Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Environmental cost of Lawn Australia

Brisbane - capital city of Queensland, Australia, is admired for its skyscrapers, a high standard of living, Lawn Australia and a growing population. Considered one of the most affluent Australian cities, Brisbane enjoys the reputation of providing world-class education, commercial excellence, and ample business opportunities.

The city, being situated along the Coast of Brisbane River, features hot summers with dry and cool winters. Being situated on a low plain, the city is more prone than other cities to flooding risks – and the average temperature is increasing on a yearly basis. The minimum temperature stooped below 0 degrees, first time ever in 2007. This city has suffered its own share extreme weather!

With such extreme climatic changes, it is evident is that the environment requires urgent attention before it is too late! While the affluent city boasts a quality lifestyle, this quality needs to be preserved in time. This calls for ‘sustainability’ or the ‘green’ drive.

Green drive involves restoring the greenery, cultivating an organic awareness, and maintaining the ecological balance within the city. In its simplest form, green measures can be adopted to not only bring about a green change, but turf Australia and Couch Grass is to beautify and adorn the city with natural ornaments. These include introducing Landscaping Turf and laying lawn or turf in all commercial and residential establishments.

Grass and landscapes have emerged as a cost effective solution to revert to nature, even when established artificially. In Brisbane, lawns and landscaping are the most basic measure to preserve and protect the city from natural disasters. Let us call this movement ‘Lawn Brisbane!’

This widespread movement may center itself on installing and maintaining lawns, turfs, Sir Walter lawn and green landscapes across the city of Brisbane. Here are some foreseen benefits of the ‘Lawn Brisbane’ movement for the city that we love.

Lawn Brisbane movement will help in:

• Restoring greenery amidst technological developments.
• Capturing and holding the soil from being eroded by planting turf and small plants.
• Purifying natural air and cost-free dust repulsion.
• Providing areas for recreational and sporting purposes.
• Reducing green house effect by absorbing carbon from air.
• Bring about an automatic cooling effect when the outside temperature is high.
• Adding an ornamental value to surroundings.

Lawn Brisbane requires expertise and dedication and calls for personalized services, space generation, paying attention to individual requirements and detailed planning. We can all participate and make Brisbane a more beautiful place to live in!

If you wish to add the element of green to your surroundings, visit http://www.jimboombaturf.com.au. You will find details and packages that suit your needs and budget so head on to make a difference to the world that you live in!

Sunday, July 25, 2010

How to Prepare Your Lawn for Maximum Growth and Lushness

If you have been to an abattoir or a farm, you will find that all animals raised for commercial purposes have one thing in common: they undergo a fattening phase. This fattening phase is what makes them ready for the market and makes them a buyer’s choice. So, what does this have to do with preparing your lawn?

Everything! Like every natural process, there is a time for “fattening”; and to get the best from your lawn, you should “fatten” the soil in preparation for the next 1 year. Lawns are best prepared in the fall when the weather is quite clement and nothing really interferes with the processes in the soil.

Now that you know this, how do you go about “fattening” your lawn?

1. Get Rid of the Thatch

Getting rid of the thatch is usually the first step to getting your lawn ready. In case you are wondering, thatch is the brown build up caused by dead grass stems and crowns. Usually, this isn’t noticeable until you look closely at the grass.

Please note that thatch in itself is good as it helps the soil stay moist and acts as mulch. But as with all things, too much of it is bad for your lawn. So, when should you do this? When it is about 5mm thick. You can do this using a ground rake and hand cultivator. If the turf is wide and you want to save time, get a dethatcher that can be fitted to the mower.

2. Add Fertilizer

This is the feeding stage. All you have to do is add some fertilizer. If you want the best results, you will need to do these four times a year. But if not, concentrating on “feeding” your soil during autumn is the best option, this is because lawn grasses concentrate more on root growth in autumn than on leaf growth.

You can be sure that if the root is healthy, chances are that the grass leaves will also be healthy. Look specifically for fertilisers used before winter –some call it “winterisers”. These are fertilisers that are primed to help facilitate good growth and help sustain the grass through the harsh period of winter.

If you prefer organic fertilisers, you could easily spread 2mm of compost on the lawn or other organic alternatives.

3. Aerate the Soil and Eliminate Weeds

Aerating the soil is best during the fall. So, in addition to dethatching and adding fertilizer, aerate the soil. You can do this by getting an aerator that you will attach to your mower. If the lawn is hilly or tough, you can use a core aerator machine. These help bite up small chunks of soil, thus loosening the soil in compacted regions and providing the required free flow of air.

Also, get rid of the weeds during this period too. You can do this by applying herbicides if the weeds are extensive. However, if they are concentrated in a small area, you can weed them out using your hands.

Know more about Turf Brisbane and Growing beautiful Grass and lawn, visit, http://lawnaustralia.wordpress.com

Sunday, July 11, 2010

How to choose and maintain lawn Grass

You work hard all day and need to come home to an oasis of peace and tranquility. When you pull up in your driveway the first thing you want to see is a beautiful Grass lawn even if opening the front door is utter chaos.

The first step to creating a perfect garden is the lawn. If you choose the wrong grass you will risk having all your hard work of building the perfect garden go to waste. Those pretty annuals will not look so pretty next to a weed infested desert of brown dead grass. A beautiful lawn is a pleasure and does not have to be difficult to maintain. With a little knowledge you will be on the way to choosing the right grass for you.

The first thing you need to understand is climate. Do you reside in a dry dusty area? For dry areas you may want to consider Sir Walter Buffalo. Sir Walter Raleigh is considered to be drought resistant and low maintenance. It tolerates being walked on frequently. This makes it ideal for folks with kids as children abuse grass.

You will also wish to consider any trees you may have. Some grasses love shade while others can not tolerate a lot of shade. For instance a fine fescue likes shade but does not like to be walked on.

Watering needs also rank in extreme importance. If you live where there is heavy rainfall you will want a grass that can handle a lot of water. A dry drought prone area will need a grass like Sir Walter Buffalo Raleigh. The right grass will actually save you time and money.

A PH test can also go a long way toward choosing the right grass for you. You should test the PH in your soil before doing anything else. You do not want to plant a lawn that is perfect for you and your climate only to find it will not grow in your yard.

What are you going to do on your lawn is another important question to ask. Do you have children who play soccer in the yard? Do you have barbeques where a lot of people will walk in your garden or do you prefer to just sit on the porch and watch it grow? Some grasses tolerate being walked and played on while others prefer to be looked at.

Considering the color of green you prefer as well as the texture of the grass is also rather important. Nothing in the world feels as good to the bare feet then the right grass.

Last but not least is maintenance. Some grasses grow faster then others. Some will need expensive fertilizer. How much time do you really wish to spend maintaining your lawn?

There is nothing in the world like coming home to a beautiful lawn. The smell of fresh cut grass is one of the simple luxuries in life. With a little thought and consideration you can choose the perfect lawn for you. Choosing the right lawn will add value to your property and save you money on water and fertilizers. With just a little thought and a PH test you will be on the way to years of happy grass.

Visit Jimboomba Turf at http://www.jimboombaturf.com.au for more handy hints on choosing the perfect grass, Turf and all about Landscaping Brisbane.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Various Ways to Remove Lawn Grubs and Weeds From Your Lawn

So, who is winning; your beautiful grass or the weeds? Weeds can be very annoying and frustrating. It is even more so when you notice them a few months after installing your sod or lawn. Assuming they were like the typical weeds –like those you find in the garden- then it wouldn’t be that difficult to get rid of them.

Unfortunately, they are worse! Weed prevention and elimination is a very broad topic, but we will try to cover as much as possible in this article.
There are many ways to get rid of weeds from your lawns. These include

Try to identify them

The first thing you need to do is to identify these weeds. There are usually two broad groups of lawn weeds. These include the weedy grasses e.g. quack grass, crabgrass and annual bluegrass and the broad weeds e.g. knot weed, dandelion and clover among many others.

This might look like too much work, but as some wise guy said, “know your enemies”. Besides it isn’t too much work as they aren’t that many.

Get Rid of all Compacted Areas

This basically means loosen them. Sometimes, weeds growing can be a sign of a compacted soil. For example, knot weed thrives very well in compacted soil.

And when you weed them out without loosening that part of the lawn, you will find that the growth of lawn grasses there will be minimal until the weed starts growing again and takes over that part of the soil. You can loosen the soil by using a core aerator machine or by attaching an aerator to your mower.

Use Preemergence Herbicides

These are herbicides that you spray on the soil before the weeds germinate. This herbicide is better sprayed on annual lawn weeds and is more effective in their treatment and elimination.

It is important to note that this might affect germinating seeds, so ask your lawn care expert about it before using it. If you have crabgrass on your lawns, it better applied between the 5th and 20th of May.

Use Post emergence Herbicides

If the weeds have started their growth but are still in the young phase, applying post emergence herbicides will help kill them off. Usually, this form of herbicide is better used as sprays as the weeds need to absorb the compounds through the leaves for it to be effective.

The thing with this however, is that it may adversely affect the lawn grasses if you don't know how to use it. So, homeowners who want to kill the weeds by themselves are often advised to use the granular forms.

Use Biological Weeding Methods

This is basically weeding using your hands or manually. This is very effective and can really reduce the risks of using herbicides. Hand weeding usually takes a lot of time; in fact more time than spraying herbicides and other weed killers. But when done properly, the results are longer lasting.

There are many other methods, but these are like the crux of the weed elimination process. Try them today and your lawn will look the better for it.

For more information on Lawn Brisbane and Couch Grass; Check out http://www.jimboombaturf.com.au and learn how you can beat the weeds and Lawn Grubs today.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Steps To Greener Lawn Grass


Do you want your lawn to be the envy of your block? Beautiful green lawn grass does not have to be time consuming or difficult. With just a few tricks and a little timing you can have the most beautiful lawn on the block.


1. To mow or not to mow

When it comes to mowing timing is every thing. For cooler climate grass you want to use a one and half inch cutting height the first time you mow. This allows ample amount of sunlight to come to the crowns and also removes the grass’s dead portions. After that first mowing raise the cutting height to 2 in or more. For that last cutting before putting the mower away you will want to go back to the 1 ½ in setting.
Warmer climate grass wants a little less. Start with a 1 in cutting height then increase to 2 ½.

2. Dull blade dull grass

Always use a sharp blade when you cut. A dull blade will tear your grass instead of cut it. Grass that has been damaged turns yellow and we are looking for green.

3. Water water everywhere

The trick here is deep watering early in the morning a few times per week. A good soaking will help your grass to grow deep roots. Deep roots can tap into the underground water supply. When you only engage in light sprinkling you grass will develop shallow roots needing more water more often. If your lawn starts to show the dull green bottoms of the blades or starts to lose its bounce it is asking for water.

You will want to water it until it is damp 4 or 5 inches down. Water it next when the top 2 inches are dry. You can use a cake pan to see how long to leave the sprinkler on. Put the pan in the yard and time how long it takes to fill with 1 inch of water. If it takes 10 minutes you will want to leave the sprinkler on for about an hour. Make sure to water only in the early morning. If your lawn stays too wet over night it could get mold.

4. A little off the top please

Only mow the top 1/3 of the grass. This top portion is leaf and will decompose quickly. This decomposing leaf is good for the grass so leave it where it falls. It will provide needed nitrogen. If you mow more then 1/3 you are getting into the grass’ stem. This can shock it and the stem will burn in the sun. If you want your grass to be 2 inches (warm climate) cut it when it is 3 inches.

5. Every breath we take

Aerate your lawn. You need oxygen and so do the roots of your grass. Aerating improves air to soil interaction, allows water and fertilizers to get deeper into the soil, it reduces soil compaction and it lets the roots have more room to grow.



If you follow these simple steps you too can have a beautiful and Lawn Grub free lawn and be the envy of your block.

For the best in lawn, Sir Walter, Buffalo Grass, Couch Grass, grass, Lawn Grub Control and turf care, you want Jimboomba Turf: http://www.jimboombaturf.com.au

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

The science of Landscaping Turf

In today’s fast food world, you can get everything fast - even a lawn. With little turf lawn care one can quickly avoid soil erosion primarily use landscaping turf. Landscaping turf is grass that is cut and shipped fully-grown right to your door. It is grown on a local specialty farm, as excessive transportation can cause it to build up heat and dry out. These specialty farms often have several types of lawn to choose from so the consumer can choose which is right for their use and appearance preferences. It is harvested about ten to eighteen months after planting .While it is on the farm it undergoes frequent watering, mowing, turf lawn care and fertilization. It is even vacuumed to remove the clippings. When it is ready, it is cut into standardized sizes using special equipment. Turf is usually cut into squares or rolls.

It takes several weeks for grass seed to become established and become a visually appealing lawn. During that time, it is vulnerable to many problems and this is the high time for turf lawn care. It could be blown away or eaten by birds or even fail to grow due to drought. Turf avoids most of these problems. A turf lawn is often fully established within 30 days. However, turf is more expensive. It requires a lot more care and water to become established.


Before turf is applied, you must decide how to prepare the area that it will cover and how much time you are going to spend on turf lawn care. There are several different methods to do this.

Cutter Technique

To use the cutter technique, a tool called a turf cutter is used to remove the existing surface of the lawn. Once the old lawn has been removed, it is carted away and the now the grass free surface is rot tilled to loosen the ground and get it ready for the new Landscaping turf. At this point a layer or two of top soil can be laid own to improve the soil making it optimal for the new grass.

Tilling

Using the tilling technique, the existing lawn is tilled under. There are two methods to do this. The first method only removes the top layer of grass. This method leaves the only the soil as no grass remains. Then the remaining soil is retilled. This method creates a smooth loose surface on which to install the new Landscaping turf. With the second variation of this technique, the old grass and the soil are tilled together. This mixes the old grass into the soil. In this method, the old grass does not need to be hauled away. The surface is ready having the turf laid more quickly and a little less expensively.

Herbicidal Application

In this technique, a powerful herbicide is applied to the existing grass. The chemical kills the old lawn in about seven to ten days. It is then raked to remove the old grass leaving just the soil behind. The new turf is laid then laid on the soil.

Over the existing

In this technique, the new Landscaping turf is simply laid out on top of the old. Since the old grass cannot receive any sunlight, it will die.


There are many different benefits to the use of landscaping turf; the main one being a beautiful lawn in a fraction of the time and you can maintain it with little turf lawn care tips.
If you need a new turf for your lawn or to know about turf lawn care you can speak to the Jimboomba Turf sales team to know all about Lawn Brisbane, landscaping, Turf Australia and grass. Visit www.jimboombaturf.com.au for more details.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Grass - A lot more than meant for just walking on


There are many different benefits to the use of Landscaping Grass; the main one being a beautiful lawn in a fraction of the time and you can maintain it with little grass lawn care tips.

Just the smell of newly mowed grass has the power to allow you to reminisce of your childhood. Golden summers of running barefoot, quick games of baseball that actually took all day, and quiet moments lying on my back looking up at the clouds. It is funny when you realise how little you really think about grass. Every person in every country on this hunk of rock called Earth has at least grass in common. It grows everywhere. It grows in tropical rain forests, the high windswept peaks of mountains, icy Polar Regions, and dry arid savannas. Did you know there are over 10,000 different species of grass?

The reason grass grows so well is that it grows above the nodes not at the tip. New shoots can start from stems that are under ground or above. When you cut the tip, it just keeps growing. Unlike some other plants that will die if cut wrong. When grass is bent by the wind or smashed flat, it has the ability to pick itself up by growing faster on the side facing the ground. This trick gives it an advantage in the fight for sunlight. Even a simple lawn of Sir Walter grass looks much beautiful then any other decorative landscape.


Grass is used for almost everything you could possibly think of. The sorghum species of grass is easily the most used. Sorghum is drought and heat resistant making it suitable for all kinds of climates. It is used for making houses and even for making clothes. It is used for food, fodder, bio fuels and even alcohol. Wheat, barley, and rye are all grasses. Flour is used to make bread. Flour is made from grass kernels. Did you know corn is a grass? Without corn, you would not have popcorn, Cornflakes or tortillas. Let’s not forget the sugar you put in your coffee. More then half the production of sugar is made from sugar cane. Sugar cane is also a grass.

Grass does not just feed us humans. In one form or another, almost every animal eats or uses grass. From the little mouse who uses it to build his house to the giant elephant. We feed grass grains to chickens, sheep and cattle. Grass in the form of corn is even in dog foods and cat foods. Seems like grass is a part of everything we eat whether it fed the food or was used to make the food.

Enjoy a glass of beer or whiskey? Here again we find grass. Most beer is made from rye, wheat, barley and hops all forms of grass. So are whiskey, rum, vodka and sake. So next time you enjoy a stiff drink thank the grass.



Bamboo is also a form of grass. We use it for furniture, fishing poles, scaffolds, and even walls in some places. Pandas in China even eat bamboo.

In some parts of the world, grass is used to make houses. If your house has clay bricks, the grass makes them strong. There are many parts of the world were grass thatch is used for roofs also.

The next time you grumble about having to cut the grass stop and think for a minute about all the wonderful ways grass is used every day. Relax and enjoy the sent of fresh cut grass. It is truly one of nature’s miracles.

Jimboomba Turf has all the interesting facts about Grass. Find out for yourself! www.jimboombaturf.com.au If you need a new turf for your lawn or to know about turf prices, turf lawn care you can speak to the Jimboomba Turf sales team to know all about Brisbane Landscaping, landscapers Brisbane, landscaping and grass.