Toowoomba Christian College, Head Groundsman
Dwaine Joanknecht
Queensland, Australia
Lush, green grass is a sight to behold but professional greenkeepers always insist it’s what can’t be seen beneath the soil’s surface which helps to make sure a lawn thrives.
Toowoomba Christian College Head Groundsman, Dwaine Joanknecht, has more than two decades’ experience working in the turf industry, and here he shares his proven nutritional advice to nurture the health of your lawn.
John Deere has collaborated with a series of turf leaders, like Dwaine, to empower budding lawn legends with the knowledge they need to make sure their backyards are a cut above the rest.
Dwaine’s guide to a well nourished lawn.
What’s the first step in creating a fertiliser program for your lawn?
The best place to start is to investigate what sort of soil you have. Heavy clay soils tend to hang on to the nutrition longer in comparison sandy soils, so it’s important to know what’s in your own backyard. Another good first step is precisely measuring the size of your lawn area so you can ensure you are buying an accurate amount of nutrients.
There is an abundance of lawn fertiliser products on the market - how do we
know which one we should pick?
I choose a fertiliser that’s higher in nitrogen for the Summer season, as I know my lawn is actively growing and needing more nutrition. Then, in Winter, I opt for a lower nitrogen mix, which has a higher level of potassium, to strengthen and condition the plant.
When should we aim to fertilise our lawn?
I like to fertilise my lawn three times a year: once in Summer when it’s actively growing, once coming into Autumn to give the plant reserves going into the dormancy period and then once in Spring to give the grass a kick start and get growing again.
What’s the best method of applying fertiliser to a lawn?
All good garden shops will sell fertiliser spreaders you can push across your lawn which are the ideal equipment for large backyards. For smaller spaces, a handheld fertiliser spreader is suitable.
Will I notice results straight away?
It can take a little time as it’s a fine balance to achieve a beautiful lawn. It is important to take the time to know your soil and your grass and the size of your area so you can get it right when it comes to fertilising. But once you get it right, you can sit back and enjoy the benefits of a beautiful, green lawn.