Essential Summer Lawn Guide: Step-by-Step
Welcome summer, hello summer lawn! The heat is well and truly here, and your lawn has probably noticed it. With a change in the weather, comes a change in your lawncare routine.
In this blog, we go through the steps to get your lawn on point for the summer season and we provide the best tips to help it get through the heat in great shape.
Step 1: Adjust your watering routine
During the warm months, it is essential you give your lawn, garden and plants long, slow soaking applications rather than light regular sprays. This is best done in the early mornings to avoid evaporation that can happen in the hottest hours of the day.
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 – as they get dehydrated too.
An automated irrigation system is the best way to keep your lawn thriving through summer. No more forgetting to water it or leaving the tap open for too long. Tap timers offer fantastic watering solutions also as they allow you to control the watering from the comfort of your couch and if you add a Wi-Fi Hub, you can control it from anywhere!
We have a broad range of these products, including the tap timers, hoses and sprinklers, that will make your life easier and your lawn healthier!
To learn more about watering, read our blog ‘5 Tips for Watering Your Lawn‘
Step 2: Adjust your mowing practices
It’s growing season! And therefore your lawn will need to be mowed more frequently, compared to winter or autumn. Ideally, warm-season lawns should be getting mowed every 5 – 7 days. Cool season grasses grow all year round and it’s best to leave the leaf a little longer in summer, weekly mowing is recommended. The longer that is left between mowing, the higher chance that your lawn will be left with patchy colouring. Do 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.
The key to your lawn mowing in summer is to make sure you mow during the cooler time of the day. Mow your lawn earlier in the day or when the sun is going down to avoid causing leaf stress from the hot sun. Mid-morning or mid-afternoon is usually ideal, as there is no dew sitting on the lawn. Dew can cause your mower to tear or rip at your grass which opens your lawn up to possible disease and fungal issues.
Cut your grass on a slightly higher setting to help it retain moisture. It is worth mentioning that this is as long as warm season grasses are mowed every 5-7 days and only during the heat of the summer or during hot spells.
If you just don’t have the time to mow your lawn as frequently as its needed during the growing season, plant growth regulators (PGR) are a great option. They promote greener, denser, and more resilient turf with less growth. They slow leaf and stem growth, while stimulating below ground growth. They must be applied to actively growing turf.
For this we recommend the Astro 120 ME Growth Regulator – now on special with 15% OFF! This game-changer is an efficient and versatile turf management tool that maximizes turf quality, pre-conditions for stress prevention, and optimises resources. It’s for the regulation of leaf and stem growth of grass species and as an aid in turf management, as per the Directions for Use.
Astro 120 ME Growth Regulator improves turf stand, uniformity and health to provide a smooth, tightly knit cover that is better able to withstand stress. Astro 120 ME Growth Regulator achieves this by increasing the lateral spread and turf density, in addition to slowing the vertical growth of the grass. This enhances the playability of many surfaces including fairways, greens and tees on golf courses as well as sport fields and other playing surfaces.
Astro 120 ME Growth Regulator is micro emulsion formulation, ideal for use in sensitive turf plants.
Step 3: Check for weeds
With summer rolling in, it brings a fresh batch of weeds like Summer Grass, Paspalum, and Crowsfoot (Crabgrass), alongside the usual broadleaf weeds we battle throughout the year.
The key to preventing these seasonal weeds is a healthy, well-maintained lawn that’s regularly mown. You’ll also want to apply a pre-emergent treatment at least twice a year—once before winter and once in spring as a minimum. If you spot these pesky weeds popping up, it’s best to pull them out by hand, ensuring you remove the entire root before they can seed and spread.
If the weeds have already spread in your lawn, you may need to use a selective herbicide. For broadleaf weeds, products like Bow and Arrow (one of our Best Sellers, now in three different sizes) or Lawn Solutions All Purpose Weed Control are great options.
If you’re dealing with both broadleaf and grass weeds, Monument Herbicide or Duke 100 WG Herbicide will do the trick.
To learn more about weeds, read our blog ‘How to Control Weeds in My Lawn‘ or ‘How to Identify and Effectively Remove Weeds‘.
Step 4: Decide if it needs a little more TLC
We’ve got a wide range of products to help get your lawn looking lush, green, and ready for all your Christmas celebrations. Whether your lawn just needs a quick fertiliser boost or a bit more attention, we’ve got you covered. Here are some key products to consider applying this season.
Growth Stimulant
During the summer months, we always recommend opting for an organic fertiliser over a mineral one. Organic fertilisers are fantastic for promoting both healthy lawns and healthy soils and should be a staple in any lawn care routine.
When it comes to fertilising, many people look for a quick greening effect, which mineral fertilisers excel at. However, there’s much more to fertilising than just making your lawn look green—it’s about nurturing the soil and ensuring long-term health for your lawn.
Akers Liquid Kelp is a fantastic option as it also contains liquid fertiliser, giving your lawn essential nutrients, improving drought stress, stimulating cell division, and improving fruit production. It can also be mixed with most insecticides, herbicides and fungicides.
This liquid fertiliser and growth stimulant is more than just a soil additive—it provides nutrients that boost the soil’s ability to absorb and maximize the benefits of fertiliser.
Liquid Fertiliser
Liquid fertilisers are perfect for giving your lawn a quick health boost. They’re rapidly absorbed through the leaves, providing everything your lawn needs to stay strong during the growing season.
Akers Turf Tonic is the perfect liquid fertiliser, as it is packed with high levels of nitrogen, iron, manganese, and magnesium, which help promote vibrant green colour and encourage steady, healthy growth over time. It builds and maintains plant health, improves plant protein development, improves and strengthens root growth, establishes resilience to weather, pests and diseases and enhances overall soil health by encouraging microbes.
Another amazing liquid fertiliser is the Akers Organic Based Liquid Kelp, as mentioned above.
Soil Wetting Agent
Soil wetting agents play a crucial role in helping water stay in the soil, ensuring your lawn stays lush and green during the hot summer months. Certain soils, especially sandy ones, can become hydrophobic, making it difficult for water to be absorbed. In these cases, a soil wetter is essential for ensuring that lawns and plants can effectively absorb the water we give them.
When soil is treated with a soil wetter, it improves water retention, promoting more even water distribution and better nutrient uptake from fertilisers. To get the best results, apply soil wetting agents in early spring, early summer, or autumn. We recommend using products like Grosorb Liquid, Grosorb Granular, or Maximiser G a few days before fertilising.
Granular Fertiliser
Granular fertilisers are the most commonly used for lawns because they provide slow-release nutrients, ensuring consistent greening and extended feeding. They’re easy to apply and must be watered in to break down and activate.
Here at Akers, and in consultation with certified Agronomist Ryan Sheridan (M.Sc.Ag) , we’ve created a unique lawn fertiliser established for all lawn types which is ideal for Australian conditions. Akers Organic-Based Granular Fertiliser contains bio-stimulants and all the essential nutrients your lawn needs to thrive. This unique blend maximises lawn fertiliser efficiency and results and has become out Best Selling Product! It is formulated using a unique organic coating, with added bio-stimulants and all essential nutrients, that will make your lawn flourish.
Due to popular demand, we’re offering a Christmas Special on this game-changing product—now 20% OFF!
The Akers Organic Based Granular Lawn Fertiliser will:
• Boost root growth
• Aid stress resistance and recovery
• Overcome nutrient deficiencies
• Improve pest and disease resistance
• Improve lawn colour and consistency
• Improve soil microbial activity
For those organic enthusiasts, we also have an option for you! As we mentioned above, during the summer months, we always recommend opting for an organic fertiliser over a mineral one. Akers Certified Organic Fertiliser is a multi-purpose crumbled fertiliser which is made up of composted seaweed, fish, humic acid, and manure. Both a soil and plant conditioner, it contains the perfect blend of environmentally-friendly ingredients to ensure versatility of application. Presented in a crumble form, as it is ideal for dry conditions, ensuring an instant breakdown and quick uptake across all Australian seasons.
This fantastic product:
• Promotes plant and root development and growth
• Aids resistance to heat, frost, drought, pests and diseases
• Helps the ability of plants to retain moisture
• Introduces healthy microbes directly to the plant and soil, improving overall wellbeing and health of the garden environment
5- Soil
Avoid causing excessive compaction to the soil, as the intense heat of the sun can worsen it if allowed to develop this time of year. To check how your soil is holding up and whether compaction is an issue, try the screwdriver test. This involves using a long screwdriver to drive it into the soil and see how far it penetrates (just be mindful of any irrigation or electrical cabling). You should be able to push it in easily for about 100 to 150mm without much resistance.
If you can’t, it’s time to aerate the soil, and in some cases, consider adding a sandy loam topdressing to improve its structure.
Feel free to contact us to inquire about our coring services or request a free quote via our website here.
The Akers Granular Gypsum could be a good option if you’re struggling with compacted soil, as it helps break down the clay content which can contribute to compaction. This product is a good source of calcium and sulfur and supports the formation of favourable soil structure, improving air and water movement while assisting with water drainage and infiltration.
By adjusting your watering, mowing, and fertilising routines, as well as staying on top of weed control and soil health, you’ll ensure your lawn remains lush and resilient throughout the season. Whether you’re looking to enhance its appearance or provide some much-needed TLC, the right products and practices can help your lawn thrive.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to give us a call ((08) 8326 3255) or visit us at our Lonsdale store.
We also offer free, no obligation quotes. Request a quote here and one of your specialists will visit your property and provide you a tailored quote at no cost!
Happy summer lawn care!