Plant Doctor owner Adam Fitzhenry said these few simple tips would provide a quick green-up and health boost without being too time consuming.
“Lawns and gardens, and more accurately, the soil beneath them is alive and growing and need feeding and nourishment,” Adam said.
“The recent rain has provided a temporary growth boost, but there’s a few additional steps you can take to maximise this.
“If your lawn still hasn’t dried out, consider trimming back foliage of trees and shrubs to allow sun to reach as much lawn as possible and if there’s any signs of fungal diseases, use the appropriate fungicides.”
Adam said a fertiliser high in iron and nitrogen was the perfect way to achieve a quick result for those who have let their lawn go.
“If you need to impress visitors, apply a liquid fertiliser high in iron and nitrogen at least seven days before Christmas to get that last minute green.”
For those who are time-poor, an application of slow-release mineral fertiliser is the ticket.
“Selecting a slow-release fertiliser will provide your lawns and gardens with an initial charge and then deliver sustained nutrition for up to three months,” Adam said.
“If bare patches are your problem, you need a kelp-based fertiliser or something that is rich in bio-stimulants and humic acid, as this will help stimulate growth.”
He said where waterlogging had been a major issue, it could be the result of the soil having a high clay content.
“Clay-based soils are great for holding water, so this can become a problem when there’s been a lot of rain; continuous improvement and using a clay busting product, such as gypsum, is recommended.
“Throughout the year continue to regularly treat your soil with organic-based fertilisers and soil conditioners to improve the soil profile and encourage beneficial microbes.
“During the spring or summer, consider aerating the lawn and top-dressing with an organic material as both will help improve the soil health.
“This will also help create less compacted soil, which enables better drainage and flow and allows your lawn to recover faster.”
Adam said anyone planning on investing in lawn and garden care in the new year needed to select products that would help improve the soil, feed the microbes and deliver essential nutrients for growth.
“When purchasing any liquids, always look for products containing humic or fulvic acid or that have natural chelating properties.”
