As restrictions lift and we find ourselves once again enjoying the outdoors, now’s the perfect time to give your garden a makeover.
With Eden Park the true jewel in the crown of the great Kiwi lawn, we spoke to the Park’s Turf Manger, Blair Christiansen, for his tips and tricks for getting that pitch-perfect look at home.
1. Make sure you do the prep
There’s a few things to consider before getting stuck into your backyard. Whether you’re wanting to turn your garden into an urban sanctuary or the perfect field for a kick-a-bout with the kids – you need to assess your lawn and get an idea for what you’re working with. A lot of shade? Bad drainage? Bald patches? Un-even ground – take note of what you’re up against.
2. It’s all about timing
The next six weeks are the best time to whip your lawn into shape, giving them plenty of time to be revitalized by spring. If you plant now, you’ll start to see germination within 7-10days, after which you can start to see your new lawn come to life. If you start to see any patches, hire a soil spreader – add some grass seed to some fertilizer and scatter this across your lawn to encourage growth.
3. Make sure you’ve got the right tools for the job
The quest for the perfect lawn takes a bit more effort than a sprinkle of grass-seed. If you’re starting from scratch and planning to completely overhaul your lawn, a walk around with a rotary hoe from Kennards Hire will help improve soil condition. Whereas for those revamping an existing lawn, you can use lawn roller to help smooth out any uneven lumps and bumps to get that perfect levelled look.
4. Know your rye from your fescues
To make sure your turf starts out healthy, it needs clean, healthy soil. When laying turf you first need to choose the type of grass. Perennial Ryegrass, Tall Fescue, and Kikuyu are three of Blair’s favourites, which are all hard wearing year round, durable and have good colour. But it’s best to consult your local turf supplier as different types of grass grow well in different regions. Once planted, after around four weeks you can go back to your normal mowing routine. Mowing will improve density and your lawn will get better week after week
5. Make sure it’s getting the water it needs
When the grass is young, you should irrigate every day in the summer, but when the grass is a bit older you should cut back to every third day. A key rule of thumb is the younger the grass, the more frequent the irrigation. A simple garden hose will do the trick for most backyards to make sure new turf doesn’t start to grow out. However, if you’re currently experiencing water restrictions, don’t worry about it and leave it to the rain.
Call your local Kennards Hire branch for advice on equipment hire to get a lawn that rivals Eden Park.