Listen, I know what you’re thinking. Winter prep? In Sydney? But trust me on this one – your lawn needs some love before those cooler months roll in, even if we’re not dealing with snow like our mates up north.
## **Why Your Sydney Lawn Needs Winter Prep**
Here’s the thing. Winter in Sydney might not be brutal, but it’s still tough on grass. The growth slows right down, we get those cold snaps, and if you haven’t prepped properly… well, come spring you’ll be looking at a patchy mess instead of that gorgeous green carpet you’re dreaming of.
I’ve been in this game long enough to see the difference between lawns that get winter prep and those that don’t. It’s night and day, honestly.
## **When to Start? Right About Now**
Look, timing is everything. You want to start your winter prep in late autumn – basically April or May here in Sydney. Don’t wait til June when it’s already cold. Your grass needs time to absorb all the good stuff you’re giving it before it goes into its winter hibernation mode.
## **The Essential Winter Prep Checklist**
### **1. Give It One Last Good Feed**
But here’s the trick – not just any fertiliser will do. You need a **slow-release winter fertiliser**. Something with less nitrogen and more potassium. Why? Because nitrogen makes grass grow like crazy, and that’s the last thing you want heading into winter. Potassium though? That strengthens the roots and helps your lawn handle the cold.
I usually recommend applying it about 6 weeks before the first frost (if we even get one in your area).
### **2. Adjust Your Mowing Height**
This one’s crucial and so many people get it wrong. As autumn progresses, gradually raise your mower height. You want to leave your grass a bit longer for winter – around 5-7cm is perfect.
Why longer? It helps protect the roots from cold and gives the grass more leaf area to photosynthesize during those shorter winter days. Plus, longer grass = fewer weeds. Win-win.
### **3. Deal With Those Autumn Leaves**
I get it, raking leaves is nobody’s idea of fun. But leaving them on your lawn is like putting a blanket over your grass – it blocks light and traps moisture, which leads to fungal diseases. Not good.
Don’t just bin them though! Those leaves are gold for your compost or can be mulched up and spread on garden beds.
### **4. Aerate If You Haven’t Already**
If your lawn cops a bit of foot traffic (kids, dogs, regular BBQs), it’s probably compacted. Aerating helps water and nutrients get down to the roots where they’re needed. You can hire an aerator or, for smaller lawns, just go at it with a garden fork.
Best time? Right before that winter fertiliser application I mentioned.
### **5. Top-Dress Bare Patches**
Got some thin or bare spots? Now’s the time to fix them. Mix some good quality soil with couch or buffalo grass seeds (depending on what you’ve got) and spread it over those patches. Give it a good water and by spring, you’ll hardly notice they were there.
## **The Watering Situation**
Here’s where a lot of people mess up. Your lawn needs way less water in winter, but it still needs some. The trick is to water deeply but infrequently – maybe once a week if we’re not getting rain. And always water in the morning so the grass has time to dry before nightfall.
Wet grass + cold nights = fungal party. And nobody wants that.
## **What About Weeds?**
Winter weeds are sneaky little buggers. While your grass is sleeping, they’re wide awake and spreading. Hit them with a selective herbicide in late autumn before they really take hold. Just make sure it’s suitable for your grass type – buffalo grass especially can be sensitive to some products.
## **The Professional Touch**
Look, I’ll be straight with you. All this prep work takes time and know-how. If you’re not sure about fertiliser types, or you’re worried about getting the aeration wrong, maybe it’s worth getting a professional in.
At Mr Lawn Man, we see plenty of lawns that could’ve been saved with proper winter prep. Sometimes spending a bit now saves you a fortune (and a lot of heartache) come spring when you’re not faced with a complete lawn renovation.
## **Don’t Forget Your Equipment**
While we’re talking winter prep, give your mower some love too:
– **Clean it properly** – grass clippings left on can rust the deck
– **Sharpen those blades** – you’ll thank yourself come spring
– **Service it** – or at least change the oil and spark plug
## **The Bottom Line**
Winter lawn prep in Sydney isn’t about surviving snow and ice. It’s about setting your lawn up for a cracking spring. Do it right, and come September you’ll be the envy of the street while your neighbours are frantically trying to revive their patchy, weed-infested lawns.
Remember, your lawn’s like a hibernating bear – it needs to be well-fed and comfortable before it goes to sleep for winter. Treat it right now, and it’ll wake up healthy, hungry, and ready to grow like mad when the warm weather returns.
Need a hand getting your lawn winter-ready? Give the team at Mr Lawn Man a call. We’ve prepped more Sydney lawns for winter than I’ve had hot dinners, and we know exactly what works in your local area.
Stay green, Sydney!
*- Bryce*