Akers Monthly – December 2023
Tis’ the Season!
The heat is rising, the grass is growing, and Summer is here!
Read on for some Summer lawn care tips for the season ahead, as well as a Christmas gift guide for you lawn and garden lovers.
Summer Lawn Care
Watering During the Heat
For those of you with irrigation systems, we recommend to check your sprinklers and timer batteries before the real heat kicks in! This season is expected to be El Nino which is said to bring hot and drier weather with the possibility of bringing a drought along with it.
In the heat we cannot emphasize enough the importance of giving your lawn, garden and plants long, slow soaking applications rather than light regular sprays. Ensure to water either in the early mornings or late afternoons to avoid peak heat. Lawn ideally needs between 1½ – 2 inches of water once or twice each week, depending on the weather and your turf type. Lawns such as Kentucky Blue, Fescue and shady lawns may need more water than others. To test how long to leave your sprinklers on, place a catch cup on the lawn, turn the sprinklers on and time how long it takes to fill to the 1 ½ – 2 inch mark. That time is 1/2 the recommended time on how long to water your lawn each session for a good deep water, depending on the weather, your turf type (as above), and its health condition. If your lawn is showing signs of stress on an extreme heat day, give it an extra drink to keep it going, they get dehydrated too.
Mowing
Ideally, warm-season lawns should be getting mowed every 5 – 7 days, while cool-season lawns may be left a little longer pending growth. The longer that is left between mowing, the higher chance that your lawn will be left with patchy colouring. Lastly, remember not to cut more than a third of the leaf off at any one time to avoid causing stress to your lawn, limiting any stress on the lawn is key over Summer.
Weeds
With Summer comes a new round of weeds such as Summer Grass, Paspalum, Crowsfoot (aka Crabgrass) to name a few, along with the regular broadleaf weeds we struggle with throughout the year.
The best prevention to keep seasonal weeds at bay is a healthy, well mown and maintained lawn and applying a pre-emergent at least twice yearly once before winter and once in Spring as a minimum, depending on the product, or between 8-12 weekly for all year coverage. If you see these pesky weeds pop up you will want to hand pull them out removing the entire root before they seed and get out of hand.
If these weeds have already infiltrated your lawn you may need to apply a selective herbicide. Bow and Arrow or Lawn Solutions All Purpose Weed Control are ideal for controlling the broadleaf weeds, while Monument Herbicide or Duke 100 WG Herbicide are ideal for controlling both broadleaf and grass weeds.
Christmas Gift Guide
Need some last minute gifts for your fellow lawn and/or garden lovers?
We have you covered!
Great for stocking stuffers, can help your lawn look healthy and green, and keep your gardens healthy too!
Orbit 8 Pattern Turret Sprinkler
Versatile and easy to move, making it perfect for giving your lawns and gardens the water they need.
Orbit Max Oscillating Sprinkler
Maximizing water coverage for medium to large rectangular areas. It delivers a gentle, even rain-like shower.
Throughout December get our gifts range below at 15% off!
Perfect for brightening up any indoor space. We have a range of quirky hand moulded & hand painted pots by © Allen Designs and some simple Ceramic Cylinder Plant Pots (Available in S & L) with a beautiful matte finish with glazing inside and out.
Novelty Mugs, Drink Coolers, & Hats
Do you know a tea or coffee lover? Or a friend that needs something to help hold a cold beverage in hand while looking at their lawn. Made by local small business Wild Coral Creations.
A super stylish wine cooler that holds two bottles for your next picnic, party or event. The perfect size for two bottles of wine, or a spirit and a mixer, this cooler makes the ideal, unique present for the wine lover in your life! Made by local small business Wild Coral Creations.
Tinker Trays encourage open-ended, imaginative, critical and creative play. The trays facilitate storytelling, size relations, counting and motor skills.
Please note, contains small parts and is not suitable for children under 3 years.
Gift Vouchers 
Can’t choose? Simple, grab a gift voucher! Perfect for your favourite lawn-lover, garden-lover or plant-lover!
Closure Dates
DIY & Turf order cut offs:
For those DIY enthusiasts, it is not too late to get your hands dirty and put that lawn in yourself! Check out how with our How-To Guides section on our website!
For lawn supply, please keep in mind that the delivery trucks can fill up fast. If you are wanting to order turf for delivery before Christmas, we recommend booking ahead to ensure you don’t miss out.
Sunnyside Instant Lawn
Lawn types: Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo, Nullarbor Couch, Eureka Male Sterile Kikuyu, TifTuf Bermuda, and Sir Grange Zoysia
Last delivery day: Friday 22nd December
Orders must be made before 3:30pm on Wednesday 20th. We recommend booking in advance to avoid missing out.
First delivery back: Tuesday 9th January 2024
Brook Turf
Lawn types: Noonan Fine Leaf Dwarf Kikuyu, Santa Anna Couch, Sapphire Soft Leaf Buffalo and Kentucky Bluegrass.
Last delivery day: Saturday 23rd December
Orders must be made before 11:30am on Friday 22nd. We recommend booking 1 – 1 ½ weeks in advance to avoid missing out.
First delivery back: Tuesday 9th January 2024
How long before you can walk on a newly laid lawn?
It is best to wait until your new lawn has started to take root into the soil. The warmer it is, the quicker your turf will be able to do this. Depending on your turf type and the weather it can take root as quick as from 3 days with the right amount of water. You can test by gripping the lawn and gently pulling up. If there is resistance it means the roots have started to grow into the soil below and you should be able to walk on the lawn keeping traffic light until after the second mow.
Final product delivery dates
Get your product orders in before Friday 15th December for your best chance of delivery before Christmas.
Shipping available Australia-wide*
*for interstate shipping please phone us for a delivery price.
Shop/Office/Landscaping Closure
Last day of Trade:
Friday 22nd December at 5pm
Shop will remain open for online orders. Scheduled pick up times are available.
First day of Trade 2024:
Monday 8th January 2024 at 9am
Product of the Month!
If your lawn is in need of a boost before Christmas then this product is for you!
Akers Kelp, a Liquid Fertiliser and Growth Stimulant sourced from Australian Waters. It is beneficial for lawns, gardens, vegetables and fruit trees promoting healthy soil, root and plant growth.
We can also apply this to your lawn as part of our Follow Up Service. Give us a call for price enquiries or to book in.
Don’t have a sprayer to apply this product? We have you covered with a range available instore and online.
Dal’s Gardening Tips
- Hot weather is coming! To help save water and keep your plants cool apply thick mulch around your plants after you fertilise, keeping it back from the stem of plants. This helps supress weeds and retain moisture.
- Protect vulnerable plants from the wind and sun – you can do this by using shade cloth.
- Move any potted plants that you can in to a position that’s more shady.
- Water in the cooler parts of the day, we suggest doing so in the morning to avoid harsh afternoon heat and ward off mildew.
- Struggling with hydrophobic soil? Wetting agents are important for helping water stay in the soil.
Do you have any lawn or garden questions?
We want to hear from you!
Send us any questions or topics you want covered and they may get featured in our next Akers Monthly!
As always, thank you for your support!
From our family to yours, have a safe and happy Christmas and New Year! We cannot wait to see what 2024 brings.
Best wishes,
Dal, Jacqi and the Akers of Lawn team