January lawn care in subtropical areas

Armyworm caterpillars feed at night and can strip a lawn in days. If you see chewed leaves or a spreading brown patch, check the lawn at dusk or after dark with a torch.

Look for brown patches where the turf lifts like carpet, and birds digging in the lawn. Lift a section of turf at the edge of a patch and check for C-shaped, creamy white grubs in the root zone.

• How do I know if I have lawn grubs?

Water deeply and less often, early in the morning, and skip it after good rain. Follow your local water rules on days and times.

• How much water does my lawn need?
• What's the best time of day to water?
• How long should I run my sprinkler?
• How much water does a lawn need?
• Watering under restrictions

Mow often enough that you never take off more than a third of the leaf at once. Keep shaded areas a little higher than sunny ones, and keep the blade sharp so it cuts cleanly.

• How short should I mow buffalo?

A little more leaf shades the soil and roots and helps the lawn cope with heat and dry weather.

• How do I keep my lawn green in summer?

Nutgrass grows in warm, wet conditions and comes back from underground tubers, so it takes persistence. Improve drainage where water sits, and use only products whose label lists the weed and your grass.

If the lawn is pale and growing, a light feed at the label rate keeps it going through summer. Water it in, and avoid feeding a lawn that is stressed by heat or drought.

• When should I fertilise my lawn?
• Liquid or granular fertiliser?
• What does NPK mean?
• How to use and calibrate a broadcast spreader
• Applying liquid fertiliser
• Lawn Area Calculator
• Product Application Calculator