If you're anything like me and have a gross lack of green thumb, gardening isn't so much a chore as it is pure purgatory. Keeping myself fed and watered is hard enough, let alone the lawn.
But as we approach summer, our plant pals need a little extra TLC. The warmer months are notoriously hard on foliage and greenery, with the soaring temperatures and harsh UV rays causing them to wilt and burn, much like their human counterparts. Many of us will have returned from a summer getaway to find our plants have perished, sad and starved of water. Thankfully, Bunnings' plant expert Clare Taylor shared her top tips to keeping plant babies alive and kicking earlier this year.
However, our outdoor greenery needs some attention in the summer too. It can be quite easy to assume that grass is a master of self-preservation, surviving sun and rain without much assistance, but just like us, our lawns can also contract diseases and pests (think the equivalent of lice or crabs) - particularly in warm, humid conditions.
To help, Bunnings garden care buyer Luke Bianca shared with Newshub his top tips to detecting, treating and preventing pests and diseases, with an easy guide to keeping your lawns lush all summer long.
What causes pests and diseases to invade our lawns?
Although a wide range of factors can cause pests and diseases to take over, the most common are damp, humid conditions as well as a build-up of thatch in your lawn, Bianca said.
Thatch is the layer of organic material that builds up in a lawn between the green foliage and soil, creating an environment where pests and diseases thrive. It's largely made from mowing clippings, stems and naturally dying roots, shoots and leaves.
In a healthy lawn, the build-up of this dead plant material is balanced by the breakdown of the material by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, earthworms and other invertebrates. The nutrients are returned to the soil and help reduce the need for adding fertiliser to the lawn. According to Kiwicare, a layer of thatch about 5-10mm thick is good, as it helps reduce moisture loss from the soil, reduces weeds and insulates the soil and grass roots from frost damage.
However, if the build-up of thatch is faster than the breakdown, too much thatch can stop both air and moisture from reaching the roots. Moisture trapped in the thick thatch can encourage fungal disease of the grass.
What are some of the most common lawn pests and how can we detect, treat and prevent them?
"Curl grubs and Porina caterpillars are among the most common, both of which can kill your lawn if left untreated," Bianca told Newshub.
If you start to see brown patches appear on your lawn, Bianca suggests heading down to your local Bunnings and picking up some Kiwicare LawnPro Protect to banish the pesky caterpillars. Alternatively, Scotts Lawn Builder Grub and Insect Control Slow Release Fertiliser will treat the grubs before they cause any further damage, he added.
What are some of the most common lawn diseases and how can we detect, treat and prevent them?
Brown patch and dollar spot are some of the most common lawn diseases in Aotearoa, Bianca said. Both thrive in warm conditions and will cause the grass to brown in patches, which can spread throughout the entire lawn if not treated. He recommends keeping an eye out for brown patches and if they appear, act quickly to avoid further spread.
To treat brown patch and dollar spot, Bianca recommends using a suitable fungicide, such as Yates Fungus Fighter, followed by aerating the lawn with a garden fork or the Cyclone Lawn Aerator. Or for the dutiful DIY gardeners out there, you could try the Ryobi One+ 18V Brushless Cordless Scarifier.
What impacts can these pests and diseases have if they're not treated properly?
If curl grubs aren't treated properly, the little pests will feed on the roots of your lawn, which can cause patches of the grass to dry out and become susceptible to damage.
"You especially want to watch out for Porina caterpillars, which multiply rapidly and can destroy your lawn in a matter of days without quick action," Bianca added.
If lawn diseases such as brown patch and dollar spot are left untreated, the infection will quickly spread, causing the lawn to become brown throughout.
"In the instance of dollar spots, the brown spots will grow and merge with other infected areas. With pests and diseases, the best thing for your lawn is prevention, so keep up the insect control fertiliser and act quickly if you spot your lawn may be under siege," he said.
