READ THIS BEFORE STARTING WITH THIS BASIC LAWNCARE PLAN!

This basic lawncare plan was developed with the beginner lawncare DIYer in mind.  It is simply something to help you get into the swing of things. It will give you a safe guideline to maintaining your Warm Season lawn in South Africa, but understandably cannot account for every specific circumstance.  It must be understood that every garden, climate and soil type etc. is unique and so It is always best to conduct a soil test for the most accurate feeding regime.  Please feel free to email me at info@backyardbushveld.co.za for more info on soil tests. I can then assist you with a plan that benefits your specific requirements more accurately.  These fertilization quantities are calculated based on safe doses for most circumstances and uses products that should not contribute negatively to most soil types, but in all circumstances it is your responsibility to closely monitor your lawn for any negative responses so that we can determine what might be going wrong in your specific situation. Do not substitute any recommended product with something else that you assume may be similar!!!  This plan is designed in this way because of the combined effects of each product, and not just the NPK totals. Before starting with this plan, you need to be 100% sure that your lawn is positioned in a location that is suitable for growing and sustaining kikuyu grass, your lawn is not subjected to any continuous physical damage such as pets etc, you do not already have an insect or disease issue, and that your lawn is in a generally 'good condition'.  If you don't know if your lawn is in a position to start with this plan, simply contact me at info@backyardbushveld.co.za so that I can try to help you individually.  This plan is simply for basic residential turf maintenance purposes and cannot fix problems that already exist, nor can it prevent anything negative from occurring in future.  Insects, diseases, the weather, incorrectly applied products etc. are all beyond our control and so, Backyard Bushveld cannot be held liable for any negative occurrences that may take place upon commencing with this plan! It is nature, and sometime people, after all.

1. Premium Organic granular and Soluble combination.

TerraPlus Natura N - Your baseline feed.

Application month - Application Rate per 100m2:  September - 9kg, November - 5kg, January - 3kg, March - 4kg, May - 2kg, July - 2kg.  One 25KG bag of TerraPlus Natura N is usually enough to maintain a 100m2 lawn, for an entire year.  

TerraPlus Solub NK - Your K reinforcement.

Application Rate per 100m2: Maximum solubility is 90g/L. Dilute up to 5g per 1L water for foliar applications(via pressure sprayer). Leave the product on the leaf for foliar applications. Approximately 2,4kg of TerraPlus Solub NK is usually enough to maintain a 100m2 lawn, for an entire year.
The general recommendation is to aim for monthly applications of totaling approximately 200g.  You can split them up into weekly applications at 50g each or fortnightly applications at 100g for example. Use higher rates for peak Summer heat stress, and throughout Autumn. If you miss a few applications, it's not the end of the world. Winter applications are also possible if your turf is not dormant.

2. Premium organic granular only option.

TerraPlus Natura N - Your baseline feed.

Application month - Application Rate per 100m2: September - 9kg, November - 2kg, January - 2kg, March - 6kg.

TerraPlus Natura K - Your K reinforcement.

Application month - Application Rate per 100m2: November - 3kg, January - 3kg,  May - 2kg, July - 2kg. 

3. Inorganic granular only option.

NovaTec N-Max - Your baseline feed.

Application month - Application Rate per 100m2: September - 3kg, March - 3kg

NovaTec Premium - Your K reinforcement.

Application month - Application Rate per 100m2: November - 2kg, January - 2kg, May - 2kg, July - 1kg(if not dormant).

The above inorganic option does not account for Calcium inputs. You can use agricultural Gypsum as a calcium amendment. Agricultural lime is not the same thing, and you must be sure of your soil PH before using it. There are also liquid gypsum products available to make your life easier. In all circumstances, if you are not certain about anything, contact me at info@backyardbushveld.co.za before putting down any old product! 

Basic Notes

  • Mowing is an incredibly important part of creating a lawn. When you mow correctly, you encourage turf grasses to grow a dense sward and a stronger root system. This puts pressure on weeds and reduces their desire to grow there. Additionally, when you look at a neat lawn, the problems become very apparent and this makes your life much easier when trying to control weeds or pests. So a well-maintained lawn is in fact, the easiest to look after.
  • Apply Kamasol Aqua (penetrative wetting agent and soil conditioner) at 25ml per 100m2 every 2-4 weeks year-round. Every 4 weeks when things are going well, and every 2 weeks when things are starting to look dry, or when water is pooling etc. Water movement IN the soil, beats water movement ON the soil. You can use a pressure sprayer by mixing 25ml of Kamasol Aqua with 10L of water and then spray that over 100m2. Water in well directly afterwards. Or, you can add 25ml of Kamasol Aqua to a suitable hose-end sprayer and apply over 100m2 with a larger volume of water(you will need to calibrate the diluted mix based on your specific sprayer). If your sprayer does not allow a high output, proceed to water in well directly after the application. The objective is to get the product as deep into the soil as possible, but be careful not to allow pooling or run-off to occur. 
  • Liquid soil conditioner option - Apply TerraMAX (liquid soil conditioner and improver) at 250ml per 100m2 once a month, also year-round. You can use a pressure sprayer by mixing 250ml of TerraMAX with 10L of water and then spray that over 100m2. Water in well directly afterwards. Or, you can add 250ml of TerraMAX to a suitable hose-end sprayer and apply over 100m2 with a larger volume of water (you will need to calibrate the diluted mix based on your specific sprayer). If your sprayer does not allow a high output, proceed to water in well directly after the application. The objective is to get the product as deep into the soil as possible(entire rootzone), but be careful not to allow pooling or run-off to occur. TerraMAX is a 100% natural organic extract which is approved for ECOCERT inputs.  It contains a range of plant growth regulators and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs), that assist the plant in nutrient uptake and creating a healthy root rhizosphere.  These PGPRs form a beneficial barrier in the root zone, protecting against a broad range of pathogens. By combining root growth stimulants with beneficial microorganisms, an ideal root zone is created for optimal yield and plant health. Therefore less need for fungicides and even some insecticides. Remember, if a plant is able to resist diseases and pests better, you may not even notice damage if it ever occurred. You have then helped mother nature even more!
  • TerraPlus Natura N and K can be used for new seeding projects, planting new sod/trees/flowers and plants baring fruit or flowers. It boasts high organic content and beneficial bacteria so you are not only feeding the plant, you also feeding the soil life that promotes healthy root development and improves overall soil quality. 
  • Regular mowing promotes the growth of more, smaller leaves which produces a denser sward, regardless of the height of cut(this does not mean you can just mow any grass short!).  Regular mowing is far more beneficial than most care to admit!  
  • Plant growth regulators may assist with holding a dense sward, but you need to get there first. If your sward is not already in a good condition, do not start with PGR. And, if your feeding regime is on point, you will find less need for them anyway. Watch my videos for proof! I mow twice a week during the growing season at best...Unless I feel like mowing for the fun of it of course.
  • When applying herbicides or insecticides to your lawn, it may be beneficial to apply them with NovaTec Solub N-Max at 100g per 100m2. This gives the turf a quick boost to outgrow the stressful situation especially in the case of weed control. Be careful of your mix ratios to ensure the products work as they should, by reading the labels carefully. If you are not certain, simply contact me at info@backyardbushveld.co.za.
  • Adverse weather conditions such as excessive rainfall or drought can alter the overall performance of your turf, and it is not advisable to simply add more high volume applications of fertilizer again if that happens.  Spoon feeding with task-specific products, can help significantly with turf recovery and with minimal negative impact to the environment.  That being said, all the product that I advised, have the least leaching potential and will therefore have less chance of showing severe issues upon those circumstances. Email me at info@backyardbushveld.co.za for more information. 

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