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Turf
and lawn care in Queensland
News
 Top: Spodoptera frugiperda (Image by Russ Ottens, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org, CC BY 3.0 US). Bottom: Stenotaphrum secundatum |
Mixed Turf - a Defence
Against Armyworm?
In Queensland, one of the pests referred to in the broad category of "lawn grubs" is the lawn armyworm, Spodoptera mauritia. Caterpillars of this moth attack suburban lawns as well as cereal crops. In the USA, fall armyworm, Spodoptera. frugiperda causes similar damage.
Chemicals can be used to control such pests, but cheaper and more environmentally-friendly alternatives are obviously preferable. What about finding resistant grass types?
In recent American study with fall armyworm, six varieties of St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum, AKA buffalo) showed similar susceptibility when grown as individually as monocultures.
However, damage was reduced when two varieties were grown as a mixture, even more when four varieties were grown together. While the mechanisms underlying this curious result are not totally understood, it suggests that turf sold as custom mixtures could be a way forward for more pest-resistant lawns.
Read more about the study here: Mixing grass varieties may reduce insect infestations in lawns. More information about armyworms in Queensland: Armyworm (Queensland Government) and Spodoptera mauritia (Don Herbison-Evans and Stella Crossley)
Older news at bottom of page.
Where to buy turf and associated products in Qld
Turf farms are the major source of ready-to-lay turf for sale, but you might have to ring around to find one in your area that sells the grass variety you're looking for. Some garden centres might also have small quantities of of live turf available for small areas or repairs, as well as lawn seed.
Sorry, no listings at presentDo you operate a turf farm or supply lawn products to Qld? This section is intended to provide an easy way for Queensland home owners to find a turf farm or other places to buy retail turf (rolls, sprigs, cells), lawn seed, artificial turf or related products. If you operate a turf farm, landscape supply yard, or artifical turf business supplying the Qld retail market, and you're interested in advertising on this page, click here for more information about advertising.
More Online Information
Turf is a big investment both finacially and in terms of time and effort, so a little research before you buy will be well worth the trouble. Species readily available in Qld for backyard lawns include:
Digitaria didactyla (Queensland Blue Couch)
Cynodon dactylon (Green Couch)
Stenotaphrum secundatum (Buffalo or St. Augustine)
Dactyloctenium australe (Sweet Smother or Durban Grass)
Besides the basic species, there are many named selections and hybrids of turf grasses on the market. Some are protected by Plants Breeders Rights (PBR). Some may be more suitable for professionally maintained sports fields than domestic lawns. Others may be relatively new on the market, so yet to prove themselves under local conditions.
Some considerations in making your selection may be drought hardiness, heat and cold tolerance, shade tolerance, salt tolerance, invasiness (of garden beds etc), fineness and softness of leaf, resistance to foot traffic, growth rate. Depending on the particular situation, some of these criteria may be more important than others.
When consulting with your turf supplier, explain your needs to help them make an appropriate recommendation for your yard.
More Online Information
Some types of turf for Queensland & warm climates
Queensland Blue Couch
Green Couch
Buffalo
Sweet Smother Grass
Carpet Grass
Zoysia
Kikuyu
Artificial Grass
Others
Weeds, Pests, Diseases
Bindii
Crow's foot grass Eluesine indica
Older News
Weeds don't play fair
A study of Digitaria sanguinalis, the common weed of lawns and field commonly called "crabgrass", has shown that there's more to its success than simple competition. Chemicals from Digitaria caused changes in nearby soil microbes which reduced growth of test crops. The allelopathic chemicals could also directly affect other plants. Source: Crabgrass' secret: The despised weed makes herbicide to kill neighboring plants (June 2013)
Fungicide could cut down lawnmowingA fungicide used, among other things, to treat dollar spot of turf could be used to increase efficiency of crops like corn. It was previously known that interfering with steroid biosynthesis could produce dwarf, female-flowering com plants, but the chemical required was far too expensive for practical use. American researchers, however, have found that the fungicide propiconazole is far cheaper. Testing on other grains is planned. It's also possible that greater use on golf courses could slow grass growth and save cutting costs. Source: Tiny plants could cut costs, shrink environmental footprint (May 2012)
Easier lawns inspired by nature
A study in the Southern United States found that a turf created from a mixture of native grasses was thicker and resisted weed infestation better under a regime of moderate mowing frequency comparing a Bermudagrass (Green Couch). This suggests that creating a type of stable ecosystem could produce a better lawns with lower maintenance and imputs required. Source: Native Lawn Performance Research (April 2011)
New solution to the shaded turf problem
A giant moveable tray allows the playing surface at University of Phoenix Stadium (host to the 2008 Super Bowl) to be grown outside and wheeled in for games. Turf cultivation inside stadiums presents special challenges, as this post at The Human Flower Project blog explains: 106 Million Players: Super Turf '08.
Aussie natives may deliver more sustainable turf
Australian native grass species will be considered in a breeding program to select turf grasses that look good with less water and fertiliser. Read more at the University of Queensland website: Turf grass, just add (less) water
