The Ultimate Guide to Seasonal Lawn Care in Australia

Caring for your lawn throughout the year in Australia means adapting to the changing seasons. Each season brings different challenges and opportunities, and understanding how to handle them with the right strategy makes all the difference. A tailored, seasonal lawn care plan can help keep your turf thick, green, and healthy year-round.

In this guide, we’ll break down the best seasonal lawn care tips for Aussie homeowners, highlight what to do each season, and recommend products that help you stay on top of weeds, pests, fertilising, and more.

Seasonal lawn care refers to adjusting your lawn maintenance practices based on the time of year. Because lawn growth, weed pressure, pests, and even soil moisture fluctuate depending on the season, it’s essential to tweak your approach accordingly.

Failing to take a seasonal approach often leads to problems like patchy grass, excessive weeds, poor colour, and pest damage. By knowing what your lawn needs in summer, autumn, winter, and spring, you can address issues proactively and set your grass up for success.

The three most common warm-season grasses in Australia are Couch, Kikuyu, and Buffalo. While these lawns grow best in warmer months, they slow or go dormant in winter. Seasonal care becomes especially important during transitions when lawns shift from growth to dormancy or vice versa.

Cool-season grasses (like fescue or rye) have different seasonal needs again, with more active growth in cooler weather. Understanding how your grass responds to the seasons helps tailor your program.

• Mowing : Mow regularly to maintain height and reduce seed head formation.

• Watering : Deep and infrequent watering is best. Early morning is ideal.

• Fertilising : Use a high-quality liquid and granular fertiliser to support growth and colour.

• Pest Control : Watch for armyworms and black beetle grubs.

• Weeds : Spot treat with selective herbicides.

This is the most active growing season for warm-season lawns. Apply Pure Seaweed+ and Pure Balance for strong growth, and monitor pest activity closely.

• Fertilising: Apply a fertiliser like Proliferate to help build root strength before winter.

• Mowing: Begin to mow less frequently. Chance to lower height as there is less heat stress.

• Weeds: Begin applying pre-emergent herbicides like Spartan to prevent wintergrass.

• Renovation: Early autumn is a great time to aerate, topdress, or overseed. Especially for cool-season grasses.

A strong seasonal plan in autumn prepares your lawn for winter dormancy. Maintaining health now reduces stress later.

• Mowing : Reduce frequency, but don’t let the grass grow too long.

• Pigment Use : Apply Pure Colour pigment to enhance appearance while dormant.

• Weed Control : Treat broadleaf weeds and wintergrass early using Odessa and Bow and Arrow.

• Watering : Minimal watering is needed unless conditions are dry.

Although growth slows, your seasonal winter care ensures weeds don’t take over and the lawn doesn’t lose all its colour.

• Fertilising: Kickstart growth with Dominate and Pure Balance.

• Mowing: Increase frequency as the lawn wakes up.

• Weeds: Apply a second round of pre-emergent for summer weeds.

• Pests: Apply Acelepryn for grub prevention.

• Dethatching: If needed, this is the best time to scarify your lawn.

• Renovate: When combined, high and low temps get to 30 degrees for a few days in a row, then it's a great time to renovate your warm-season grasses.

Spring is all about renewal. A solid seasonal program here sets your lawn up for success into summer.

Summer: Fertilise, irrigate deeply, monitor pests, mow often.
Autumn: Strengthen roots, control winter weeds, start cool season renovations.
Winter: Maintain appearance with pigment, treat winter weeds.
Spring: Restart growth, feed, mow, and prevent pests. Start warm season renovations.

• Pure Seaweed+: Stress resistance in summer and autumn

• Pure Iron+: Boost colour in spring

• Pure Balance: Year-round liquid nutrition

• Spartan: Prevent winter and summer weeds with seasonal applications

• Acelepryn: Seasonally target grubs before damage begins

• Bow and Arrow / Odessa: Knock down seasonal broadleaf and grassy weeds

Matching the right product to the right seasonal challenge is the key to better results.

Looking after your lawn isn’t about reacting to issues; it’s about getting ahead of them. By following a seasonal lawn care routine, you give your grass the best chance to thrive through summer heat, winter dormancy, and everything in between. Whether you’re fertilising, mowing, applying pre-emergents, or dealing with pests, timing and consistency are key.

If you’re not sure when to apply products or what your lawn needs month by month, grab our Free Lawn Care Calendar. It’s an easy to follow guide tailored for Australian conditions that helps you stay on top of your seasonal lawn care plan all year long.