Ah, summer is just around the corner in New Zealand — jandals, BBQs, and lawns that should look like lush green carpets… but somehow end up crispy, patchy, or just plain sad.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Most lawns are crying out for help this time of year. Luckily, Dan Doo’s got six insider tips to keep your turf happy, garden and lawns hydrated, and ready for backyard bragging rights.
Phew, thank god for the Candoo Crew.
1. Mowing Too Short (AKA “Scalping”)
If you’re mowing low because you think it’ll grow slower – wrong move, mate. Cutting grass too short exposes roots, dries the soil, and invites weeds.
👉Candoo Tip: Keep your mower blades at around 3cm–5cm. Taller grass shades the soil and helps it retain moisture when that summer sun gets bossy.
2. Watering at the Wrong Time
If you’re watering in the heat of the day, half of it’s gone before it hits the roots.
👉 Candoo Tip: Water early morning, between 6-9am for maximum absorption and minimal evaporation. Deep, infrequent watering (rather than daily sprinkles) encourages stronger roots.
3. Ignoring Dull Mower Blades
A blunt blade doesn’t cut. It tears, leaving your grass brown and stressed. We don’t want any of that.
👉 Candoo Tip: Sharpen blades every month or two through summer. Think of it as a haircut with sharp scissors, not garden shears.
4. Forgetting to Feed the Soil
Your grass eats, too. Okay no, not mince and cheese pies. If you haven’t fertilised your gardens since spring, it’s probably running on fumes.
👉 Candoo Tip: Use a slow-release summer fertiliser or a seaweed-based tonic. Feed in the cooler part of the day and water it in well.
5. Compacting the Ground
Too many feet, too little airflow. Summer gatherings can crush your soil, starving roots of oxygen.
👉 Candoo Tip: Grab a garden fork and poke holes around high-traffic areas — or go pro and aerate properly. Your lawn will breathe again.
6. Forgetting the Edges
Nothing says “I’ve got my life together” like crisp lawn edges. It’s the difference between “nice yard” and “wow, who’s your landscaper?” Trust us, it goes a long, long way. And makes one bloody hell of a difference!
👉 Candoo Tip: Use a string trimmer or half-moon edger to redefine borders every couple of weeks. It’s a small job that makes a huge visual difference.
Your lawn doesn’t need a mowing miracle, just a little know-how. Treat your lawns and gardens right this New Zealand summer, and it’ll reward you with soft, green glory.
Or you know, you can get the best lawn & garden service to do it for you. (Hint: us!).
But that’s not all we do. We can do rubbish removal, lawn mowing services, hedge trimming and more!
Click here to grab an easy-as quote today!
Dan Doo