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Hello Team,
Need some help with my buffalo lawn. I have tried few things but feel like I am loosing the battle and need some guidance...
Situation:
1. Lawn size - 150sqm
2. Thick clay soil
3. My buffalo lawn is getting invaded by weeds and thatch build up
4. Don't have any pets, only foot traffic in the backyard
5. Haven't done any top dressing etc
Questions
1. The soil is clay and I feel its getting compacted and needing aeration. I have not done any aeration except on few patchy areas What is best tool to use considering my lawn size. I hear mixed customer reviews on spik shoes etc..Is it worth to hire any aerator machinery considering my lawn size
2. Thatch buildup and not sure how to remove it - Have Ryobi battery mower and it does not go very low to remove thatch. Can I use rakes for buffalo lawns as I fear it can destroy runners ?
3. I see different types of weeds (refer to photo). I have used different herbicides - Sedghammer, Amgrow Bin-Die (concentrate), Amgrow Wintergrass (concentrate) with little success (maybe due to my prep). I am even worried that I have sprayed too much and maybe causing imbalance in soil ?
Side questions -
> Is there a universal herbicide which can treat all except grass ?
> Mixing ratio for sedghammer is not very clear. Anyone can help how many spoons of pallets for 5l spray can ?
> Can I mix all these 3 herbicides and combine them and spray, instead of using 3 different cans ?
4. Considering amount of weeds, I am thinking of using pre-emergents for coming seasons. Any feedback on this thought ?
5. I treated with scotts slow release lawn fertilizer every 3months. I fear that its not reaching the soil due to thatch and maybe ineffective. I even used spray-on season to help the lawn..
Photos attached below for your reference
Thank You
kan
Hi @kaar (Kan),
Aerating is a good idea to alleviate compaction and improve soil health. Due to your heavy clay soil, hiring a mechanical core aerator could be more efficient and effective than spiked aeration. These machines remove small plugs of soil, allowing better air, water, and nutrient penetration. You could hire one from Bunnings for a day to cover your entire lawn.
It does look like you have a bit of a thatch issue, which has likely built up over time. While raking can help, using a specialised dethatching rake is essential to minimise damage to the runners. The Ryobi One+ 18V Brushless Cordless Scarifier is a fantastic tool. When set to the correct height, it removes thatch without damaging the Buffalo runners. Check out @homeinmelbourne's Lawn renovation using one. De-thatching a lawn can take several months for the lawn to recover entirely.
When controlling weeds and using herbicides, It’s important to follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. Bin-Die is useful for controlling a broad range of weeds. Sedgehammer is specifically designed to control nutgrass, and the mixing ratio is 0.65gms (half the included spoon) in 5L of water and apply the 5L of the mix per 50 square metres. The tuffs of grass do appear to be winter grass, so you might like to try spraying them again with the Wintergrass killer.
Mixing herbicides is generally not recommended unless specified by the manufacturer, as it can lead to unpredictable results and potential damage to your lawn.
Pre-emergent herbicides can be an excellent proactive measure to prevent weeds from germinating in the upcoming seasons. I recommend you consider using Lawn Solutions Australia 3kg Oxafert Herbicide And Fertiliser.
Thatch can indeed prevent fertilisers from reaching the soil. After dethatching and aerating, reapplying your slow-release fertiliser should be more effective. Consider watering it in well to ensure nutrients reach the soil. Also, a liquid fertiliser might help penetrate the thatch layer more effectively.
Please let me know if you have further questions.
Mitchell
Can you help with identifying this weed and a possible herbicide for it ?
I assume below is crabgrass, what can I use to kill this weed ?
Hello @kaar
The first photo is of a clover weed also known as trefoil. Your guess for the next one is correct, it is indeed crabgrass. For the clover weeds, I suggest a low-cut pass with your mower on this particular section of your lawn. In regards to the crab grass, I suggest using Fiskars 4 Prongs Xact Weed Puller for spot removal. I recommend following MitchellMc's suggestions in regards to the herbicides to be used on your lawn.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
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