Archives for August 2011

Is Grass just Grass? Well not really. I guess it like saying that all cheeses are the same. There are many different varieties that can be used for many different occasions.
The best grass for your home is not necessarily the best grass at other peoples homes. Nor what is being advertised on TV. Realistically its what you can afford to. Its all good to want Sir Walter because you see it on TV, but will it grow at your home?  And because it is a NAMED grass it will cost more. And its an investment in your home, you don’t want to spend lots of money on your lawn for it to die.

 

That’s why its best to talk to a Turf Farmer about what they think is the best grass for your home and budget. Shady areas need big leafed grass, high traffic areas need tough grass, sunny areas need thin leafed grasses. Its all about the best grass for the best place. And Coastal Turf can make your decision about the grass for you easier and informed.

 

Hope to chat soon

Sare

Had a conversation with my lovely 5 year old daughter the other day, who has started to be able to read everything, including the sides of our trucks, as to why we call the nice grass Queensland Blue Couch. I said it was because of the deep green of the grass made made it almost look blue in the sun. She then tilted her head to the side and said that was strange. I asked why and she said that all the Queensland things she saw were Red or Purple ( I think she meant maroon).

 

This is when I finally clicked onto what she was saying. Each year I buy the kids state of origin shirts, and when we were shopping the other day there where cheap jerseys so I bought 2 Queensland ones for our Boys and a Blue one for Holl cause she was born in NSW. So I said that I think it was “discovered” in Queensland, and it grows really well in Queensland because it doesn’t really frost there.

 

“Well, they should change it and make the purple grass the Queensland one and the Blue grass should be NSW…” was her indignant reply. The “Purple “grass is Soft Leaf Buffalo because after this really cold winter it has gone purple in some leaves and deep green in others. Great for winter in the shade because the red colour holds and attracts more light so it grows healthy and strong in winter. But the Blue Couch is her favorite. I think because she doesn’t get itchy from it and she knows it safe to wear no shoes on it. Also she is probably just NSW through and through.

 

So she drew this beautiful picture of her and her best friend on the Blue Grass…

 

Gotta love Kids

Chat Soon

Sare

Yep it is already happening this year. The lawn grubs have their little cocoons everywhere and they are due to hatch soon. Nasty little buggers.

Now again at my Mum’s house I found millions of the little cocoons on the eaves on Mum’s house. I was really worried about my Palmetto and Zoysia trial but then decided that these are the type of woes that everyday people who aren’t turf farmers face, so it will be a good part of the trail.

Anyway, what we did was wash the eaves down with some dish washing liquid and warm water. I don’t know what it is but it kills the sacks (probably because we squished them hehehehe) and takes away the residue that they leave behind. They don’t tend to return to that spot either. Maybe my environmentally safe dish washing liquid is really unappealing to grubs. Oh well that’s fine.

But my husband and I did notice that several little “strings” had already escaped down form the cocoons. Not good, because that means that the bugs are now in her lawn! So over the next couple of weeks watch out for stories on how we defeated the Lawn grubs in the Mum’s lawn! Haha!

Anyway here are some pictures of what they look like as cocoons so you can run around and do a quick check of your own eaves. And remember that the better the lawn, the healthier the lawn the more likely the Lawn grubs will come and eat it. its kinda like would you rather have a gorgeous brilliant 5 star meal cooked and served to you or a yucky highly un-nutritious meal? I personally am with the lawn grubs on this one, I would eat 5 star any day…

Thanks
Sare

 

Notice that the cocoons are concentrated to the outer eaves

 

 

The web like string that is hanging down allows the grubs to slide down to earth and then crawl into the lawn

With all the hard economic times ahead of us and all of us feeling the pinch at the moment, Coastal Turf is going to try to help with your lawn budget. We have 9 different varieties of turf that fit your lifestyle and budget, and the team to help you match it. We have the big named grasses and we also have the unsung heroes of the turf world like the couches and carpet grasses. That means no matter what the budget we can help you get grass down.

But be careful! We have had people call and get a quote and say that they can get the same grass cheaper. And if you can match “Apples to Apples” as Barbara says then its all good. But recently we had a lovely lady call us in to help with a patch job at her house. Another turf supplier had sold her what she was assured was Palmetto Buffalo, but when Mick got there he had to break the news to her that she had in fact been sold a couch! She thought she was getting a good deal but got ripped off. So all the sprays she was putting on for Buffalos was killing all her lawn!

Mick did help this lady and now she has a wonderful lawn, But please Buyer beware! Please check our web page for what the grass looks like up close. Make sure you know what a buffalo and Zoysia and Couch leaf look like before you accept your turf order! Make sure you are getting what you pay for! If you are quoted an A grade Price, make sure you are getting an A Grade Product.

At Coastal Turf we will always deliver what you have asked for. We believe in service and quality and the best advertising is always Word Of Mouth.