Seasonal Growth (Dryland Grass)

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With Dryland grass, the cutting conditions are quite different to those of the Lawn growth, grass and weed growth is mostly an Autumn, Winter, and spring, however, some of the proclaimed pest plants can survive during the hot periods of summer, including Caltrop and Three corner Jacks.

 

The main cutting times occur over winter, the heaviest loads are experienced in Spring and this is known as a Spring Flush, if the yearly cyclic occurrence of the El Niño/El Nina is in the effects of an El Nina cyclic, multiple spring flushes can be common.

 

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As a normal cycle of cut, there will usually be two cuts in the spring flush, one is the primary cut and the second is the Cure cut, the cure cut is where the plant has come to the end of its life and usually set seed and now forms no further purpose, this type of plant are called annuals, some of the other plants which are classed as perennials,  will mostly slow growth after this cut and will take a long period before they become a significant height.

 

Once Cure cut has been completed the area does not usually need to be cut again until its first Winter cut, which will happen around the first rains with follow-up rains coming in behind them, this will allow for germination to start the cycle of winter weeds.

 

Winter weeds are cut when they reach a height of 300mm, and will then be cut down to a height of 100mm, the reason why we only cut to a height of 100mm is to allow for bulk mulch that is achieved when cutting is carried out.

 

Winter cutting can sometimes become Out of Standard due to heavy rains or flooding, especially during an El Niño year when there might be two or three weeks of constant rain that brings and retains the soil capacity, which does not allow for the use of machinery work on the area.

 

Standard Height for Dryland Grass Reduction

The height for Dryland grass is to be set at 100mm from ground level, this will

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 be the minimum height, the maximum height to be kept in standard is 500mm.

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While growth is to be kept in standard, spring flush will often become out of standard due to factors that are not in our control, excessive rain will often keep areas from being cut, this can lead to the cycle of cutting to become late which will then allow the areas at the end of the cycle to put on growth above standard