Spring Lawn Care on the NSW South Coast

Spring is one of the most important times of the year for your lawn. After the cooler South Coast winter, warmer temperatures and longer days encourage your turf to start actively growing again.

Whether you have Buffalo, Kikuyu or Couch, a good spring lawn care routine can help your lawn recover from the winter elements, improve its colour and prepare it for the warmer months ahead.

At Ryans Turf, we recommend using the start of spring as an opportunity to give your lawn a little extra attention. Fertilising, top dressing, watering and getting on top of weeds can all play an important role in setting your lawn up for a healthy spring and summer.

Why Fertilise Your Lawn in Spring?

During winter, turf growth naturally slows as soil temperatures drop and the days become shorter. As we move into spring on the NSW South Coast, soil temperatures begin to rise and the days get longer, so your lawn naturally starts actively growing again.

Applying fertiliser at the right time provides the nutrients your turf needs to support this new growth.

Spring fertilising can help:

• Encourage stronger, healthier growth
• Improve lawn colour
• Help your turf recover from winter
• Promote a thicker lawn
• Strengthen the root system
• Prepare your lawn for increased use during spring and summer

A healthy, actively growing lawn is also better equipped to compete with weeds and recover from everyday wear and tear.

When Should You Fertilise in Spring?

Don't feel like you need to fertilise on the first day of September.

On the South Coast, weather conditions can vary considerably at the beginning of spring. It's generally better to wait until you can see that your lawn has started actively growing again.

For many lawns, September into October is a great time for the first spring application.

If your lawn is still looking dormant or isn't actively growing, give it a little more time.

Before You Fertilise

A little preparation will help you get better results from your spring lawn care.

Start by giving your lawn a mow and removing excessive leaves, sticks and other debris.

It's also a good time to walk around the lawn and check for:

• Weeds
• Bare or thin areas
• Compacted soil
• Excessive thatch
• Poor drainage
• Uneven or low areas
• Uneven growth

Remember, fertiliser is designed to feed your lawn. If there is an underlying issue causing poor turf growth, simply adding more fertiliser won't necessarily solve the problem.

Give Your Lawn a Boost with Turf Booster

For established lawns, Ryans Turf recommends our Turf Booster fertiliser as part of your spring lawn care routine.

Turf Booster gives your lawn the nutrients it needs as it comes back into active growth, helping encourage a healthier, greener and stronger lawn heading into the warmer months.

Apply Turf Booster evenly across your lawn at the recommended application rate and water it in thoroughly after application.

More fertiliser doesn't mean better or faster results. Applying too much fertiliser can damage or burn your lawn, so always follow the recommended application rate.

For larger lawns, using a fertiliser spreader can help achieve a more even application.

Is Spring a Good Time to Top Dress Your Lawn?

Yes. Once your lawn is actively growing, spring is an ideal time to top dress.

Top dressing involves applying a thin layer of suitable soil or top dressing mix over an established lawn. As the turf continues to grow, it works its way back through the material.

Top dressing can be particularly useful if your lawn has developed small dips, uneven areas or minor surface imperfections. It can also help improve the soil profile and give your lawn a more even finish.

Before top dressing, give the lawn a good mow. Spread the top dressing material evenly and work it down into the turf using a rake or similar tool. The aim is to allow the grass leaf to remain visible rather than completely burying the lawn.

Avoid applying a heavy layer all at once. If you have significant low spots, it is generally better to correct them gradually rather than smothering the turf under a thick layer of material.

After top dressing, water the lawn appropriately and allow it time to grow through.

For the best results, top dress when your lawn is healthy and actively growing so it can recover quickly.

Trouble Areas? Consider Oxafert Pre-Emergent

Spring growth isn't limited to your turf — warmer soil temperatures can also encourage weeds to germinate and establish in your lawn.

If you have areas of your lawn that regularly struggle with weeds, spring can be a good time to consider Oxafert.

Importantly, Oxafert is both a pre-emergent herbicide and a slow-release fertiliser. This means you're not only helping prevent susceptible weed seeds from successfully establishing; you're also providing your lawn with slow-release nutrition.

Oxafert or Turf Booster — Not Both

Because Oxafert already contains slow-release fertiliser, we don't recommend applying it in conjunction with Turf Booster or another fertiliser.

Think of it as choosing the product that best suits what your lawn needs:

• For general spring feeding: use Turf Booster.
• For lawns or trouble areas where pre-emergent weed control is required: consider Oxafert, which provides both pre-emergent weed control and slow-release fertiliser.

Applying additional fertiliser alongside Oxafert can result in your lawn receiving more fertiliser than intended.

Pre-emergents are also all about timing. They need to be applied before the target weeds germinate, rather than waiting until you can see established weeds throughout the lawn.

Oxafert won't necessarily fix weeds that are already established, and its suitability will depend on your turf variety, the weeds you're trying to control and the condition of your lawn.

Always read and follow the Oxafert product label, including turf suitability, application rates, watering requirements and restrictions. If you're unsure whether Oxafert or Turf Booster is the better option for your lawn, speak with the Ryans Turf team before applying.

What About Newly Laid Turf?

New turf has different requirements to an established lawn.

Immediately after installation, the priority is making sure your turf establishes good contact with the soil, receives adequate water and develops a strong, healthy root system.

For newly laid turf, we recommend Ryans Turf Launcher fertiliser. Turf Launcher is specifically suited to establishing new turf, helping encourage strong root development and faster establishment so your new lawn can get off to the best possible start.

If you've recently installed turf, don't automatically follow the same fertilising, top dressing or pre-emergent routine as an established lawn. The right timing will depend on how recently the turf was laid, the turf variety and what fertiliser or soil preparation products were used during installation.

If your turf was installed by Ryans Turf, Turf Launcher may already have been applied as part of the installation process, so check with our team before applying additional fertiliser.

As always, follow the recommended application rates and watering instructions for any lawn care product.

If you're unsure what your newly laid turf needs, contact the Ryans Turf team before applying fertiliser, top dressing or herbicide and we can point you in the right direction.

Don't Forget About Watering

Fertilising and top dressing are only part of preparing your lawn for spring.

As temperatures increase, your lawn's water requirements will also begin to change. Keep an eye on the weather and your lawn rather than watering purely according to a calendar.

Deep, appropriate watering encourages a stronger root system and helps prepare your lawn for the hotter conditions we experience heading into summer on the South Coast.

If you're applying Turf Booster, Turf Launcher or Oxafert, make sure you follow the specific watering instructions provided with the product.

A Great Lawn Starts With the Right Spring Preparation

A little work at the beginning of the growing season can make a big difference to how your lawn performs throughout spring and summer.

Mow, inspect, top dress where needed, manage problem weeds, fertilise appropriately and water — then let the warmer spring conditions do their work.

For an established lawn that simply needs a good spring feed, Turf Booster is our recommended option. If pre-emergent weed control is required, Oxafert provides both pre-emergent protection and slow-release fertiliser, so it should be used instead of — not together with — another fertiliser.

For newly laid turf, Turf Launcher can help encourage the strong root establishment your new lawn needs.

If your lawn is looking a little worse for wear after winter, has developed uneven areas that could benefit from top dressing, or you're planning a new lawn this spring, the team at Ryans Turf can help with turf selection, lawn care advice and turf supplies across the NSW South Coast.

Need Turf or Lawn Care Products This Spring?

Get in touch with Ryans Turf or order your turf online.

We supply freshly cut turf including PetPro Buffalo, Sapphire Buffalo, Kenda Kikuyu and Common Kikuyu, with delivery available throughout our South Coast service area.

Ask our team about Turf Booster, Turf Launcher, Oxafert and top dressing products and we can help you choose the right option for your lawn.

Get your lawn ready now and enjoy it all summer.

Kind regards,
The Ryans Turf Team