A man uses a RYOBI 36V Lawn Mower to mow the front lawn of a brown brick house in an Australian neighbourhood.
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Lawn care for beginners

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of bare feet on a lush lawn. But if you want to keep your lawn looking fresh and green, care and maintenance are key. Luckily, being a great lawn caregiver doesn’t mean you have to be an expert botanist. We’ve put together some of our best Lawn Care 101 tips that you can use.

RYOBI TEAM Tue, 09/30/2025 - 17:57
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From growing to mowing 

Whether you’re just starting out, or need to re-seed your patchy lawn, the first step is to select a type of grass that suits your climate and soil type (this is the one time you will need to seek an expert’s opinion at your local nursery). Once that’s settled, you’re ready to start seeding. The best time to seed your lawn is during the in-between seasons of the year, when temperatures are mild (we’re talking spring or autumn). The first secret to great-looking turf is to keep it trim. As a general rule of thumb, you should be mowing your lawn every 1-2 weeks in spring and summer and every 2-5 weeks in autumn and winter. If mowing the lawn isn’t your favourite chore, it might be tempting to cut the lawn closer to the ground to reduce the time between trims. But don’t ‘scalp’ it as this can actually stress the grass and cause it to grow back quicker or burn it off on a hot summer day. Plus, mowing too low can lead to a patchy, uneven lawn. So how short should you trim your lawn? That depends on the variety. We’ve broken it all down for you in this handy chart:

A table of grass types and cut height: Buffalo (30-50mm), Couch (15-30mm), Kikiyu (30-50mm), Zoysia (20-30mm), Kakadu (40mm).

Like anything else in the garden, you’ll find much more success with good mowing equipment. Sharp blades will cut through your grass evenly, assuring it grows back evenly. Buying a good lawn mower that’s up to the challenge is a great way to invest in your lawn. Smaller lawns can be tackled by an 18V mower while medium to larger lawns will benefit from a 36V mower. And make sure to sharpen or replace blades annually to keep your lawn healthy and stop grass developing brown, frayed tips.

A man using a RYOBI lawn mower to cut the front lawn of a residential property. The lawn is well-maintained and freshly cut.

There are two main ways to mow your lawn. The first is to have a mower with a bag that catches lawn clippings as you go. The second is called mulch mowing, where lawn clippings are recut under the mower into superfine pieces and dispersed back onto your lawn. Mulch mowing can enhance the look and feel of your lawn by helping it hold onto moisture and keep a stable temperature. The mulched clippings can also help fertilise your lawn. Just don’t leave a heavy layer of mulch on your lawn. If the grass is long, cut it first on a higher setting and collect the clippings. Then, lower the mower’s cutting height, remove the bag, insert the mulch plug and go again.

A man using a RYOBI lawn mower being using to cut a patch of overcut grass next to a garden bed.
A woman wearing safety glasses and gloves, emptying a catcher full of grass clippings (from a RYOBI lawn mower) into the bin.

 

Feeding, weeding and watering your lawn

Like every living thing, your lawn needs food and water. During wetter months, rainwater will do a lot of the heavy lifting for you. But as temperatures rise, you’ll have to make up for dryer weather with regular waterings. If you don’t have a sprinkler system built into your lawn, investing in a hose with sprinkler and soaker settings should do the trick. You might want to lash out for an automatic tap timer, too, so you don’t have to remember to turn it on or off.

It’s best to water early in the mornings, or early afternoon. Watering for longer periods (up to an hour) less frequently will help your lawn become more tolerant to droughts. But most importantly, make sure you check with your local council about the rules around watering, and always follow their guidelines. If you live in a dryer climate, you might find yourself watering your lawn often, but luckily feeding your lawn requires a less frequent schedule. And now, many ‘feeders’ also contain a weeding agent to kill off common weeds that can ruin a lawn.

A person wearing gloves, using a RYOBI seed & fertiliser spreader to distribute fertiliser onto a well-maintained lawn.
A person using a RYOBI garden sprayer to spray their lawn, showing foliage in the background.

Many of these can be sprayed on to the lawn with a pressure sprayer. The best time of year to fertilise your lawn is spring. As temperatures grow warmer, feeding your lawn with a slow-release fertiliser will help your lawn keep healthy through summer. You’ll also want to fertilise during mid to late autumn to prep your lawn for winter. If fertilising your lawn isn’t currently part of your routine, you’re not alone – many people forget this step.

 

Here’s how to make feeding time for your lawn a breeze: 

  • Before you begin, clear any debris with a rake or a blower.
  • Mow your lawn 2-3 days before fertilising, and don’t mow it again for at least one week.
  • Choose the right fertiliser for your lawn, climate, and time of year.
  • Getting an even spread is key, so use a handheld or wheeled spreader.

 

Trim and terrific! 

Finally, a great-looking lawn often has a ‘manicured’ appearance. Equip yourself with a line trimmer to ensure all the lawn’s edges are kept neat and under control, and any lawn obstacles, like trees or play equipment are not over-run by unseemly weeds.

 

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