Archives for January 2017

With the summer heat and then heat storms you may be starting to notice puddles forming on your lawn. And you maybe thinking that this is because of there is not enough light getting in.

Well…..this is not the main cause of pooling water. Beware as sometimes water can be just as detrimental to your lawn as it  can be helpful.

We all know all living things need water to survive, its the Sesame Street song that I definitely grew up with. And we know from swimming  that submersing yourself in too much water, head under, can cause you to drown. Well the same thing can happen to your lawn.

Taking a little step back, your lawn grows from the leaf getting enough sun to absorb food and light and air. And it also desperately NEEDS space for its roots to grow and absorb food and Air. “WHAT? Your silly Sarah.” I hear you all saying. But its true.

The soil is little particles all sitting on top of each other. And these particles of they have room between them allowing access for micro organisms to move through. These micro organisms leave a trail behind them (Poo. Yep icky bug poo) which the newly developing roots of the plant follow.  When you are installing turf, especially over what was a previous lawn, it is so important to make sure the first 4cm of soil is quite loose. This allows the thin baby roots to work their way into the soil and then as they thicken, hold onto the soil, and establish really well for you. Our turf slabs come with soil surrounding the root stock with some great little micro bugs already there to help roots establishment. So if your soil is loose, it will let them all in for a party. If the soil is rick hard, then the roots cannot penetrate, and your turf will not establish.

So what makes the soil rock hard? Well funny enough, too much water can! Remember those little particles and the space between them, well if that area is so full of water long term, then the little micro organisms cannot move through. Although they attended swimming lessons they had little success in areas where they cannot get any air to breath. So to begin with the flooding of an area with water, severely depletes your microorganisms, taking away your roots food source. Then water has a tendency to move down. And as the water moves down through the soil, it pulls the soil particles down with it. This takes away the spaces between the particles, leaving no air for the micro organisms to breath, and space for them to move through. And roots just aren’t always strong enough on their own to push between the particles.  Some lawns after they have been over watered, mostly through the best intentions, often look like the lawn is mulching itself down.

When water pools on your lawn because it cannot penetrate the soil because it has no more spaces to down through, or because the area between the particles is already full of water, the water sits in these pools sometimes in the sun or just in the warm weather and starts to heat up. Think back to when you were a kid and used to love running through puddles after a storm. The warm puddles were always nicer than the muddy cool ones. (Well they were on my toes.) These puddles can warm up so much that they almost “Boil” the grass surrounding it. Leaving dead patches and unhealthy lawns.

“AHHH. So What do I do If I have water pooling on my lawn! I have killed off the micro pooing bugs, and squished my lawns roots and boiled alive my beautiful lawn!!!AHHH!” Well don’t panic. I’ll let you know when its time to panic. There is a really simple solution to this. Get a garden fork, and stab the ground. Get out your frustrations for the week, and stab your fork down into the lawn, take a step and stab again. Focus on the pooling areas, or the areas that look like they are mulching themselves down. Then move onto the rest of your lawn. Depending upon the area of your lawn, you may choose instead to invest in some spiked areovating shoes. Or have a cocktail party and insist that everyone wears spiked high heels (yep everyone!) and have them walk all over your lawn.

So in the immortal words of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the Movie, not the Tv series. Although both were pretty good) “How loose is your Goose? Our Goose is totally loose”. Make sure your soil is loose and will allow the roots and micro bugs through, and your lawn will stay green fluffy and beautiful.

Best rule of green thumb for a thick lush amazing lawn is less water more often. So 5-10 minutes of irrigation, up to three times a day is perfect. Dampen your lawn, do not drown it. And most importantly Enjoy your lawn. Its there to create you happiness.

Chat soon

Sare

 

Everywhere I have looked up on Google to find out what is happening on Australia, every even has the good old fashioned BBQ, mostly in the park, and sometimes in private residences in their back yard.

So from my extensive 5 minute research I have, probably rather biasedly, concluded that you can’t have Australia Day with out Coastal Turf’s Grass and Lawns. Here is the way I have come to this conclusion.

BBQ’s mean going outside. And when you go outside, its best to go somewhere lovely. Not all concrete bound and hot. But somewhere cool, soft green and calming. Like a park, or for better access to all the amenities your back yard.

And for a park in the Tweed area, there are no better parks for Australia Day fun than Knox Park in Murwillumbah. It has fantastic play equipment for all kids, and the grown ups as well, a great big skate park, and a fantastic soft, green lush Coastal Turf supplied  Wintergreen Couch park lawn area, perfect for the Cricket game, or football match. Depending upon the weather. If its really hot, I have found it best to stand with cool refreshment in my hand and “Field” at the Cricket match. If it is a bit cooler than a game of fast paced Touch football is on the cards for our family and friends. I am a perfect scorer in these circumstances. As I am not good at running, or catching, or any football stuff really. And while scoring I could also partake in a light refreshment filled with ice as well. The wintergreen couch provides great ball rolling ability as well as being comforting when you dive for that catch, or get “touched” a little too hard and your body makes contact with the grassed areas.

But if its the Beach, you are looking for, then Cabarita Beach Headland, Kingscliff Beaches, and Pottsville beaches parks all have the perfect green grassed areas to picnic and get changed on. As these are of course Coastal Turf Blue couch. This super soft lawn area will comfort your feet after the heat of the sand, and provide your picnic blanket with a comforting padding to sit and eat upon. And it is perfect for those accidental spilled refreshments. It will soak it right up. No mess, No Fuss.

But if you like to be responsible and partake in more alcoholic Refreshments and not have to drive around, then the Coastal Turf Backyard Lawn is perfect for you.  We will be match the tight grass to your area. Making sure you get the right grass for your area first time. Creating the best BBQ and play area for family and friends to come and praise you on.

Whether it be the thick leafed spongey Palmetto, perfect for low light yards, and those with kids with Trampolines. My yard has super spongey Palmetto around our trampoline for 3 years now and it takes hardly any water and less mowing to stay nice and thick and soft for the kids bare footed. Its great.

Or a Zoysia yard for those with a softer side but still have the kids and dogs using the yard for family fun. Its great for those at home touch football matches. The Zoysia cushions you as you fall, and then have several if not all the kids jump on top of you.

Or a family favourite the Coastal Mix yard. The combination of the two types of grasses tother make it a very cost effective lawn. Not just in the initial purchase of your turf, but in the maintenance and up keep of the lawn. Using a third of the water to stay green and thick, the Coastal Mix is perfect for high use areas, with family fun all year round. And especially on those awesome Public Holidays (or basically a 4 day weekend!) when you can have several BBQs and refreshments with friends, guilt free.

We can bring you a beautiful Coastal Turf lawn this Wednesday all ready for you and your family and friends to out down on Australia Day. Nothing more Australian than helping out a Mate! Lock your delivery in now for a Late Wednesday delivery, or a Friday morning delivery. Make the most of our semi-Four day weekend.

 

Chat soon, And have a great Australia Day

Sare

Coastal Turf will be eating laminations and having a sausage sizzle on the 26th January, but back on the 27th to fulfil all your Lawn needs.

Doing a bit of casual reading on school holidays, actually not really. Doing some homework for work and study. But my kids think I am lying down reading a book or playing games on my iPad. No I am doing serious adult stuff. And only occasionally flicking over to Facebook. And if I’m really honest I actually found this reading Facebook.

Being a bit of a Lawnatic, actually one of the original Lawnatics, I “Like” the Lawnspiration Facebook page. And they had a really interesting article from the Work Health Organisation about their recommendations for healthy lawns.

 

It is a really long read, but does have some interesting info. I already knew, as a Lawnatic, that 50sqm of lawn can provide a person with enough oxygen for a whole year. But the mental health side is super cool. I know I feel better when I can see green everywhere, but being a farmer I just assumed it was a farmer thing. My mental health does depreciate when I can’t create more Lawnatics with Coastal Turf Lawns. But it is good to know that our Lawnatics are getting the same happy mental feeling as we do on the farm.

 

Chat soon

Sare

If you would like to become a Coastal Turf Lawnatic send an email to sarah@coastalturf.com.au and I will send you interesting Lawn facts and best care practices to keep your Tweed, Byron  and Gold Coast lawns looking awesome.

As I was came to work this morning I heard on the radio a reminder from Paramedics and Doctors to stay hydrated today and spend as much time in air conditioning as possible.

Well this is your Lawnatic Doctor reminding you to keep your lawn healthy and hydrated today, and it will keep you cooler.

In fact your lawn is trying its hardest to cool down your home and itself. By having your lawn butted right up against your house you can lower temperatures by up to 5 Degrees in side. So your lawn is looking after you.

If you could look after your lawn it can help you more. In the heat of the day when  you are hopefully all snuggled up in the cool of your home, bare a thought for your hard working lawn. Turn on your sprinkler for 5 minutes at lunch and cool your lawn down. It will stop it from stressing and cool it down so it can keep your home cooler as well.

By turning on your hose and cooling your lawn down you can save money on having to pump your air conditioning so high. And still have the gorgeous green around you.

And, as a Lawnatic Doctor I totally recommend turning the sprinkler on your new lawn in the evening and running under the spray. You know its not just for little kids. It is a very important adult job.  Its for your lawn you are doing this. By running bare foot across your lovely soft lawn under the sprinkler you are judging if the area is hydrated enough to move the sprinkler to the next area. So totally a grown up thing to do. And fun!

So stay cool and green this summer.

Chat soon

Sare

Your lawn is an investment in your Home, and more importantly the Health of you and your family. So like all investments, make sure you invest in the right place. Talk to us about putting your hard earned money in to the best lawn for your place. Let us do all the hard work while you get all the best benefits.

Your lawn is often the last thing you think about when you build your new home. It just seems like an extra that you don’t really want to think about at the time. But then you move in, and dirt and sand and mess starts to blow in and get walked in by your family and friends across your beautiful brand new probably white floors.

Your house is your investment in your future. Your financial future, as well as your family time together. So protect your investment with a beautiful lawn that will stop all the dirt being spread onto your amazing new floors. And add, on average $70,000, value onto your home by placing the gorgeous green.

But like all investments, make sure you talk to the RIGHT people before you start handing over your cash. There are so many different types of lawns available now, and making the right choice can be daunting.

At Coastal Turf we pride ourselves on being very hands on. We know all the grassed from the roots up! We know how each variety will cope with kids and dogs (often because have tested them to our own homes) shade and sun, and lack or abundance of water. This hands on experience coupled with our knowledge of plants and our local area, means we can give you wise investment choices.

Getting the Right Lawn for your home is really important. We believe in doing it once and getting it right. Thats why we offer free on phone and information we can email you, advice on the best preparation techniques as well maintenance afterwards.

Give us a call, send us a text, shoot us an email and we will help turn your dirt pile into a magnificent lawn.

Chat soon

Sare

Well its been a great start to 2017 so far. I have just discovered that our 10year old is knows her Turf stuff.

Her best friends parents called and wanted some Palmetto turf installed at their place around their side and pool area. No Problems says my daughter. She quite cleverly measured up the area, set up the delivery date, told her Second Parents (as she calls them) the prices and then went with the truck for a sale over when we delivered the turf. It was the easiest delivery I have ever arrange. For a sleep over or a turf delivery. All I had to do was pack a bag of clothes and a roller. Not the usual, but nearly normal for our house.

 

So off Hollie went and helped her second Dad install their beautiful new lawn. She said she did most of the work (note the staggered brick formation that the turf is laid in. Perfect for quick establishment). Her second Dad said he is pretty sure he did a lot too. And Hollie measured so well she only had one slab left over.

Hollie did get a special ice cream as a reward from her Second Parents.

So little lesson, that if the my 10 year old can do it, I bet anyone can do it this summer. But I think the biggest lesson is that you can get your kids to help install your new lawn, and only have to pay them with Ice Cream!

Dad’s on the other hand, they probably want beer or something more refreshing.

Chat soon

Sare