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

## Hey there, lawn lovers! So lets talk about something that might sound a bit fancy but is actually super important for keeping your grass happy and healthy – aeration. I know, I know… it sounds like one of those technical garden terms that only the pros use, but trust me on this one. ## What exactly is lawn aeration anyway? Okay so picture this. Your lawn is like a sponge, right? But over time – especially here in Sydney where we get our fair share of foot traffic and weather extremes – that sponge gets squished down. The soil gets compacted. Its like when you sit on a cushion for too long and it goes flat. Aeration is basically poking a bunch of holes in your lawn. Yep, thats it! We use special equipment that pulls out little plugs of soil (they look kinda like wine corks made of dirt). These holes let your grass breathe again. ## Why your lawn is literally suffocating without it Heres the thing… grass roots need three things to survive: – **Air** (yes, roots breathe!) – **Water** – **Nutrients** When your soil gets all compacted and hard, its like putting a lid on your lawn. Nothing can get through! Water just runs off instead of soaking in. Fertilizer sits on top doing nothing. And those poor roots? They’re gasping for air down there. I’ve seen lawns go from looking half-dead to absolutely thriving just from a good aeration. Its honestly one of those things where you wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. ## Signs your lawn is screaming for help How do you know if your lawn needs aerating? Well… **The puddle test:** After it rains, do you get puddles that stick around forever? Thats water that cant penetrate the soil. **The screwdriver test:** Try pushing a screwdriver into your lawn. If its harder than pushing it into a block of cheese, you’ve got compaction issues. **Brown patches:** Those ugly brown spots that wont go away no matter how much you water? Could be compaction. **Thin, weak grass:** If your grass looks more like a bad comb-over than a lush carpet, aeration might be the answer. ## When should you aerate? (Timing is everything) In Sydney, the best time is usually early spring or autumn. You want the grass to be actively growing so it can recover quickly. Doing it in the middle of summer? Not so great – your lawn’s already stressed from the heat. Most lawns need aerating once a year. If you’ve got heavy clay soil (hello, Western Sydney!) or lots of foot traffic from kids and pets, maybe twice. ## The magic that happens after This is the cool part. After aeration: – Rain actually soaks into your lawn instead of running off – Fertilizer reaches the roots where it matters – Grass roots grow deeper and stronger – Your lawn becomes more drought-resistant – Those bare patches start filling in naturally Its like giving your lawn a

Look, I get it. You want that perfect lawn but you’re sick of spraying chemicals everywhere. Maybe you’ve got kids, pets, or you just don’t want to mess with the environment. Good news – you can actually beat those weeds without going nuclear on your yard. ## The Real Deal About Natural Weed Control Here’s what nobody tells you… weeds are just opportunists. They’re looking for weak spots in your lawn. So the best defense? A thick, healthy grass that doesn’t give them room to breathe. I’ve been working with lawns here in Sydney for years, and trust me, the chemical-free approach works. It just takes a bit more patience. ## **Start With Your Grass (Seriously)** The strongest weed killer you’ve got is… your grass. Dense, healthy turf literally crowds out weeds. They can’t compete when your lawn’s thriving. Here’s what actually works: – **Mow high** – Keep your grass at 7-8cm. Taller grass shades the soil, blocks weed seeds from germinating – **Don’t scalp it** – Those super short cuts? They’re basically rolling out the red carpet for weeds – **Sharp blades matter** – Torn grass gets stressed. Stressed grass = weak lawn = hello weeds ## Natural Weed Killers That Actually Work Okay so you’ve already got weeds. Now what? **White vinegar** is your friend. But not that weak stuff from the supermarket – you need the 20% acidity kind from the hardware store. Mix it with a squirt of dish soap (helps it stick) and spray directly on weeds on a sunny day. They’ll be toast in 24 hours. **Boiling water** works too. Sounds too simple right? Pour it straight on weeds growing in cracks or edges. Instant death. Just… watch your feet. **Corn gluten meal** – sprinkle this before weeds sprout (early spring). It’s like birth control for weed seeds. Won’t kill existing weeds though, so timing’s everything. ## The Secret Weapon: Proper Feeding Hungry grass is weak grass. And weak grass invites weeds. Feed your lawn with organic fertilizer 3-4 times a year. Not the synthetic stuff – go for blood and bone, compost, or worm castings. Your grass gets stronger, weeds get pushed out. Simple. ## Water Smart, Not Hard Here’s where most people mess up… They water a little bit every day. Bad move. That creates shallow roots and guess what loves shallow, moist soil? Weeds. Instead: – Water deeply once or twice a week – Early morning is best (less disease) – Your lawn needs about 2.5cm per week total ## When You Need to Get Physical Sometimes you gotta get your hands dirty. For those stubborn weeds: – **Pull them when soil’s moist** (after rain or watering) – **Get the whole root** – leave bits behind and they’re coming back – **Do it before they seed** – one dandelion = hundreds of seeds = nightmare A good weeding tool makes life easier. Those long-handled ones save your back. ## Overseed Like Your Lawn Depends On It (Because it does) Bare patches

Look, I get it. You’re busy, you’ve got a million things on your plate, and the last thing you want to think about is what exactly you’re paying for when you hire someone to take care of your garden. Been there. So let’s break this down real quick – no fluff, just the straight goods on what you should expect from a decent garden maintenance package. ## **The Basics (What Everyone Should Include)** First off, if they’re not doing these things, find someone else: – **Lawn mowing** – Obviously. But I mean proper mowing, not just running over your grass like they’re racing to finish – **Edging** – Those clean lines along your driveway and garden beds? Yeah, that’s what separates the pros from your neighbor’s teenager – **Blowing/cleanup** – Nobody wants grass clippings all over their paths. A good service cleans up after themselves That’s your bare minimum. If that’s all they’re offering, you’re basically just getting a lawn cut. ## **The Stuff That Actually Makes a Difference** Here’s where good services earn their keep: **Weeding** – Not just the obvious ones. I’m talking about getting in there and pulling out those sneaky little devils before they take over your garden beds. **Hedge trimming** – Keeps everything looking sharp and stops your place from looking like an abandoned house from a horror movie **Fertilizing** – Your grass needs food. Simple as that. Regular fertilizing means the difference between “nice lawn” and “wow, what do you DO to your grass?” **Pruning** – Dead branches, overgrown shrubs… someone who knows what they’re doing can transform your garden just by knowing what to cut and when ## **The Premium Stuff (That’s Actually Worth It)** Now, not everyone needs these, but if you want that next-level garden: – **Pest and disease control** – Catch problems before they destroy your plants – **Mulching** – Looks good, keeps weeds down, helps your soil. Win-win-win – **Seasonal planting** – Fresh flowers and plants that actually suit Sydney’s climate – **Irrigation checks** – Making sure your sprinklers aren’t watering your driveway instead of your lawn ## **What About Frequency?** Here’s the thing – anyone promising to “maintain” your garden with just monthly visits is kidding themselves. And you. In Sydney’s climate? You’re looking at: – Mowing: Every 1-2 weeks in summer, maybe 3-4 in winter – General maintenance: At least fortnightly – Big jobs (pruning, mulching): Seasonally ## **Red Flags to Watch For** Quick word of warning… If someone’s package doesn’t spell out EXACTLY what they’re doing, run. “Garden maintenance” means different things to different people. You want it in writing. Also, if they’re not licensed and insured? Hard pass. One accident and guess who’s liable? ## **The Bottom Line** A good garden maintenance package should cover enough that you literally don’t have to think about your garden except to enjoy it. You’re not just paying for someone to push a mower around. You’re paying for knowledge, consistency, and time. Time you can spend doing… literally anything

Look, I’m gonna be straight with you about lawn care budgets because nobody likes surprises when it comes to money. Especially not when you’re trying to keep your yard looking decent without breaking the bank. ## **The Real Deal on Lawn Care Costs** Here’s what most people don’t tell you – lawn care pricing is all over the place. I’ve seen folks pay anywhere from $50 to $200+ per visit. Why such a huge range? Well… It depends on a bunch of stuff: – How big your lawn is (obviously) – What condition it’s in right now – What services you actually need – How often you want someone coming by – Where you live in Sydney ## **Breaking Down the Numbers** For a typical suburban Sydney lawn, you’re probably looking at: **Basic mowing and edging:** $60-$100 per visit **Add in weeding and tidying:** $80-$130 per visit **Full service (fertilizing, pest control, the works):** $120-$200+ per visit Most people get their lawns done every 2-4 weeks during growing season. So do the math – that’s roughly $120-$400 per month if you’re going basic, or up to $800 if you want the full treatment. ## **The Seasonal Thing Nobody Mentions** Here’s what catches people off guard. Summer? Your grass grows like crazy. You might need weekly cuts. Winter? Maybe once a month if you’re lucky. So your annual budget might look like: – **Summer (Dec-Feb):** $300-$600 per month – **Autumn/Spring:** $200-$400 per month – **Winter:** $60-$200 per month That’s anywhere from $2,400 to $6,000+ per year. Yeah, I know. It adds up. ## **Ways to Keep Costs Down** You don’t have to sell a kidney to maintain your lawn. Here’s what smart people do: **Lock in a regular schedule.** Most lawn care pros (like the guys at Mr Lawn Man) give better rates to regular customers. Makes sense – they can plan their routes better. **Be realistic about what you need.** Maybe you don’t need the full spa treatment for your grass. Just keeping it neat might be enough. **Time it right.** Don’t wait until your lawn looks like a jungle. Overgrown lawns take longer to fix = cost more. **Bundle services.** Need your hedges trimmed too? Garden beds cleaned up? Do it all at once. Usually cheaper than separate visits. ## **The DIY vs Professional Debate** Look, I get it. You’re thinking “I could just buy a mower for $500 and do it myself.” Sure, you could. But consider: – Your time (what’s 2-3 hours of your weekend worth?) – Equipment maintenance and fuel – The physical effort (especially in Sydney heat) – Getting it to actually look professional For a lot of folks, paying $100 every couple weeks is worth getting their Saturdays back. ## **Red Flags to Watch For** Quick warning – if someone quotes you $30 for a full lawn service, run. They’re either: – Cutting corners (pun intended) – Not insured – Planning to upsell you hard – All of the above Good lawn care isn’t

Look, I’ve been in this game long enough to see trends come and go. But organic lawn care? That’s not going away anytime soon. And honestly… it shouldn’t. When Mr Lawn Man asked me to share my thoughts on organic lawn care, I jumped at the chance. Because here’s the thing – I’ve watched too many homeowners poison their little patch of paradise thinking they’re doing the right thing. Let me break it down for you. ## **Your Kids (and Pets) Actually Matter** You know what drives me crazy? Watching families keep their kids inside for 48 hours after a lawn treatment. That’s not normal. That’s not how it should be. With organic lawn care, your yard becomes what it’s supposed to be – a playground. Not a chemical wasteland. Your dog can roll around right after treatment. Your toddler can have their afternoon snack on the grass. No waiting periods. No warning signs. I remember this one family in Bondi… they switched to organic after their retriever got sick from traditional chemicals. Never looked back. ## **It’s Not Just About Today** Here’s what most people miss – synthetic fertilizers are like junk food for your lawn. Sure, it looks great for a few weeks. Then what? You need another hit. And another. Organic care builds soil that actually works. It’s like… teaching your lawn to fish instead of just throwing it fish sticks. The microbes, the earthworms, all that underground magic – it starts working FOR you instead of depending on the next chemical dump. Mr Lawn Man gets this. They’ve seen lawns transform from chemical junkies to self-sustaining ecosystems. Takes a bit longer? Maybe. But man, the results stick around. ## **Your Water Bill Will Thank You** This one’s huge for Sydney homeowners. Organic lawns develop deeper roots. Deeper roots = less watering. It’s that simple. I’ve tracked this stuff. Properly managed organic lawns can cut water usage by 30-50%. In a place where water restrictions hit every other summer? That’s not just smart. It’s necessary. ## **The Long Game Saves Money** Yeah, I know. Everyone thinks organic = expensive. Wrong. First year? Sure, might cost a bit more. But by year three? You’re spending less. Way less. Because healthy soil doesn’t need constant interventions. Strong grass naturally fights off weeds. Beneficial insects handle the pests. It’s like buying quality boots instead of replacing cheap ones every season. ## **You’re Not Killing The Good Guys** Bees. Butterflies. Those little ground beetles that eat grubs. Chemical treatments don’t discriminate – they nuke everything. Organic care keeps the ecosystem intact. And trust me, you WANT those beneficial insects around. They’re doing free pest control work 24/7. ## **It Just Looks Better (Eventually)** This is the part where lawn care purists get mad at me. But it’s true. A well-maintained organic lawn has this… thickness to it. This resilience. It’s not that fake bright green that screams “I just got chemically enhanced.” It’s real. It’s healthy. And it handles stress better