February Update

On the 28th & 29th January, just under 2 weeks ago Auckland experienced devastating floods, much of which was centered around West Auckland and our thoughts are with those affected.

As things settle down and property/houses are repaired and life returns to a little normalatily for most, attention may turn to your lawns which 12 days ago were under water. Here at Greenie Garden Bins, we would like to offer some guidance on lawn care following this extreme weather event.

How to tell if your grass is dead?

After a flood, you might be left wondering if your grass survived the storm. You’ll need to be patient and wait several days to see if your lawn will recover. No new grass growth can be a sure sign your lawn has died.

You also can determine if the turfgrass has died by looking closely at indvidual grass blades. Healthy grass blades should have a white crown, which is the area where the turfgrass shoots and the roots meet. If the crown is brown, that grass is dead. If you see new, green shoots popping up from ground, your grass is making a triumphant comeback.

Clean up silt deposits

After a flood, a layer of soil, sand or silt can be left on top of your lawn. It might seem harmless because you think it will wash away after the next rain. However, a layer of sediment left on your grass blades can be quite damaging. If the layer of soil or silt is thick, it could cover, suffocate, and kill your grass.

How to remove sediment from grass

-Step 1: Wait a couple of days for ground to dry slightly

-Step2: Grab a shovel and/or a powerful hose

-Step3: use the shovel to scoop and scrape away excess soil, silt, sand and muck

-Step4: Use a hose to rinse the remaining sediment from turf.

Soak up puddles

Get rid of standing water on your lawn before it has the chance to damage your lawn. This can be done by sprinkling organic matter, like compost, on top of the puddles to soak up the water. Once each spot has dried, rake the compost into your lawn to make your lawn nice and even while giving it a boost of nutrients.

We hope these tips come in handy over the next few weeks and again wish all our customers affected by these floods all the best at these trying times

Regards