OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums General Discussion Forum Lawn Care & Maintenance 9/10 November

The lack of water this past fortnight has not been the best for the lawns but the progress is still OK with plenty of leaf showing through and starting to knit together. I'm watering twice a week. Next step is to complete the area plan and share it in the separate thread on irrigation and see what Nath recommends!

The schedule now says the weekend pattern is full
with lawns to mow and a few weeds to pull
Organic fert is spread with love and with care
a little bit here, a little more over there

The lawn will receive the full royal treatment
with humic and kelp, she wont be discontent
I'll add some soil wetter and hold back the iron
have it ready at hand to apply another time

Off to my parents to tackle a few aging gums
looking forward to a chat when some lopping's been done
They're both in their 80's and still full of life
over 50 years together, as loving Husband and Wife

I started a few plants from seeds in little pots
nothings better than summer veg, and I'm gonna have lots
In just one week they're coming into sight
I'll get the vegepod set for their new bed in daylight

I bought me some tines for my DIY aerator
the boys at work'll help attach, sooner not later
I'll keep writing these, you can call me "sui generis"
Thanks for your kind words - you are most generous.

TC.

G'day TC - ODK Poet Laureate

I always look forward to your progress and poetic musings.
Members have told me of their appreciation, too.

You bring a smile to the garden.

I have been looking at the artistic expression of the
garden for some time. I have written about lawnmower cartoons too.

But poetry must rule ...
Here's one I found from May, 1941.



The Count, you follow a proud tradition!
But you're still one-of-a-kind!

Many thanks
----------------------------
Jack

G'day Jack,

Appreciate the feedback - and it keeps me keen to write more.

It's just a novel way of presenting the plan I'm following for the season. I'm finding it keeps me consistent or 'honest' by publishing the overall plan and then either applying it or tweaking the timing. I'm finding that consistency is vital for success. Good products always help too and I've drawn from multiple suppliers/sellers to come up with what I feel is right for me:-

Scott's lawn builder as synthetic fertiliser (will be swapping to Lawn Pride "Maintain" 26-2-9 when this runs out)
Grassmaster brand as organic fertiliser
Slow release for the plants "Champion" from Plant Doctor
Potash is just Richgro from Bunnings
Phosphorous is again Richgro brand
Gypsum I rarely use nowadays, but also from Bunnings
Kelp is "Seaweed Secrets" from Plant Doctor.
Soil Wetter also from Plant Doctor
Humic I have soluble where I take 50g at a time and dissolve it in about 2L of water in a container, agitating daily for a week. When I apply foliar sprays like iron or seaweed this is added.
Humic in granules is a 25kg bag that goes well in my hand sprayer ($10 Saxon brand)
Liquid Iron (hasn't been used yet) is 16% N, 7% Fe, 3% S to add colour to the leaf. Also great for citrus (I have oranges, lemons, mandarin and limes)

From a 'negative' aspect I also use the following:
Prodiamine pre-emergent (Knighthawk) and the results speak for themselves. 3 to 4 applications each year and it's great
David Grays crab grass killer (also works on clovers) if I decide to spot spray the neighbours' patch :)
Poa Pro is a strong propyzamide based (50%) winter grass killer. Hasn't been used in years.
Buffalo is a product from Specialist Sales containing 20% bromoxynil and 20% MCPA - works great on bindi, clover & broadleaf intruders.
Moss killer is Manutec brand. Works OK but you need to heap it on to work and hope it doesn't rain.

When on insect patrol, I rely on these:
Spectre contains imidacloprid 20% and works well on black beetle larvae (those white grubs).
Surround/Apparent contains bifenthrin which gets rid of mum & dad beetles plus grass mites, moths, plus an overall house barrier product.

The above looks like an exhaustive list but I want to have better than just good results. Last season I became much more methodical in applying product and the results showed. This year I've done a minor renovation and can't wait to start mowing three times a week. The issues with my eyes delayed the whole process but I'll get there.

My lawn is 160m in total so not large by any measure. Most of my attention is out the front for street appeal and there's a few projects coming up like a new garden border and irrigation. Aerating is manual with the beast the boys in the metal room concocted during the off-season. This week the new tines will be installed and I have two sections out the back that need going over - in front of the pool gate and the BBQ area. I'm sure these will be be the source of future musings..

I am not a professional nor have I ever been. This is just a plan designed from reading forums and watching a bit of Youtube along the way and I'm more than happy to give an opinion if asked. My motivation to join here started with pulling info for a groomer and then quickly led to renovation and now I hope I'm giving back by adding information in the yard maintenance subject. Time will tell when I post more photos eh?

Cheers,
TC.