How to Prepare Your Garden for Summer in Sydney

Written By Matthew Afford

By Greener Meadows – Lawn Mowing & Garden Services

Sydney summers are hot, dry, and unpredictable — which means your garden needs a little extra care to stay green, healthy, and thriving. Whether you live in Schofields, Riverstone, Quakers Hill, The Ponds, Marsden Park, Colebee, or Rouse Hill, this guide will help you get your lawn and garden ready for the hottest months of the year.

Here’s exactly what to do to keep everything looking fresh all summer long.

1. Raise Your Mowing Height

During summer, cutting grass too short causes:

  • Brown patches

  • Heat stress

  • Exposed roots

  • Weed invasion

👉 Solution: Raise your mower height by 1–2 settings

This protects the soil, locks in moisture, and keeps the lawn cooler.

Ideal height by grass type:

  • Buffalo: 40–60mm

  • Kikuyu: 35–45mm

  • Couch: 20–30mm

2. Mulch Your Garden Beds

Mulch is one of the most effective ways to protect plants in Sydney summers.

Benefits:

  • Reduces soil temperature

  • Helps soil retain moisture

  • Suppresses weeds

  • Improves soil quality

👉 Best mulch types for Western Sydney:

  • Hardwood mulch

  • Cypress mulch

  • Sugarcane mulch (great for veggie patches)

Apply 5–7cm across garden beds for best results.

3. Give Your Lawn a Slow-Release Fertiliser

A slow-release fertiliser in late spring or early summer:

  • Strengthens roots

  • Improves colour

  • Helps survive heat

  • Makes mowing easier

👉 The best option:

Slow-release granular fertiliser (3-month formula)

Avoid heavy nitrogen fertilisers in peak summer — they can burn your lawn.

4. Water Deeply, Not Frequently

Short, daily watering doesn't help your lawn — it encourages shallow roots.

👉 The rule:

Water deeply 2–3 times a week (depending on water restrictions)

Morning is ALWAYS best (before 9am).

If you see wilting or greying patches in the afternoon, your lawn needs more water.

5. Trim Hedges and Trees Before Growth Peaks

Summer = fast, aggressive growth.

Trim now to:

  • Shape hedges

  • Prevent branches from sagging

  • Reduce pests

  • Keep garden beds neat

If hedges are overgrown, a garden makeover before summer saves you heaps of time later.

6. Aerate High Traffic Areas

If you have kids, pets, or a front lawn that gets walked on — soil compaction becomes a problem.

Signs you need aeration:

  • Water runs off instead of absorbing

  • Lawn feels hard underfoot

  • Thin or patchy areas

👉 Quick fix:

Spike aeration (manual fork or lawn aerator shoes) loosens compacted soil and helps water penetrate deeper.

7. Fix Weeds Before They Spread

Heat + humidity = ideal conditions for:

  • Bindii

  • Paspalum

  • Clover

  • Broadleaf weeds

👉 Summer tip:

Spot-spraying early prevents them from taking over when temperatures hit 35°C+.

8. Book a Lawn Mowing & Garden Service for Summer

If you want your home looking clean, tidy, and summer-ready without spending every weekend outside — we can help.

Greener Meadows provides:

  • Regular lawn mowing (weekly, fortnightly, monthly)

  • Garden clean ups

  • Hedge trimming

  • Mulching

  • Pressure washing

  • Strata & real estate maintenance

We service:

Schofields, Riverstone, Quakers Hill, Marsden Park, The Ponds, Colebee, Rouse Hill, Tallawong, Box Hill, and surrounding suburbs.

Get Your Garden Ready for Summer — Book a Free Quote

Use our easy online form and we’ll send your quote straight to your phone.

Greener Meadows — reliable, insured, and local.

Matthew Afford
Previous

How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn in Sydney?

Next

How Often Should You Pressure Wash Your Driveway? (Sydney Guide)