Lawn Care Tips
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Your lawn is talking to you… but what exactly is it saying?
There has been an increase in seed heads appearing across many turf varieties recently, but in most cases this will be due to the seasonal change and is not a cause for major concern.
Seed heads aren’t a common occurrence, so when these strange little things start popping up in your lawn it’s common that many people first think they have weeds in their lawn.
But they are not actually a weed, they are a seed head that has grown from the grass itself.
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Seed Head stress
Normally when a turf variety goes to seed, it’s because it’s under stress from something, usually a lack of water or nutrient. Most common warm season lawn types in Australia produce a sterile seed head. This means they can’t be spread by seed, only through vegetative sprigs or runners. Although going to seed isn’t a bad thing for your lawn, it doesn’t look great or feel soft underfoot and can be a sign of an underlying problem.
Seed heads can be pretty easy to avoid for the most part, by sticking to a consistent lawn care program. The best way to stop your lawn from going to seed is through regular watering, mowing and fertilising throughout the year.
In most circumstances your lawn will stop going to seed on its own within a couple of weeks or so. If there has been dramatic weather change, it will stop seeding once conditions have gone back to normal or once the plant has adjusted. If weather conditions have been fairly consistent, then you will want to look at what may have caused it to go into stress in the first place. The cause of this stress may be related to insufficient water, nutrient or soil composition.
Fertilise to Remove Seed Head
If you haven’t had a lot of water or haven’t fertilised in a while, it might be time. A really good deep soaking and an application with a good quality slow release fertiliser, should put an end to a nutrient or water deficiency. Shortly after the grass will go back to normal.
Plant Growth Regulators
A plant growth regulator (PGR) like Primo Maxx will limit your lawns vertical growth and can help reduce the number of seed heads that your lawn produces. Regular mowing, twice a week, and the use of a PGR at full rates will minimise the seed head from flowering.
What to look FOR IN different turf vaireties
Sir Walter Buffalo Seed Head
Sir Walter Buffalo seed head has a single spike.
This turf variety produces seed head under stress, making it an easy fix!
Your Sir Walter Buffalo lawn is either hungry or thirsty. To treat this seed head, start by mowing the seed off, followed by giving your lawn a good fertilise and water.
TifTuf Seed Head
TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda seeds have between 3 and 5 spikes; almost umbrella like. This unique seed head structure makes its kind easy to identify.
TifTuf goes to seed whenever the weather is inconsistent whereby the plant becomes uncomfortable (e.g. hot to cold in a matter of days).
If you see seed head popping up in your TifTuf lawn, think back to the last time you fertilised your lawn. If it was outside the last 3 months, that may have something to do with it. Otherwise mow them off and they will disappear in the next few days/weeks.
PGR’s (Plant Growth Regulators) like Primo Maxx are great to stop seed head production.
Sir Grange Seed Heed
The seed head of Sir Grange Zoysia has a single spike. These seed heads aren’t as noticeable as some of the other turf varieties.
Sir Grange lawns seed at virtually the same time every year for a period of about a month. This generally occurs in both early to mid autumn and again in early spring.
Kikuyu Seed Head
Kikuyu produces a flower as opposed to a seed head. This turf variety flowers quite prolifically making it a poor choice for people with allergies.
If your lawn has an ongoing seeding issue and you can’t seem to get on top of it, contact Turfco. We can help with some local advice based on your current weather and growing conditions.
For more lawn care tips, check out our previous blog posts.
For more information on lawn seed head, check out the below YouTube video.
Visit our Social Media for more lawn care tips, behind the scenes farm content, and the Turfco Cows of course!
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