How to get a perfect lawn in Perth comes down to timing more than effort. Feed and aerate in the growing seasons, water only on your roster day, and leave the lawn alone during the winter sprinkler ban. The calendar below sets out what to do each month and where each step comes from. Where our sources disagree, or rest only on commercial advice, we say so. For the full picture, read our complete guide to lawn in Perth.
Start with your watering roster
Your watering roster is set by your street number. The Water Corporation says that if a property spans several numbers, you use the higher one, and unit numbers are ignored. Use your lot number only if there is no street number. Garden bore users in Perth and Mandurah follow the same roster and times as scheme users.
On your roster day, water once, before 9am or after 6pm. The Corporation issues on-the-spot fines of $100 for breaches. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) adds that the winter sprinkler ban runs from 1 June to 31 August.
If your sprinkler system needs attention before the roster day, we install and repair reticulation; see our reticulation in Perth page.
How to get a perfect lawn: the month-by-month table
The table below gives the timing for a warm-season lawn in Perth. Cells that name a lawn-care company or turf supplier are commercial advice, not government or research guidance, so check them with your turf grower before you rely on them.
| Month | Water | Feed | Aerate or top dress | Weeds and pests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Roster day only, once | No feed | No aeration | No task sourced |
| February | Roster day only, once | No feed | No aeration | No task sourced |
| March | Roster day only, once | Autumn feed can start (DPIRD: autumn and spring) | Autumn aeration is an option (some Perth lawn-care sites suggest March or April) | Armyworm still active in autumn (DPIRD) |
| April | Roster day only, once | Complete fertiliser at 25 g/m2 (DPIRD). A turf supplier gives early April | Top dress with sandy loam after aeration (one Perth lawn-care site) | No task sourced |
| May | Roster day only, once | No feed | No task sourced | Armyworm still active in autumn (DPIRD) |
| June | Winter sprinkler ban starts 1 June | No feed | No task sourced | Warm-season lawns can turn brown in winter (DPIRD) |
| July | Sprinkler ban | No feed | No task sourced | Winter browning expected (DPIRD) |
| August | Sprinkler ban ends 31 August | No feed | No task sourced | Winter browning expected (DPIRD) |
| September | Roster day only, once, from 1 September | Spring feed (DPIRD: spring). A turf supplier gives early September | Spring aeration, once a year (Be Groundwater Wise) | Armyworm active from early spring (DPIRD) |
| October | Roster day only, once | Spring feed once the lawn is actively growing (DPIRD: spring) | Spring aeration window (Be Groundwater Wise: once a year, in spring) | No task sourced |
| November | Roster day only, once | No feed sourced | Finish any aeration still due (spring window) | No task sourced |
| December | Roster day only, once | No feed | No task sourced | No task sourced |
The best time to fertilise a lawn in Perth
DPIRD recommends about 25 g/m2 of a complete fertiliser, applied in autumn and spring when the grass is growing fastest. It advises a fertiliser with 10 to 12 per cent nitrogen, 1 per cent or less phosphorus and 6 to 10 per cent potassium, and says to feed when the lawn shows a deficiency such as yellowing.
Two other sources disagree on timing. Be Groundwater Wise suggests a slow-release feed every two months in the warmer months and once in winter. MyHomeTurf, a turf supplier, gives early April and early September for buffalo. We follow DPIRD’s autumn and spring timing for the rate and note the difference so you can ask your turf grower.
Leaving clippings on the lawn cuts how much fertiliser you need. DPIRD also suggests a complete fertiliser without phosphorus, because phosphorus running off into waterways is a problem in Perth.
Lawn aeration in Perth: spring first
Be Groundwater Wise, a WA Government initiative, recommends aerating the lawn once a year, in spring. Premier Lawns, a Perth lawn-care company, says most lawns benefit from aeration at least once a year, and that some need it once every year or two, depending on compaction and foot traffic.
Autumn is the other option. One Perth lawn-care site suggests March or April for core aeration, followed by a sandy loam top dress. Spring is the timing we would start with, because it is the window the government source gives.
Premier Lawns also advises watering within a few hours of treatment and watering daily in hot weather for the first week or two. Those are supplier instructions, so check them with your turf grower. Wait for new green growth before you mow.
Weeds, grubs and armyworm
DPIRD describes armyworm as one of the biggest insect problems in WA garden lawns. The caterpillars are active from early spring through autumn and prefer moist areas. Its control advice is to reduce thatch and remove soggy spots.
Weed timing is the thinnest part of the research. We found no DPIRD guidance on when to treat lawn weeds, and the commercial timings we found conflicted with each other, so we have not set a month for weed treatment here. Ask a turf grower, and follow the label on any product, including its timing and temperature limits.
Vertimowing and thatch
Vertimowing removes thatch, and the need for it depends on how much thatch the lawn builds up. Premier Lawns says spring is the preferred time, because the lawn is coming out of winter dormancy. Some customers do a light vertimow in late autumn. Treat that as supplier advice.
Mowing heights for warm-season lawns
MyHomeTurf suggests buffalo at 2 to 5 cm in sun or light shade, and 5 to 7 cm in heavier shade. For Kenda kikuyu it gives 2.5 to 5 cm. DPIRD notes that cutting heights differ between grass varieties, so check your variety before you set the mower.
Frequently asked questions
When should I fertilise my lawn in Perth?
Autumn and spring, when the grass is growing fastest, at about 25 g/m2 of a complete fertiliser. Some sources differ on exact months, so start in autumn and confirm the spring timing with your turf grower.
When should I aerate or top dress my lawn in Perth?
Spring is the timing Be Groundwater Wise, a Department of Water and Environmental Regulation initiative, suggests, once a year. Autumn is an option some Perth lawn-care sites recommend, with a sandy loam top dress afterwards.
Can I water my lawn any day in Perth?
No. Scheme and garden bore users water only on their roster day, once, before 9am or after 6pm. The winter sprinkler ban runs from 1 June to 31 August, and the on-the-spot fine is $100.
What is the best lawn for Perth?
It depends on sun, shade and use. Our best lawn for Perth comparison covers kikuyu, buffalo and couch on Perth sand, with the sources for each grass.
When should I treat weeds in my Perth lawn?
We did not find a DPIRD timing for lawn weeds, and the commercial timings we found conflicted, so we do not give a month here. Ask a turf grower, and follow the label on any herbicide.
We offer lawn mowing and lawn care in Perth; see our lawn care Perth page. Want help with your own lawn? Get a free quote and tell us about it.