Improving Backyard lawn

Discussion in 'Landscaping' started by iwantahouse, 15th Nov, 2019.

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  1. iwantahouse

    iwantahouse Well-Known Member

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    Hi guys,

    Just moved to our "new" house last weekend.

    I'm calling the lawn-garden experts for these questions:

    What type of grass do we have in the picture?

    What type of weed is the one you see in the picture? How do I start improving my lawn? I don't want to spend money in things I don't need/work so I hope for some guidance.

    What is the yellow/dead grass you see in the pic? It is weed too?

    [​IMG]
     

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    iwantahouse, 15th Nov, 2019
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  2. Paul@PAS

    Paul@PAS Tax, Accounting + SMSF + All things Property Tax Business Plus Member

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    Its not buffalo grass - Weed and feed it. Generally W&F comes in two types Buffalo and non-buffalo to avoid killing buffalo with standard w&f. Take pic into Bunnings and find the old dude in the aisle who will help. Plan around any water restrictions / rain

    Once you have weeds under control with w&f as a selective weed killer smack it with lawn fertiliser before / during rain and they wont return. The good grass will choke the weeds out and get green and thicker...subject to drought conditions.
     
    Paul@PAS, 15th Nov, 2019
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  3. euro73

    euro73 Well-Known Member Business Member

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    You can either bite the bullet and re-turf, or take the long road. The long road is cheaper, but will take at least 2 springs/summers to pay off properly You'll get good initial results if you follow the steps below, but lawn needs lots of work to get into tip top shape

    1. Spray the entire lawn with weed killer. Not weed and feed. The stuff is not especially effective. As @Paul@PFI has pointed out, there are Buffalo and non Buffalo weed killers. Do as he suggested-take a few photo's and visit Bunnings. But don't buy weed n feed. Get a product that doesn't try to be two things. Yates makes a dedicated weed killer only . Spray the lawn . Spray it again in 2 weeks.

    2. Aerate the lawn . With a coring machine, not with a pitchfork or aerating sandals. Guys like this will charge you around 100 bucks typically . Lawn Aeration Service | Grass Aeration - Oz Aeration

    3. Fertlise, water . Use good slow release fertliser - again, there are Buffalo and non Buffalo varieties. Scotts or Munns make good slow rel;ease fertilisers that are kid safe and pet safe ...

    Repeat annually in Spring -Summer at a minimum

    Depending on whether your soil has a lot of clay content, it may need gypsum from time to time. . Even if the soil is relatively good, spraying something like this onto your lawn every 2nd spring or so, is just good lawn management - Multicrop 2.8L Liquid Claybreaker RTU Soil Improver

    Also well worth applying a soil wetter a couple of times a year.

    Also well worth applying Seasol or Powerfeed or Liquid Compost or Blood n Bone periodically - especially because we have water restrictions and you cant rely on deep watering once or twice a week to feed the lawn

    If you want to get really serious... there are plenty of excellent resources online

    Broadleaf Weeds

    LawnPride // Lawn Care Programs

    The aussie homeowner’s guide to a lush green lawn - Scotts Australia
     
    euro73, 17th Nov, 2019
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  4. magpieseason

    magpieseason Well-Known Member

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    What type of grass do we have in the picture?
    Probably a type of Fescue and/or Perennial Rye .

    What type of weed
    Maybe a cud weed. A weeding applicator wand from bunnings contains zero/roundup. Use it to touch any Broadleaf weeds in your lawn .
     
    magpieseason, 18th Nov, 2019
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  5. Never giveup

    Never giveup Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for starting this thread @iwantahouse - i am in same boat
     
    Never giveup, 23rd Nov, 2019
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  6. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    The Y-man, 23rd Nov, 2019
    #6
  7. iwantahouse

    iwantahouse Well-Known Member

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    unfortunately tea is not my cup of tea! :D
     
    iwantahouse, 23rd Nov, 2019
    #7
  8. Curious2019

    Curious2019 Well-Known Member

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    Hmm my lawn seems to be getting overtaken with weeds too.. any suggestions for these pictures? The weeds seem to be getting worse every time the lawn is cut and grows back.
     

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    Curious2019, 24th Nov, 2019
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  9. Redwing

    Redwing Well-Known Member

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    On a side note re: weed and feed. I've found it to give 'rust stains' to concrete or limestone if there is any over-spray
     
    Redwing, 24th Nov, 2019
    #9
  10. Lacrim

    Lacrim Well-Known Member

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    I didn't know weed killer was selective... I thought it killed the grass it came in contact with as well??
     
    Lacrim, 24th Nov, 2019
    #10
  11. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    Broad leaf weed killers, as opposed to straight herbicides, are selective in killing many species which aren't lawn.

    There's a lot of information around - for instance Broadleaf weed control | The Lawncare Man
     
    geoffw, 24th Nov, 2019
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  12. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    Forget the lawn - just enjoy harvesting and eating what you have :D. You have a type of a type of dandelion/sow thistle and very closely related to the ancestors of the common lettuce (same order, family and tribe). If you break the leaves you should see a white milky sap come out (if you have ever grown cos lettuce and they have bolted you will know the similarity).

    It's a bit bitter compared to lettuce so either use a stronger dressing and let it soak a bit (it won't go soggy like normal lettuce) or use it in cooking (plenty of recipes around for dandelion and sowthistle).

    Just make sure someone hasn't sprayed it with herbicide!!

    The Y-man
     
    The Y-man, 24th Nov, 2019
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  13. iwantahouse

    iwantahouse Well-Known Member

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    Hi guys, thanks for your responses,

    This is the grass that is growing along the edge of my front lawn, what kind of grass it is?
     

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    iwantahouse, 7th Dec, 2019
    #13
  14. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    Kikuyu - excellent drought resistance, very tough hockey field stuff.
    I've cultivated it for our front dust bowl - I love it.
    Only thing is they will invade flower beds and event climb shrubs.

    The Y-man
     
    The Y-man, 7th Dec, 2019
    #14
  15. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    I always thought that was cooch grass - I thought kikuyu had thinner runners?
     
    Joynz, 7th Dec, 2019
    #15
  16. iwantahouse

    iwantahouse Well-Known Member

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    Thanks, do you know if I can use round up for that Kikuyu in my garden bed? Using as spot application?
     
    iwantahouse, 7th Dec, 2019
    #16
  17. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    They are multi-****** and spread underground as well, so the only way is to dig them out I think.....


    Just be careful that roundup may be a carcinogen (cancer causing)
    RACGP - Exploring the issue of Roundup and cancer risk
    Exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides and risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma: A meta-analysis and supporting evidence - ScienceDirect

    and can stay in the soils for longer than originally thought.

    The Y-man
     
    The Y-man, 7th Dec, 2019
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  18. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    You could be right - I was checking some photos on Google :p I like the thicker stuff. The thin stuff dies right back in winter and is not as effective a ground cover.

    The Y-man
     
    The Y-man, 7th Dec, 2019
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  19. Silverghost

    Silverghost Well-Known Member

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    Avoids scalping the lawn if you are inclined to do that. Many people mow their lawn that way and it just weakens the lawn and encourages weeds.
     
    Silverghost, 7th Dec, 2019
    #19
  20. iwantahouse

    iwantahouse Well-Known Member

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    Thanks, I'm trying to get the grass long and then cut it just a bit to encourage strength.
     
    iwantahouse, 8th Dec, 2019
    #20
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