Welcome First name / fellow lawn addict to another instalment of “The Fulcrum”.
This week we are looking at a slightly controversial topic, one which for many years was a complete no go zone for turf managers; laying turf during the cooler seasons.
Whilst “back-in-the-day” this was a complete waste of time, technology and growing ability of turf farms has come a long-long way. With the right timing and knowledge we can set up a newly cut and laid warm season lawn this time of year for a good grow in early spring.
Although not ideal, usually this time of year laying turf is a “needs" and "must” situation, where we are locked into this time of year for various reasons, be it sporting codes, new house builds, landscaping etc..
There are some key measurements to look for.
Soil temperature: ideally above 10°C. At these temperatures, establishment of warm season grass will be very slow to non-existent and will usually take until spring before taking hold. We recommend laying in full sun areas where possible, some dappled light or partial shade is ok as long as the area is still getting 7-8 hours of direct sun per day. It is also important the newly laid turf is not exposed to traffic.
Once you have have laid your turf, there are some key things you'll need to follow and take note of.
The first is watering, if mother nature hasn't provided any (much like last winter) then we will need to step in, it can be either one deep water per month, or frequent light watering just ensuring that there is some soil moisture depending on level of establishment. Don't be afraid to lift a corner of the new turf to assess the moisture and then water accordingly, every situation is different this time of year, but it only needs to be moist. If it is dry, use of one of the Hydrolink wetting agents is the best way to stay on top of moisture positioning issues.
The next tip is to try and eliminate traffic, this predominantly applies to warm season lawns, this includes mowing. Which should be raised 5-10mm (or 2-3 notches) this will give the grass more leaf area to absorb light and photosynthesise. Adding pigments will also aid in the grasses ability to absorb the correct wavelength of light for photosynthesis.
Last but certainly not least is winter fertilisation. Supporting anything in their time of need is a good habit to be in, this extends to our lawns! Providing the grass with essential nutrients to try and hold off dormancy is the key to get it in early, so pre-dormancy while the grass is still awake to be able to take in and use the nutrients. The other side of fertilisation is to support the plant with essential nutrients, growth stimulants and Vitamins such as Zinc, Iron, Fulvic Acids, Auxins and Thiamine (Vitamin B1). at the right level, to support the plants own hormone production. This will assist the plant through this phase and reduce deterioration during dormancy and allow us to get a head start as soon as the weather turns and Spring kicks in. Early intervention is key and trying to get in before the onset of dormancy is the way to go.
