Get Ready for Summer with October Lawn Care in Adelaide

Get Ready for Summer with October Lawn Care in Adelaide

What a weird month September was weather wise. From beautiful, warm spring days to cold, rain, wind and everything in between. Now is the perfect time to start thinking about getting your lawn ready for the summer months. After the cooler winter season, your lawn will be coming out of dormancy and starting to actively grow again. A little bit of care and attention now will ensure your lawn thrives and stays healthy throughout the warmest part of the year. Whether you’re refreshing an existing lawn, oversowing, or considering installing new instant turf, here’s how to make sure your lawn is in top shape.

Understanding Lawn Dormancy

During the winter, many lawns in Adelaide enter a period of dormancy. For warm-season grasses like buffalo, couch, or kikuyu, this is a time when growth slows down or halts completely. As the weather warms up in spring, these grasses begin to green up and grow again. October is the sweet spot when you start to notice this change, making it the ideal time to intervene and help your lawn out of its dormant phase.

Spring Mowing Tips

Once you see your lawn waking up, it’s time to give it its first mow of the season. But don’t go too hard. Start by raising your mower blades to allow the grass to grow a bit thicker. This helps your lawn develop a strong base, which will be important as the heat intensifies in summer. Once you’ve had a few mows at a higher setting, gradually lower the blades over the next few weeks to get the grass down to your preferred height.

Fertilising for Growth

A good feed is just what your lawn needs in October to fuel its recovery and growth. Applying a balanced lawn fertiliser will give your lawn the nutrients it needs to bounce back after dormancy and prepare for the summer heat. Look for a slow-release fertiliser with an even mix of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The nitrogen will help green up your lawn, phosphorus will promote root development, and potassium will help strengthen your lawn against drought and stress.

Water your lawn thoroughly after fertilising to help the nutrients absorb into the soil. This will also give you a good opportunity to check how well your lawn is draining after the winter rains. If you notice any pooling or soggy spots, it might be time to aerate.

Aerating Your Lawn

After months of winter dormancy, your soil might be compacted, which can suffocate your lawn’s roots. Aerating involves punching small holes in the soil to allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots more easily. October is a great time to do this, as your lawn is just starting to grow actively again, and it’ll quickly recover from the aeration process.

You can rent an aerator or use a simple garden fork to poke holes in the soil if you have a smaller area. Pay extra attention to areas that see heavy foot traffic, as these are usually the spots that need the most help.

Oversowing Thin or Patchy Areas

If you’ve noticed that your lawn looks patchy or thin after winter, you might want to consider oversowing. This involves spreading new grass seed over the existing lawn to thicken it up. October is a good time for this because the soil is warm enough to promote germination, but the summer heat hasn’t yet set in to stress the new seedlings.

Choose a grass seed variety that matches or complements your existing lawn. For example, if you’ve got a warm-season grass like couch, you might want to oversow with a cool-season grass like ryegrass to keep your lawn looking green year-round. Once the warmer weather arrives, the cool-season grass will naturally die off, allowing your existing lawn to take over again.

Make sure to water the newly sown areas regularly to encourage good growth, and try to keep foot traffic to a minimum until the new grass has established.

Booking for New Instant Lawn

If your lawn is beyond patching up or you’re looking for a complete refresh, October is also the perfect time to consider laying new instant lawn. With the ground warming up, the new turf will quickly establish itself before summer.

Adelaide offers plenty of options for instant turf, from soft-leaf buffalo to hard-wearing kikuyu, depending on your needs. Soft-leaf buffalo is great if you’re after a lush, green lawn that’s easy on bare feet, while kikuyu is tough and drought-tolerant, making it a good choice for families or high-traffic areas. TifTuf Bermuda is a true sport turf that delivers that Golf Course appearance, has shade tolerance greater than Kikuyu and self repairing capacity superior to Kikuyu. This is variety is soon climbing to the top of the list as number 1 for appearance & recovery from overuse from kids & dogs.

Before laying new turf, it’s important to prepare your soil properly. Remove any old grass and weeds, level out the area, and add some good quality topsoil to ensure your new lawn has the best possible start. Once laid, water it thoroughly and keep the area well-watered for the first few weeks to help the new turf establish.

Weed Control

Weeds can quickly take over if left unchecked, especially as your lawn starts to grow again in spring. October is a good time to tackle them head-on before they get out of control. You can hand-pull any larger weeds, but for a more comprehensive approach, applying a selective herbicide will target the weeds while leaving your lawn unharmed.

Make sure to choose a herbicide that’s suitable for your type of grass, and always follow the instructions carefully.

Watering Smartly

October is the time to establish a good watering routine. Deep, infrequent watering is the key to encouraging deep root growth, which will help your lawn survive the summer heat. Water early in the morning to minimise evaporation, and aim for around 25mm of water per week, including rainfall. Adjust this based on how your lawn is responding, but try to avoid shallow, frequent watering, as this can lead to weak roots.

Wrapping Up

With a bit of effort in October, you can set your lawn up for a long, healthy summer in Adelaide. From mowing and fertilising to oversowing and even laying new instant turf, a well-planned approach now will save you a lot of hassle (and disappointment) when the heat arrives. So, dust off the lawnmower, grab some fertiliser, and get your lawn looking its best for those upcoming summer barbecues!

Our team offers one-off services and a Lawn Care Program as well as our lawn installation and landscaping services to help you achieve and maintain an excellent lawn and backyard area. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.