FAQ

Categories

1. Lawn Care
2. Watering Lawns and Gardens
3. Weed Control
4. Pest Control

1. Lawn Care

   1. What are the environmental benefits of lawns?

      Improved Air Quality: A 15m x 15m well-maintained grass area will create enough oxygen to meet the needs of a family of 4 every day. Acting like a gigantic sponge, lawns absorb all types of airborne pollutions such as soot, dust and carbon dioxide.

      Electricity Saving in Summer: The front lawns of a block of eight houses have the cooling effect of about 70 tons of air-conditioning enough to cool 16 average homes. On a hot summer’s day grass can be 10-14 degrees cooler than exposed soil and as much as 30 degrees cooler than concrete or asphalt.

      Water Quality: Studies show healthy lawns absorb rainfall 4-6 times more effectively than pastures, being exceeded only by virgin forest. Lawn returns the moisture to the water table, where it can again be used by everyone.

      Reduction Glare: Lawns help to soften and reduce reflected light, lessening glare.

      Health: Lawn maintenance requirements provide an excellent opportunity to enjoy reasonable exercise while enjoying fresh air.

      Noise Reduction: Good turf can absorb sound better than heavy carpeting.  

   2. I have sown my Munns Lawn seed, but I am not seeing any results after 2 weeks, what could be wrong?

      Do not panic! Germination with any seed may take slightly longer to come through depending on a number of reasons, most common problem can be the ground is constantly varying in tempreture and the seeds need the warmth to germinate. So when your weather is cold and miserable, the ground will drop in tempreture and therefore slow the process.

   3. My lawn has bare patches from pet urine, is there a product that could help me re-establish these patches?

      Lawn burn is caused by the nitrogen in dog urine, because dog urine is very high in nitrogen. Munns recommend using Fast Grass or First Aid Lawn Repair Kits, both products can be sown all year round and guranteed results in 5-10 days (may be slower in cold areas).

   4. Where can I purchase Munns products?

      You can purchase Munns products from any of your local Bunnings, good garden and hardware centres. On the homepage we now have a store locater, where if you place your suburb or postcode will inform you of the stores in your area and the contact details for all of them. If you find there is a product you cannot find, if you head to your local Bunnings and go to the special orders counter, they will be able to help you. Depending on which state you are in, it can be a 10 day turn around.

   5. How can I tell when lawn needs a feed?

      You can generally tell when your lawn needs a feed, it will discolour to a yellow or pale green. We recommend to fertilise once a season with Munns Golf Course Green, Buffalo Booster or Buffalo Green to keep your lawn healthy and green.

   6. My lawn is dull in colour and has a whitish tinge, what could this be?

      This could possibly be that your mower blades are dull and shredding the leaf tips. These will turn white or brown as the shredded tips die off.

   7. How long does seed take to germinate?

      It completely depends on which variety has been planted.
      

      Rye grass & Budget mixes                            approx.  3-5 days                         
      Tall fescue: Arid & Pixie                                 approx. 7-14 days                       
      Couch & Kikuyu Varieties                              approx. 10-21 days                     
      

      Ground temperatures play a big part in overall germination time. The warmer the weather the quicker the germination. Cold weather slows down growth.
      

   8. When is the best time to sow Emerald Kikuyu or Pooch Couch?

      Sow these varieties when ground temperatures are consistently 23 degrees or more. Months of October until February are appropriate for cooler climates.  For warmer climates these varieties could be sown 12 months of the year (ie Far North Queensland, Northern Territory, etc).
      

   9. How soon can I start cutting my lawn after sowing?

      When seedlings are approximately 5 to 6 centimeters high, remove about 1 centimeter. Regular and early mowing will strengthen and thicken the lawn.
      

   10. How do I prepare for the best result from a lawn when I have clay soil?

       Rotary hoeing coarse sand & Gypsum into the clay will improve drainage and better root development of the lawn. The deeper the roots can penetrate, the longer the lawn will go without water.

        

   11. When is the best time of the year to sow evergreen lawns?

       Autumn & Spring.  These varieties can be sown 12 months of the year, germination is obviously slower in cooler weather.
       

   12. How can I sow seed evenly?

       Mix seed with Munns Superstart Lawn Starter Fertiliser at sowing time, this will enable better distribution of seed and thus better results.
       

   13. Which are the most hard wearing lawn varieties?

       Emerald Kikuyu, Pooch Couch,Buffalo & Couch varieties etc.

   Back to top

2. Watering Lawns and Gardens

   1. How often should I water lawn seed during germination?

      The amount of water required depends on:
      • soil type
      • wind
      • temperatures etc.
      Generally three waterings per day if no rain, with a fine hose attachment so you don't wash the seed away or into clumps, keeping the top 2cm moist at all times.
      

   2. When is the best time to water my lawn and garden?

      Ideally water early morning.  Particularly with lawns this is the best time to water as night waterings can cause fungal problems in certain varieties and most grasses don't like to get what we call "wet feet".  However, common sense must prevail, if you can't water in the morning of course water at night.

      TIP : To check if your lawn needs to be watered, tread firmly on the grass. After removing your foot, if the grass doesn't spring back and lays flat this is an indication your grass needs to be watered.  If the grass springs back then it doesn't need to be watered.

       

   3. How do I save water and keep my garden alive, following water restrictions?

      Watering once a week in summer is sufficient for most warm season lawns. For effective watering, water your lawns & gardens early morning and avoid when windy and hot.
      
      Deeply penetrating irrigations that wet the soil to a considerable depth encourage deep rooting and result in a more vigorous, higher quality turf. When I say longer watering, I mean the approximate time it would usually take to fill a shallow container up to 2.5 cm. (This will naturally vary due to water pressure etc).

      Fertilise lawns 3-4 times a year, this will produce a strong, healthy root system which will enable lawns to survive under stressful conditions a lot longer than a lawn that is never fertilised. The same goes for garden plants. Keep these fertilised; particularly with organic type fertilisers and they too will respond. The use of wetting agents will also help your garden & lawn and reduce your current water bill.

      Eradicate weeds, as they soak up more water. Mulch garden beds wherever appropriate with Munns Water Saving Mulch (available SA only) to restrict evaporation.
      Use sprinklers with a low projectory or dripper irrigation systems to efficiently & effectively water your lawns and gardens. (Check with your state's water restrictions)

      Water Restrictions and Rebates

      Munns understands the importance of water restrictions and water preservation.
      In this section we have listed restrictions and rebates for individual states. We also have some useful websites, which you can visit for further information. Buying some of Munns products can entitle you to claim rebates from individual state water bodies. Please look out for the “drop“ which depicts that purchasing this product can allow you to get a rebate*.
      * Individual state water bodies have individual rules for claiming rebates on water saving products. Please read on individual websites to find out whether a rebate can be claimed on your purchase. Please scroll down for state specific restrictions, rebates and other helpful information.

      South Australia
      

      All around our State, householders and businesses have made huge efforts to conserve precious water. Because of this, as well as plentiful winter rains across most of Australia, water restrictions were eased in December 2010 and Water Wise Measures came into place.
      
      Areas previously subject to Permanent Water Conservation Measures including the State’s South East and Kangaroo Island are also covered by Water Wise Measures. The measures also apply to customers in Whyalla and Port Pirie.
       
      Domestic gardens and lawns
      Watering is permitted at any time by hand (through a hand held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, from a watering can or bucket or through a drip feed irrigation system. Sprinklers can be used on any day after 5.00pm and before 10.00am.
      
      If you purchase Munns Water Saving Mulch (Available in S.A. only), Munns Wetta Lawn and Garden or Munns Weta-Pot and Basket you can claim a water rebate from SA water (conditions apply) Please see the website for more details: http://www.sawater.com.au/SAWater/Environment/WaterRestrictionsConservationMeasures/

      New South Wales
      The Water Wise Rules are:
      • Watering, including with sprinklers and irrigation systems, is allowed any day before 10 am and after 4 pm to avoid the heat of the day.
      • All hand held hoses must have a trigger nozzle.
      • No hosing of hard surfaces such as paths and driveways. Washing vehicles is allowed.
      • Fire hoses may be used for fire fighting activities only.
      The Water Wise Rules are simple, common sense actions that apply to all Sydney Water customers in Sydney, the Illawarra and the Blue Mountains. This includes residents, businesses, local councils and government agencies.
      Sydney Water encourages the community to use their common sense when applying the Water Wise Rules. For example;
      • Wash your car on the lawn wherever possible. This will not only water and fertilise your lawn but will also avoid stormwater pollution.
      • Avoid any form of outdoor hosing between 10 am and 4 pm to avoid the heat of the day, when evaporation is high.
      • Use a broom to clean up leaves, grass clippings, dirt, dust or general litter on paths or driveways instead of hosing.
      Being water wise makes good sense. Water efficiency, together with with more recycling projects and desalination coming on line, means greater Sydney is in a stronger position to secure water for life.
      
      http://www.sydneywater.com.au/Water4Life/WaterWise/
      

      ACT
      Permanent Water Conservation Measures currently apply in the ACT and Queanbeyan and are mandatory and enforceable. Anyone found in breach of the restrictions may be liable for fines started at $200 for an individual or $1,000 for a corporation.
      
      A hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, a bucket or a watering can may be used to water lawns and plants at any time. Sprinklers and other irrigation systems may only be used to water lawns and plants before 9am and after 6pm on any day from 1 September to 31 May (inclusive).
      At all times lawns and plants may only be watered without causing pooling or run-off. 
      
      For more information please visit the below website.
      http://www.actew.com.au/SaveWaterForLife/WaterRestrictions/water_restrictions_scheme.aspx#

      Queensland
      Permanent water conservation measures apply to all SEQ areas, including Brisbane City, Gold Coast City, Ipswich City, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Logan City, Moreton Bay Regional Council, Redland City Council, Scenic Rim Regional Council, Somerset Regional Council and Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
      
      

      Permanent water conservation measures have been in place in South East Queensland (SEQ) since December 2009. Under the measures:
      •hoses with a twist or trigger nozzle and efficient sprinklers can be used to water gardens and lawns (but not from 10am to 4pm or on Mondays), as long as it's in accordance with efficient irrigation guidelines
      •vehicles and outdoor areas can be washed at any time, as long as water is used efficiently
      •new pools can be filled with town water and existing pools can be filled as long as efficient fittings are in place
      •rainwater can be used at any time.
      Residents are also encouraged to continue to use less than 200 litres per person per day.
      
      For more information please visit http://www.qwc.qld.gov.au/home/index.html
      
      

      Western Australia
      Scheme Water Users -
      
      Scheme water users in Perth, Mandurah and towns south of (and including) Kalbarri and Kalgoorlie can use their sprinklers either before 9 am or after 6 pm, two days per week based on the last digit of your house number. Where there is no house number, the lot number is to be used.
      
      Towns north of (and excluding) Kalbarri and Kalgoorlie can use sprinklers every alternate day either before 9 am or after 6 pm, based on the last digit of your house number. Where there is no house number, the lot number is to be used.
      
      From time to time some parts of the State will experience unusually dry periods and may be subject to temporary water restrictions.
      
      For further information visit, http://www.watercorporation.com.au/R/restrictions_index.cfm?uid=1959-4446-4016-6107 

      Victoria
      Currently in Victoria you are on level 1 restrictions. The 28-Day Exemption – to transition to warm season grass provides Melbourne residents with the ability to apply to use potable (drinking) water to establish warm season grass. For more information on warm season grass please refer to http://www.water.vic.gov.au/saving/restrictions

      Tasmania
      There are currently no water restrictions in place in Tasmania please refer to the link below for more information.
      http://www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/JMUY-4YB2FZ?open 

      Northern Territory
      There are currently no water restrictions in place in the Northern Territory, but as some of the highest water users in Australia there is a real need for Territorian's to conserve water.
      http://www.savewater.com.au/research-and-resources/water-restrictions-and-conservation-around-australia/nt   
      

   Back to top

3. Weed Control

   1. I cannot identify a weed that is in my lawn, how can i go about this?

      Unfortunately we will all see a weed or two in our time. There are common weeds and images on our Bindii and Broadleaf Weed Killer, identifying them may be quite difficult if you are not a green thumb, if you head to http://www.weeds.org.au/weedident.htm, this website contains or the listed weeds in Australia and images too.

   2. How long do I have to wait after planting a new lawn to use a weed and feed or weed killer?

      When sowing your new lawn, it is best to wait until your lawn is 3 months old before appyling any product that can be sensitive to your growing lawn, we recommend after the 3 months using:
      
      Munns Bindii and Broadleaf weed killer (250ml container covers 167sqm), the lawn has to be 3 months old before applying this product. Note: This can be used 4 times a year on Buffalo Lawn for broadleaf weed control.
      Or
      Munns Buffalo Booster Triple Lawn Treatment  (10kg covers 150sqm) An all in one application of 3 products - weed killer, fertiliser and wetting agent. Do not apply to lawns under 6 months old and do not apply during hot or windy weather.

   3. Weeds are taking over my lawn, how do I get rid of them before over sowing?

      If the lawn hasn't been ferterlised for a long time, give it a good feed a fortnight before spraying the Bindii, this will open the pores on the leaf of the weed making the poison more effective.
      
      We would recommend you use Munns Bindii & Broadleaf Weed Killer to kill the weeds.

   Back to top

4. Pest Control

   1. Is it safe to use Munns Lawn Grub Killer on vegetable patches?

      Munns does not recommend using the Lawn Grub Killer on your vegetable patches.

   2. I've applied Munns Lawn Grub Killer to my patchy, brown, lifeless lawn. How soon can I over sow these areas?

      Munns Lawn Grub Killer always needs to be watered in well to activate the product.  Follow the safety directions on the container.  We would advise to wait a day, just to be safe, before sowing new seed.  We recommend mixing Munns Superstart Lawn Starter Fertiliser with the seed at the time of planting.

       

   Back to top