Green Acres Instant Lawn

Ballarat Baseball Stadium

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Here are some photos of a job that we completed last  July in Ballarat using Santa Ana Couch. The Santa Ana is a little dormant that is why it doesn't have a bright green colour how ever the advantage of installing it in winter you use less water to get it established and then the Santa Ana will take of in Spring.

A Guide to Laying a New Lawn Explained by Green Acres Instant Lawns

The first thing you want to ensure before laying a new lawn is that the soil is in a good enough condition to support new turf. In order to do this you need to level and clear the area you want turfed. Kill any weeds and existing grass with glyphosate. This herbicide kills any plant matter it comes into contact with, so be careful.

Compacted ground makes it difficult for the new turf to grow into, so ideally you’ll hire a tractor to loosen the soil bed to a minimum of 100ml. When the area has been cleared rake out any dead foliage or stones and level the area. Most soil types benefit from an organic soil conditioner, especially clay and sandy types. Use around two cubic metres per 100 metres of turf. Rake it smooth and prepare to lay the turf.

Lay one roll around the outside of the lawn area and begin working inwards, ensuring the turf goes in the same direction. Patch up the gaps when done and water well. On hot days in summer you’ll need to water three times a day; do it in patches to ensure an even spread. Fertiliser should only be applied after one month and when you put it on make sure it’s a slow release variety. After two weeks water every other day and then as needed.

For more tips and solutions to your lawn turf problems, try Green Acres Instant Lawns, the largest premium turf supplier in Victoria. Call 03 9999 5708 or visit the website for more information and more.

What Your Freshly Cut Grass is Trying to Say

It’s a smell that many of us associate with summer; freshly cut grass. It’s wholesome, sweet and invigorating. Or at least that’s what we used to think; studies have shown what your freshly cut grass is really trying to say.

Apparently the smell of summer joy is actually the scent of plants in pain. Airborne chemicals are released when plants are attacked, even if the attack is only a quick trim on a Sunday afternoon. The chemicals are designed to attract nearby insects or creatures that can help them from the attack.

German scientists made the discovery on wild tobacco plants. The chemicals released when hungry caterpillars munched their way through the plants seemed specifically designed to attract predators hungry for caterpillars!

The saliva produced by the caterpillars triggered the chemical reaction, which then attracted “true bugs” Geocoris, who are known to feast predominantly on hornworm eggs and caterpillars. Scientists aren’t sure what causes this change exactly, however the potential ramifications are huge, so more research is going to be done. Imagine being able to induce the change in plants via genetic engineering, which might then protect them from pests. This would cut down on the need for harmful pesticides which can damage more creatures than just the pests they are aimed at. Some scientists view this as plants having a type of language that allows them interact with their environment more intimately than we previous though possible.

For more tips and solutions to your lawn turf problems, try Green Acres Instant Lawns, the largest premium turf supplier in Victoria. Call 03 9999 5708 or visit the website for more information and more.

How To Identify And Remove Army Worm Problems

Army worms are a problem everywhere in Australia. Lawns are getting attacked by these caterpillars, which are brown, greenish brown or black, and sometimes have striped or triangular markings along their bodies. They munch their way through lawns in a big feeding party before moving away to the next plot. Replacing grass with instant turf is an option but it’s better to treat the problem.

Couch and Kikuyu lawns are particularly affected, while Queensland blue couch and Buffalo grass are at less risk. You can tell your lawn has an infestation quite clearly. The warning signs appear when your lawn begins to disappear. It gets eaten almost to bare soil, which shows the pests have been hard at work. Spray the area with a fast-acting insecticide, ideally with a low toxicity to birds, and read the instructions. Some insecticides require repeat use.

Sometimes the pests can come back many times during the summer and autumn, so be vigilant and don’t relax if you fight off the first wave. Grab your insecticide again and spray the infected area again. Since they eat the leafy part of the grass and not the root, it’s possible to regrow your lawn with the correct care. A fertiliser and plenty of water will help get things green again.

For more tips and solutions to your lawn turf problems, try Green Acres Instant Lawns, the largest premium turf supplier in Victoria. Call 03 9999 5708 or visit the website for more information and more.