For many Kiwi homeowners, a lush green lawn is the dream. New Zealand’s unique climate can make achieving that dream a little tough when you take into account the mix of sunny, rainy, and windy days. All that really means is that your lawn needs a little bit of extra TLC to stay in top shape year-round.
Luckily, we’re here to help Whether you’re creating your lawn care routine from scratch or you’re looking to fine-tune what you’re already doing, these six lawn care tips will help you to maintain the vibrant, healthy lawn you’ve always wanted.
Mow Smart, Not Short
First on our list of vital lawn care tips is to mow smart, not short. It might be tempting to mow your lawn as short as possible to delay the next cut, but this can actually harm the grass. Short grass is more prone to drying out and gives weeds a better chance of taking over.
In summer – which is generally New Zealand’s fastest grass-growing season – we recommend mowing your lawn once a week. To be sure it’s long enough to survive and show off all that lovely greenery, set your mower blade to a height of 5–7 cm.
This length helps shade the soil, retain moisture, and keep your lawn looking thick and green. And remember to keep your mower blades sharp! Clean cuts heal faster and are less stressful for the grass, helping it to grow and thrive.
Water Wisely
Watering your lawn can feel like guesswork, but the trick is consistency. Lawns need about 2.5 cm of water per week, which can usually be provided by rainfall thanks to New Zealand’s fairly rain-heavy climate. During drier periods, water deeply once or twice a week rather than lightly every day.
The best time to water is early in the morning when the sun is low and the air is cooler. This gives the grass plenty of time to absorb water before the heat of the day causes it to evaporate.
If you have a large lawn, consider installing irrigation or sprinklers to handle all that square footage!
Feed Your Lawn What It Needs
Grass, like any plant, needs the right nutrients to thrive. Without these nutrients, the grass will become deprived and brown, which will really take away from that lush result you’re seeking. Luckily, feeding your lawn what it needs is easy. Look for a lawn-specific fertiliser and follow the instructions carefully to avoid overfeeding, which can burn the grass. Fertilise your lawn three to four times a year to make a massive difference in its health and appearance!
In New Zealand, spring and autumn are ideal times to fertilise. These seasons provide the perfect balance of moisture and temperature to encourage growth and strengthen roots.
Control Weeds Before They Take Over
Weeds are a natural part of having a lawn, and they’re bound to appear at some point. Unfortunately, they grow as fast – if not faster – than grass and can quickly take over if left unchecked. Weeds steal the nutrients from grass, shading them to create brown patches and generally harm your grass.
The best defence against weeds is a strong, healthy lawn. Regular lawn mowing, watering, and fertilising will help crowd out invaders. For stubborn weeds, consider a selective herbicide that targets weeds without harming grass.
Aerate for Healthy Roots
If you walk on your lawn a lot, it can become compacted over time. This pushes the soil down, making it a lot harder for air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots of your grass. This can slowly kill the grass, all while making it tougher to get anything new growing.
Poking small holes in the soil – also called ‘aeration’ – helps to loosen things up. You can do this with something as simple as a garden fork or speak to a lawn mowing professional about using a mechanical aerator for larger areas.
Protect Your Lawn from Snow
Finally, one of the most important lawn care tips for Kiwis living in the snowy regions of the South Island. If that’s you, you’re most likely contending with some amount of snow each winter. Snow can wreak havoc on a healthy lawn, as the weight of the drifts, along with the cold, can easily kill grass or leave plenty of brown patches.
Consider using lawn covers to keep the snow off. These essentially function like large tarps, stopping the cold snow from falling onto the grass itself. You can easily pick up and shake the covers to remove or distribute the snow evenly, thus preventing the weight from creating those dreaded brown patches.
Those are our lawn care tips for today. As you can see, caring for your lawn doesn’t have to be complicated. With regular mowing, smart watering, a little fertiliser, and the occasional aeration, you can keep your grass looking green and inviting.
Remember, the key is to stay consistent and adapt to the seasons. New Zealand’s climate may keep you on your toes, but it also offers plenty of opportunities for your lawn to thrive.
Rely on the elite team at Paramount for more than lawn care tips.
Ready to go beyond lawn care tips and embrace a whole new gardening approach? The team at Paramount is proud to be a trusted elite property care partner for homeowners all over New Zealand.
Get your residential gardening or lawn mowing quote from us today.
