For places like Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Northern Rivers NSW. Timing is typical for the zone; check your own lawn before you act.
Once the lawn is clearly growing again, give it its first feed at the rate on the label. Water granules in straight away unless the label says otherwise, and sweep any off paths and driveways.
If the lawn was left long over winter, bring it down over several mows rather than one hard cut. Scalping a lawn as it wakes up leaves it yellow or brown for weeks.
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.
Remind meIf water pools or runs off and a screwdriver is hard to push into moist soil, core aerate once the lawn is actively growing. Skip it where a pre-emergent is working unless the label allows it.
Remind meMow 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.
Remind mePull or spot treat winter grass before its seed heads drop seed into the lawn for next year. Then plan an autumn pre-emergent.
Remind meRoughly circular yellow or brown patches in mild, humid weather can be brown patch. Water in the morning so leaves dry during the day, and avoid overwatering.
Remind meIf water beads on dry soil or runs off instead of soaking in, the soil may be water-repellent. Apply a wetting agent at the label rate before the hot weather arrives.
Remind meWater rules can change with the season and with dam levels. Check your water authority's current rules before you set your controller for the warmer months.
Remind meClover makes its own nitrogen, so it thrives where the grass is hungry. Feeding the lawn at the label rate helps the grass compete.
Remind meRings of darker green grass, sometimes with mushrooms or dry grass, are fairy rings. Water deeply where the soil in the ring stays dry.
Remind meHeavy renovation, such as dethatching, scarifying and topdressing, is best done while warm-season grass is growing strongly so it recovers quickly. Water well afterwards and feed at the label rate. Don't renovate where a pre-emergent is working unless the label allows it.
