Lawn Q&A

1. Killing weeds in the lawn, what do I use and when?

It’s good to get on top of weeds in your lawn in early Spring. Once the weather really warms up weeds will bloom and shed their seeds everywhere, want them under control before this happens. You can dig them out if there aren’t too many or try Kiwicare products such as:

Turfclean Ultra: this kills a wide range of weeds

Lawnpro Fungus Control: this kills thing like red thread, mushrooms, fairy rings and brown patch

Lawnpro Mossclear: this kills moss, liverwarts and algae in lawns

Lawnpro Prickle & Hydrocottyle: this kills onehunga weed, oxalis, plantin and hydrocotyle.

We also have a Kiwicare Dye & Stick which you put in with sprays. It is a coloured dye that shows where you have sprayed so you can monitor the areas you have already treated.

2. Should I dethatch, aerate, or both? When should I do this?

Core aerating not only loosens up thatch build up, but also relieves compacted soil. Dethatching generally loosens the top layer of soil and removes the layer of debris (dead grass) from the soil. Dethatching can really help when over seeding your lawn. If you can see thatch building up on your lawn and it is already 1-2 inches thick then, it’s a good time to start dethatching. Spring is a good time to do this, as the grass will be heading into growing mode and will recover from dethatching a lot quicker.

3. What does lime do to the lawn, should I fertilise or Lime first, or both?

Preferably, you would fertilise your lawn first. After you fertilise, make sure you water in thoroughly. After around 7-10 days you can look to spread lime. Lime will release a lot slower than the fertiliser and they work nicely together to ensure your lawn is getting all the nutrients it needs.

Lime adds necessary nutrients to your lawn, lime's main component is calcium carbonate. It adds calcium and magnesium to the soil. The nutrients are important to preserve a lawn's colour and lushness, and they mitigate damage caused by drought, heat, or high traffic.