It is important to note that increased watering may be required near buildings and walls where reflected heat can dry the grass. During this initial period, the lawn will be very soft and it is recommended to stay off as much as possible.

Following the initial 2-3 week period, it is time to start regular maintenance watering. A regular schedule of deep morning waterings of around 20-30 minutes is recommended. During warm summer months, 2 to 3 waterings per week may be necessary whereas one good watering per week will generally be sufficient in moderate weather. Remember, soil types, weather, rainfall and the quality of lawn desired should all be considered when determining needs.

Ideally your lawn should be mowed at 20mm. However, this can vary depending on the time of year - you may like to raise your mower 2-3mm during the summer months.

It is a good idea to mow your lawn in different directions each mowing as this will assist the blades in maintaining an erect habit. Maintaining a sharp blade is necessary as a dull blade will shred the grass. Your mower blade should be sharpened at least once a month to maintain a clean cut for optimum growing results.

Depleting fertiliser levels will leave the lawn looking faded or yellowish in colour - this is a good sign that it might be lacking fertiliser. When applying fertiliser, ensure it is well watered in, ideally apply during a period of rain. Be sure to read the fertiliser label prior to application and follow all recommendations. Failure to do so may result in burning or other detrimental effects.

When applying fertiliser, try to use either a hand or wheeled spinner as this weill give a more even distribution, minimising the risk of striping on the lawn caused by missed areas. If you are unable to obtain a spinner, then pour fertiliser into a bucket and distribute by hand, using an upward motion when throwing to maintain a more even distribution

For turf lawns, weeds will germinate over a longer period of time than seeded lawns due to the fact that the plant is already established. Regular applications of Banvine to establish lawns twice yearly during spring and autumn will control most flat leaf weeds. However, for more invasive types of plants such as Kikuya and Paspalum, it is recommended that you spot spray using Round-Up or remove by using a small knife and cutting around the root. Removing any weeds will leave bare areas which need patching. This can be done by applying lawn mix soil to the affected area and reseeding, ensuring seed is well covered. It is important when using any chemicals, that you follow all label instructions.

When applying chemicals to lawns, you need to use a garden knapsack with a fan nozzle. It is important when spraying, to walk over the lawn at a steady pace, watching the edge of the fan, ensuring a 30% overlap. This is done to obtain a full, even coverage.