As the summer heat approaches in Perth, it’s time to make sure your beautiful Perth lawn is ready to withstand the heat and fend off common summer pests like Armyworm. At Carabooda Lawn, your most trusted turf farm in Perth, we want to help you make sure that your lawn stays green, healthy and looking its best all season long.
The Secret: Soil Hydration
No matter what type of grass you have, the secret to making sure it stays healthy all summer long is ensuring your soil can hold and absorb water effectively. Unfortunately for us, Perth soils are naturally sandy and can become hydrophobic (water repellent) over time, meaning your precious water often runs off or pools instead of soaking right down into the roots.
Our solution to this is recommending the use of a high-grade, premium wetting agent like Aqua Force. It is specifically formulated to break down the waxy residue that causes water repellency in our Perth soil. It allows the water to penetrate deep into the soil profile, ensuring moisture is retained where your turf roots need it most. Applying Aqua Force now is a proactive step to get ahead of the incoming warm Perth weather.
The Hardiest of All: Wintergreen
While all of our varieties will perform well when they are properly watered, if you’re looking for the ultimate champion against the heat, you can’t go wrong with Wintergreen Couch. This variety is particularly robust due to its deep, wide-spreading root system that actively searches for water within the soil, making it incredibly resilient in the summer heat. However, unfortunately, wintergreen’s extensive root system often leads to it creeping into areas where it is not wanted, for example, garden beds and pathways.
Guarding Your Green
The change in seasons often brings a large increase in lawn pests, the Armyworm being a main offender during the warmer months. These caterpillars cause substantial damage to your lawn over a matter of days, chewing through roots and leaves. Keep an eye out for moths that lay the eggs. Acelepryn is a good preventative!
Spotting the Signs
The damage from the Armyworm is often the first thing you’ll notice, which will include irregular brown patches that seemingly come overnight. One of the most easily noticed indications of Armyworm is an increase in bird activity on your lawn. These pests make for a great snack for local birds! You can identify the Armyworm itself by its appearance, usually with 3 parallel white or cream streaks along its body. They can grow from 2 mm to 40 mm in length.
You might also notice brown moths flying just above your grass around dusk time, looking for a spot to lay their eggs. These hatch into tiny caterpillars that feed heavily and grow quickly, damaging your lawn in the process. This cycle eventually begins again. It is important to keep an eye out for these signs before your lawn begins to turn brown everywhere, unable to be salvaged.
For season-long defence and protection, we recommend applying products like Acelepryn. It is a highly effective, low-risk insecticide that can provide you with up to six months of preventative control against Armyworm as well as other common turf pests. Applying it now means you will have a protective barrier in place before the pests even have a chance to take hold, saving your grass from summer damage. If you are already experiencing an outbreak, you can purchase products from Bunnings to fight the pests or purchase Acelepryn directly from Carabooda Lawn.
Summer Prep Checklist
Aerate – if your soil is compact, aerating it will allow for water and nutrients to penetrate.
Apply Aqua Force – break down water repellency and ensure maximum hydration effectiveness.
Apply Acelepryn – get ahead of those seasonal insect pests with a preventative application.
Fertilise – a quality granular fertiliser will give your turf all the nutrients it needs.
For your lawn care needs and the best turf Perth has to offer, trust the experts at Carabooda Lawn. You can call or visit our Perth turf farm for the right advice on turf varieties suited to our hot and windy Perth climate.
