lawn renovation toowoomba step by step guide

Before beginning the renovation process, it’s crucial to assess the current state of your lawn. Look for signs of compaction, thatch buildup, bare spots, and weed infestation. Determine whether your lawn's problems are due to soil health, lack of uniform watering, improper mowing, or other issues. This assessment will help you decide on the specific renovation techniques needed to restore your lawn's health and vitality.

Preparation is key to a successful lawn renovation. Full soil testing is advised, this requires taking several samples and sending them away to be analysed to see if there are any deficiencies that can be amended while adding the topdress.  At the very least, a pH test should be carried out. It is easiest to add amendments and nutrients while adding topdress. At least two weeks prior to your renovation, lay down some fertiliser to ensure the lawn has the appropriate nutrients to recover from the renovation as quickly as possible. Water heavily a week before, then also 24hrs before the renovation, to allow the core aerator to penetrate as effectively as possible.

Start by mowing your lawn to a lower height than usual, with Couch and Kikuyu, you can literally mow to dirt level. Or at least the lowest setting your mower has. WARNING, do NOT mow Buffalo to dirt, ensure that there is always some green leaf left on Buffalo. You may find you have to go over and over your lawn, dropping the height down by a notch each time, rather than trying to plow through it in one go.

At this stage you want to vertimow to clean up any thatch, both above and below the surface of the soil. WARNING, Do NOT scarify Buffalo lawns, it will not recover very well, if at all. There are several options here for vertimowing, depending on your grass type. For Kikuyu and Couch, a heavy deep scarify to a depth of 30mm may be appropriate for lawns that have significant thatch build up. For Buffalo, a light tickle with a grooming reel over the top may be sufficient. Most often, the appropriate level of vertimowing lies somewhere in between. This is where experience comes into play to determine what is sufficient for each individual lawn.

Core aeration is an essential step in the lawn renovation process, especially for warm-season grasses. In Toowoomba, soil compaction can be a common issue, particularly in areas with heavy foot traffic or clay soils. Core aeration involves removing small plugs of soil from the lawn, which reduces compaction and improves air, water, and nutrient flow to the grass roots.

To aerate your lawn, run the corer around the lawn as you would a mower. Heavily compacted areas may need multiple passes. Unless the soil is particularly poor and lots of amendments are required, the plugs removed can simply be mowed up and combined with the top dress rather than being picked up and removed.

 Using soil wetting agents helps to ensure that water and nutrients reach the grass roots, promoting even hydration and healthier growth. This can be especially important during periods of drought or in regions with irregular rainfall, such as Toowoomba. By improving water infiltration, soil wetting agents also reduce water wastage, making them an eco-friendly choice for lawn care. 

Topdressing is the process of adding a thin layer of sand, soil or organic material over the lawn to improve soil quality and promote healthier grass growth. After aeration, topdressing helps to fill in the holes created by the aerator, improve soil structure, and enhance water retention.

To topdress your lawn:

1. Select the Right Material: Choose a topdressing material that matches the goals you are looking to achieve. A pure  USGA certified sand may be appropriate if you are looking for a bowls green level finish as sand doesn't decompose and 'settle' as much as organics, so is far better for fine leveling. A soil/organic blend may be more appropriate for a lawn that is nutrient poor and the goal of the renovation is simply a green, healthy lawn.
2. Apply the Topdressing: Spread the topdressing material evenly across the lawn using a shovel or a broadcast spreader. Aim for a depth of about 1cm to avoid smothering the grass. (1 cubic meter per 100m2).
3. Work It In: Use a leveling rake to work the topdressing into the soil and into the holes created by aeration. For Buffalo, ensure the grass blades are still visible after application. For Couch, Kikuyu and Zoysia, hollows are fine at a depth of 30mm.

Fertilising your lawn is a crucial step in the renovation process, as it provides essential nutrients that support grass growth and recovery. For warm-season grasses, choose a blend of instantly available nitrogen for rapid recovery with slow-release fertiliser that contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

To fertilise your lawn:

1. Choose the Right Fertiliser: Opt for a blend, instant Nitrogen plus slow-release fertiliser specifically formulated for warm-season grasses. Look for a product with an N-P-K ratio that suits your lawn’s needs, such as 10-10-10 or 16-4-8.
2. Apply the Fertiliser: Use a broadcast spreader to apply the fertilizer evenly across the lawn. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended application rate to avoid over-fertilisation, which can harm your grass.
3. Water Thoroughly: After fertilising, water the lawn thoroughly to help the nutrients penetrate the soil and reach the grass roots. Aim for a deep watering to encourage deep root growth.

Proper watering is crucial during the lawn renovation process, especially in the warm climate of Toowoomba. Watering helps the grass recover from aeration, vertimowing and topdressing and supports new growth.

To water your lawn effectively:

1. In the First two weeks: Water your lawn deeply twice per day. Ensure the soil is pretty well constantly damp.
2. In the Second two weeks: Water  deeply early in the morning, once per day. Water to at least 10mm
3. After the first 4 weeks of reno recovery: Return to maintennace watering, 24mm per week, spread over two watering days. IE. Wednesday and Saturday, 12mm each time. Click here to read the watering guide.

After completing the renovation process, it’s important to maintain your lawn with regular care to keep it in top condition.

Key maintenance tasks include:

1. Regular Fertilisation: Fertilise your lawn according to the needs of your grass type, typically 5 times a year.
2. Weed Control: Monitor your lawn for weeds and treat them promptly with appropriate herbicides or by manual removal.
3. Pest Management: Keep an eye out for pests such as lawn grubs and treat them as needed to prevent damage to your lawn.
4. Seasonal Aeration: Consider aerating your lawn annually or as needed to prevent soil compaction and promote healthy root growth.
5. Regular mowing: Probably the most underrated lawn care practice there is.

Click here to visit our full lawn care guide