharp spade or knife.
- Roll for a good finish and quicker establishment.
- Completely flood your new lawn.
- Continue to irrigate for 3-6 weeks each day depending upon what time of year, in hot and windy weather 3-4 times a day, just keep topping up the moisture.
- Watering of your lawn at this stage is critical to its success.
- Top dressing with a course river sand is beneficial to aid in quicker establishment or if water is not readily available.
TIP
Be aware of lawn grubs in the summer months and early autumn as a new lawn can be severely damaged. Look for freshly eaten leaves or try flooding the lawn with water watching for grubs. You may have to spray the lawn for control measure. Lawn grub poison is available is hardware and garden centers. A common rule is to fertilize your lawn is Spring and Autumn NOT Summer this helps to avoid lawn grub problems as they are attracted to high nitrogen levels in lawns. Large numbers of moths will indicate you may have to spray soon. |
