17-05-2025
Lawn & Order
SERIES 36 | Episode 12
Clarence has some tips to share on keeping your turf in top shape.
A lush lawn doesn't have to be full of chemicals or a drain on the water supply; the healthier your lawn, the less water and fertiliser it will need.
1. Aerate first. Lawns get compacted by foot traffic; aeration helps restore air pockets, allows rain to penetrate, and improves drainage. Simply go over the lawn with a garden fork, loosening the soil every 30cm or so. It's a good idea to do this at least once a year, but especially important to do after inundation or before top-dressing with fertiliser.
2. Level up low patches with sand before applying any top dressing. Use a wide rake to even out the sand – but use the flat back as well as the front to get it really flat.
3. The rest of the lawn is looking pretty good, so Clarence top dresses with a mix of sand and compost. Aim to apply about 100ml of the mix on the grass, first by broadscale scattering with a shovel then levelling out with the rake.
4. Water in with diluted liquid fertiliser, evenly spread across the lawn.
5. Water it all in.
6. Leave the lawn a bit longer to avoid roots getting burnt.
Filmed on Dharawal Country | Wollongong, NSW
