There’s a common misconception that grass should not be laid during an Australian winter but the reality depends on the variety of turf being planted.
Like that thoroughbred racehorse that thrives in the wet, Village Green is the most winter active and successful of the drought tolerant lawns.
Village Green is also one of the hardiest grasses, and therefore among the easiest to grow, even in areas with only partial winter sun or that are frost-prone, regardless of soil type.
Its winter credentials are further reinforced by its status as the only warm season lawn that continues to grow throughout the winter months.
The secret to Village Green’s winter planting superiority lies in its massive root system (below Village Green dense root system versus common Ki at the top).
The dense and strong roots are highly capable when it comes to extracting nutrients from the soil, so this turf needs very little in the way of fertiliser to keep it green and growing all year round.
In winter, this ability to take root quickly and strenuously is key to its success.
School test in winter awarded a distinction
There could scarcely be a greater test for an Australian lawn than that presented recently by a school that needed an oval fully resurfaced during a Melbourne cold-snap and for it to be ready for student wear and tear within just four weeks.
The challenging school exam confronting Village Green was set by Lyndale Green Primary School just before Easter.
The school’s name attests to the importance it places on its green spaces.
Faced with laying turf in winter, usually seen as a less than ideal situation and especially so at this scale, the local turf specialist advised the school that there was one turf variety fit for the job.
Steve Cole, General Manager of Lilydale Instant Lawn, said the Village Green turf he insisted on using for the project was laid over the first two days of April.
Only four cold-weather-weeks later, it was open for use and went on to withstand a tough Melbourne winter and everything the kids could throw at it – or, indeed, kick on it.
“Under less than perfect conditions, it’s the one to put down at that time of year because Village Green has enough root initiation right through winter to give you a viable installation.”
“In the case of this school, they’d had a series of building projects followed by a failed attempt to oversow the oval.
“That was when I became aware of their winter woes and recommended Village Green over standard kikuyu, because we were moving into that tricky time of year and I wanted to ensure success.”
Six easy steps towards a successful winter turf preparation:
- Fertilise and apply a wetting agent when the temperature drops off (i.e. when night temperatures reach around 14-17 degrees and days 22-28). Fertilising when it’s still warm to hot will result in excessive growth. Use a comprehensive fertiliser, such as Richgro All Purpose Complete Garden Fertiliser or Scotts Lawn Builder (both available at Bunnings or commercial suppliers).
- Applying a wetting agent to aid water and fertiliser entering the soil profile and being retained. Beneficial products include Bi-Agra (available from lawn suppliers) and Grosorb liquid concentrate (available at Bunnings or Baileys for commercial supplies.)
- Repair any bare patches by applying a thin layer of compost in and around the patches. If patches are large, those areas may need to be replanted.
- Mow every 10 days to around 25-30mm. If the turf is spongy, lift the height to avoid scalping. You may then need to renovate in late spring to remove the spongy turf and promote a firm surface and new growth.
- If you have shady areas, increase the mowing height to 40-50mm to give more leaf area for light absorption. Village Green is best grown in areas that receive more than four hours of sunlight. See pic attached
- Rake up leaves and remove lawn clippings to aid light penetration
Keeping Village Green healthy and dense going into winter will help stop winter weeds from growing and ensure the lawn welcomes the warmer months in premium condition.
