The Christmas Glow up

As we approach the end of another year, Christmas is just around the corner, and with it comes the perfect opportunity for a little lawn showboating! Let’s be honest, we’re all doing it.

But if you’re aiming to make your lawn the envy of the neighbourhood on the big day, there are a few strategies you can borrow from the playbook of Superintendents, Arena Managers, and Curators. These pros are masters of planning for major events, think Grand Final Day or Club Championships, where every step of the growing season is carefully timed to peak at the right moment. The beauty of Christmas is that it’s a fixed date, giving you the same advantage to prepare and shine.

By now, you should be well into the rhythm of your lawn care plan, whatever form that takes. At this stage, it’s all about the finishing touches. Focus on fine-tuning your applications of soil amendments, as well as granular and liquid fertilisers, to ensure your lawn looks its absolute best for the festive season.
 

Now that it’s the start of December, it’s the ideal time to complete your final soil amendment and (depending on your grass type) granular fertiliser applications. These treatments will have enough time to take effect, improving your lawn’s appearance just in time for the big day.

For cool-season grasses, you might consider applying another light (half-rate) dose of granular fertiliser. However, be sure to adjust your subsequent application schedule accordingly to avoid overdoing it.

To really make your lawn stand out, take a page from the curators’ handbook. For those final touches, they often apply a product containing nitrogen (N) and iron (Fe) or a straight iron supplement. These applications enhance the turf’s colour and are typically done 1–2 weeks before the event, allowing the full effect to develop.

Remember to carefully read and double-check application rates and water volumes before use. Incorrect application can lead to turf burn, which is the last thing you want before Christmas!

Incorporating nitrogen into your lawn care routine at this stage has a distinct advantage. If it’s been a while since your last granular fertiliser application, a nitrogen-based product can provide the supplemental boost your grass needs to keep growing steadily during this transitional period.

On the other hand, if you’ve recently applied a fertiliser that already contains nitrogen, focusing on an iron-based product is a great way to enhance your lawn’s color without pushing additional growth.

Whichever option you choose, applying one of these products before Christmas will help your lawn look its absolute best—without resorting to pigments. While pigments are an option, they should be used sparingly. Overapplying can make them standout, which may not give the desired natural appearance.

Preparation is key for a successful application. Ensure your lawn is well-watered and freshly mowed leading up to treatment, but avoid mowing too soon afterward. Mowing too quickly can remove much of the product before it has a chance to take effect.

Speaking of mowing, if you want to showcase striking lawn stripes for Christmas, consider mowing in a consistent north-south direction during the lead-up. This allows the sunlight to hit the stripes at the most flattering angle. Multiple passes in the same direction will further enhance the definition, creating that ultimate striped effect.

One final tip: if you’re planning to go away over the holidays, consider applying a growth regulator to your lawn. Growth regulation slows the vertical growth of your grass, meaning you won’t return to a lawn resembling the Amazon rainforest! This helps keep your grass more manageable and less overgrown when you get back, saving you from an overwhelming post-holiday mowing session. 

For the Addicts keeping up with our Warm Season free lawn plans, we’re up to the big one! The basis of all our plans. Granular, Hydrolink, Kelpro, and for those who use them, UMX, Fertech bio, Auxinone and Hicure.

 

For the Addicts keeping up with our Cool Season free lawn plans we’re at that time again where we are doing our monthly soil amendments. So, the Hydrolink, Kelpro, and for those who use them, UMX, Fertech bio, Auxinone and Hicure