IF YOU love your lawn then the El Nino event forecast for the end of the year is bad news.
An El Nino is a change in Pacific Ocean temperatures and atmosphere that causes drought and extreme heat — not generally conducive to green, luscious lawns.
Keeping Australia's lawns looking good is Victa's business, so the company recently commissioned the help of horticulturist Adam Woodhams to create a list of spring lawn survival skills for garden lovers.
"There are simple measures you can take to keep your lawns and gardens looking lush and inviting throughout the coming months," he said.
■Mow before the heat of the day: Mow mid-to-late morning when the dew has evaporated. If you're fortunate to have had some rain, wait at least a day before mowing to achieve a straight cut.
■Don't scalp your lawn: Cutting off more than one-third of the grass's height leaves it less able to cope with hot, dry weather. Leaving grass about eight centimetres tall encourages a deeper root system and keeps weeds at bay.
■Change directions: Switch up your mowing route to stop grass growing in the same direction and eventually falling flat.
■Stay sharp: A sharp lawnmower delivers a faster, cleaner cut and helps the mower to run more efficiently.
■Tune up your mower: A properly serviced mower will do the job faster and more efficiently.
Details: victa.com.au.
