With winter only a few weeks away, an Aussie lawn enthusiast has issued a warning on how to protect your grass during the cold months.
Phil Gregory was crowned with having Australia’s best lawn late last year and is the reigning champion in Yates’ National Gardening League (NGL).
The Perth resident told Yahoo Lifestyle the best time to prepare your lawn for winter is during April.
The number one “perfect” product Phil recommended using throughout autumn was Yates’ Dynamic Lifter Lawn Food Granular Fertiliser.
“If you wait until winter hits, your granular fertiliser is not going to work as much,” he said.
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You can get a 5kg packet from Bunnings for $17.20, or a 7kg packet from Yates’ website for $32.
Phil said the granular fertiliser “boosts the lawn up”, especially when it gets cold, as it can help with moisture retention.
Cooler temperatures reduce heat stress and give roots time to establish, meaning it’s an ideal window for repair and feeding.
The fertiliser contains “long lasting nutrients” that feed the grass and the soil when there’s not much sunshine.
“By building the soil up, it helps all the micro-organisms as well, like the worms. Worms are a good sign of healthy soil,” he added.
Now Phil mows spends hours every week tending to his lawn which looks incredible. Source: Supplied/Phil Gregory
Phil’s “little winter cheat” is to use an iron chelate while the grass is dormant.
“It doesn’t do anything for the lawn health as such, but it helps bring the colour out and helps the lawn photosynthesise,” he said.
“Iron is a magic thing. It’s in most lawn fertilisers.”
Bunnings sells a Yates Iron Chelate for $17.60 and customers who have bought it have raved about its effectiveness.
“Always works well. Proven pick me up,” said one.
Phil is so obsessed with his lawn that he sometimes breaks out the ruler to measure the blades to ensure they’re at the optimum height. Source: Supplied/Phil Gregory
The biggest mistakes Aussies make with their lawns
Phil is so obsessed with his lawn that he sometimes breaks out the ruler to measure the blades to ensure they’re at the optimum height.
He shared a few mistakes Aussies make when they’re tending to their grass.
Overwatering
Watering too much is the number one mistake he has noticed Aussies are make in the garden.
“Some people just flood their lawns every day with water, and then the roots don’t go down too far [into the ground],” he said.
“Then as soon as you get a warm day, the lawn goes, ‘I’m not liking this’ and just dies off.”
He agreed that consistency is key, but you should give the lawn at least a few days in between sprinkling it with water.
Letting the weeds take over
While it’s a difficult chore to pull out weeds in the backyard, Phil said you should never let your weeds take over your garden.
“You’ve got to be onto the weeds as soon as you start getting a few,” he said.
He said if they stick around and seed, then you’ll have an “ongoing cycle” of new ones appearing.
Phil’s “little winter cheat” is to use an iron chelate while the grass is dormant. Source: Supplied/Phil Gregory
Inconsistent or infrequent mowing
Mowing infrequently is another common mistake Aussies fall into.
“So many people leave their lawn for too long, let it grow, and then when you mow it, it turns brown and you’re left wondering why,” he said.
If too much is cut off at once, the surface layer then gets exposed to the sun and can dry out.
“You have to be consistent. I’m over the top sometimes, but you should mow once or twice a week,” he added.
Ignoring soil health
If you ignore or forget about the health of the soil, the lawn will weaken over time and won’t look as good.
Phil said if you overlook the soil beneath the grass, you could end up with poor water retention, wasted products, and a less resilient lawn.
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