How to get a healthy green lawn for your clients

Key overview: How to get a golf-course green lawn for your clients

• Don't mow too low. Raise your lawnmower height to help retain lawn moisture and protect it from sunburn.
• Water your lawn consistently, preferably in the early mornings.
• Apply a slow-release fertiliser at the start of summer.
• To fix a patchy lawn, apply a wetting agent, combined with deep watering.
• Stop fertilising or mowing during heatwaves. Deep water twice a week afterwards and allow for recovery first.

Tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves and a mask, for example) when required on the job. Always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.

What's the best way to prep your lawn for summer?

Summer lawn care success starts with the basics, Inge says. Here are the jobs to stay on top of:

• Check your mower height: Raise your mower height slightly to reduce stress and help turf retain moisture. As a rule, buffalo and Kikuyu varieties generally perform best when cut a little higher during hot weather.
• Water consistently: The best time to water is early in the morning, when evaporation is lower and there’s enough time for it to dry before nightfall. This ensures there’s less risk of fungal problems.
• Slow-release fertiliser: Applying a slow-release fertiliser at the start of summer will help support steady growth, while occasional seaweed or iron-based liquid feeds can improve colour and resilience without encouraging excessive soft growth.

Which turf varieties are best suited to different regions?

When it comes to selecting the hardiest turf for the job at hand, there are several factors to consider. Most importantly is whether you’re located in a sun-loving state, which will affect how much heat stress is put on the lawn and the amount of water required to maintain hydration.

• For cool-season grass: Inge recommends tall fescue as a go-to.
• For warmer regions: She recommends your more hard-wearing buffalo and couch grass.

“Cool-season grass is actively growing over the autumn and winter months, but it’s a slow growth rate, whereas buffalo and couch grass just stalls over winter,” she explains. “Buffalo can handle the hot heat and also a lot of wet weather in the warm heat.”

Pro tip: Did you know we can provide end-to-end support for your landscaping needs? Find out more about our dedicated Landscape Specialists.

What are the biggest mistakes with turf maintenance?

Mowing too short. There’s a fine line between a trim and a buzz cut, says Inge. Mowing a lawn too short, especially in summer, can have devastating long-term effects. “When you cut it too short, you’re not only cutting the lawn leaf, you’re actually sucking and blowing away the topsoil of your substrate, and your lawn will actually sink over time,” she explains.

You’re also removing the lawn’s built-in sun protection, leaving it vulnerable to getting burnt.

“A higher pile or thatch protects the microclimate of the root system so it doesn’t heat it up as much,” Inge says. “Whereas if you mow it really short, it’s like if you shave all your hair off, you would get sunburnt on your scalp. It’s like built-in sunscreen.”

Failing to feed your lawn. This is just as detrimental, leading to yellowing or discolouration. “I’d be feeding it a minimum of once a month. Every 14 days is what I feed my lawn,” Inge says. “And that’s leading into summer, all the way through summer and at the other end of summer. You should always be feeding your lawn if you want to achieve that golf-course green.”

How do I fix a patchy lawn?

Dry patch is one of the most common summer lawn issues, Inge notes. It appears as areas that repel water or turn brown despite regular watering. If you see this on your client’s lawn, apply a quality wetting agent, combined with deep watering, to help restore moisture penetration and improve soil hydration.

“People often focus on what they can see above ground, but the real work happens in the soil,” she explains. “Healthy roots and soil are what carry a lawn through summer.”

How to deal with lawn pests

Lawn pests are another common problem. Curl grubs can quickly damage healthy turf, often revealing themselves through thinning grass or birds scratching at the lawn in search of food. The key is to identify and treat it early before damage spreads.

How should I adjust my lawn care during a heatwave?

Heatwaves place enormous stress on turf. During or immediately after very hot weather, Inge says to:

• Avoid mowing or fertilising, and tell your clients to ensure no heavy traffic on the lawn. Focus on maintaining soil moisture and giving the turf time to recover.
• Resist the temptation to immediately resume normal maintenance. Continue watering deeply – aiming for two deep waterings per week early in the morning to minimise evaporation rather than more frequent lighter sprinkles – and allow it to bounce back before mowing or feeding again.

Can I lay new turf in summer?

“Yes – but preparation and aftercare are important,” Inge says. New turf and lawn patches can establish successfully during summer provided soil preparation is done properly and watering is consistent.

Water immediately after installation and keep the turf evenly moist while roots establish. Extra vigilance may be required during particularly hot or windy periods.

Looking to upgrade your tools?

Check out our story on the best power garden and petrol operated tools for maintenance jobs.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell what’s causing brown patches in a lawn?

Start with the soil. If water pools or runs off instead of soaking in, dry soil could be the culprit. It’s also worth checking for thinning turf or birds scratching around, which can be a sign of curl grubs.

Why does a lawn look yellow even when it’s being watered regularly?

Water isn’t the only thing that keeps a lawn green. A lawn that’s missing nutrients can start to yellow or lose colour, so feeding may need some attention too.

What’s more important for a healthy lawn: the grass or the soil?

You need both, but don’t overlook what’s happening below the surface. Healthy soil helps moisture reach the root zone and gives the lawn a better foundation to handle hot summer conditions.

Should I mow a lawn before a run of really hot weather?

If extreme heat is on the way, resist the urge to give the lawn a close cut. Keeping a little extra height helps protect the root zone, while mowing during a heatwave can put already stressed turf under further pressure.

What should I tell clients to do between lawn maintenance visits?

Keep it simple: water consistently, avoid cutting the lawn too short and give the turf a break from heavy foot traffic during really hot weather. A few good habits between visits can help protect the work you’ve already put in.