Watering your lawn may seem straightforward, but it’s an often misunderstood aspect of lawn care.  Overwatering wastes water and money, while underwatering stresses your grass, leading to patchy, unhealthy lawns. With research-backed knowledge, there’s now a simpler, smarter way to know exactly when to water your lawn: the Lawn Irrigation Scheduler. How the Lawn Irrigation Scheduler Works The Lawn Irrigation Scheduler uses weather data and research-based calculations to determine the ideal days to water your lawn. Watering your lawn properly starts with understanding its water needs, which are largely influenced by evapotranspiration (ET). Evapotranspiration is the process through which water leaves your lawn and enters the atmosphere. It combines: Evaporation – Water evaporating from the soil surface. Transpiration – Water absorbed by roots and released as vapour through grass leaves. Your watering needs are obviously affected by local rainfall. The tool imports forecasted rainfall and allows you to edit the amount you've received, so you can adjust it based on your rain gauge readings or other data you feel is more accurate. The process to use the tool is very straight-forward: 1. User Input – Enter your postcode, the last time you watered your lawn, your soil type (sandy, loamy or clay) and how much you irrigate per session in mm. 2. Weather Data Fetching – The tool retrieves past and forecasted evapotranspiration and rainfall data for your location. 3. Calculation – It keeps a running calculation of water loss and replenishment. 4. Custom Schedule Generation – Based on this information, the scheduler provides a tailored watering schedule, showing exactly which days to water your lawn. With this tool, you no longer rely on vague advice like "water 1–3 times a week." Instead, you’ll use precise data to ensure your lawn is watered at the right time. Why Proper Watering Matters Your lawn’s water needs vary based on climate, and soil conditions (and grass type, however that hasn't been factored in yet). Irrigating based on evapotranspiration (ET) and rainfall data ensures that water is applied at rates matching the turf's physiological needs.  Research confirms significant reductions in water usage without compromising turf quality when irrigation schedules are aligned with ET rates​​. Irrigating with deficit ET amounts (less than ET loss, which is factored into the tool's calculations) has shown to increase root biomass and length, which improve the turf's resilience and water intake. Water savings have been shown to be at least 25% and up to 88% using ET-based irrigation. Why It’s Better Than Guesswork Traditional advice like "water 1–3 times a week" doesn’t account for variables such as recent rainfall, soil type, or differences in local evapotranspiration and daily weather conditions. The Lawn Irrigation Scheduler tailors its recommendations to your lawn’s specific needs, ensuring you water only when necessary.  This precision saves time, conserves water, and keeps your lawn at its healthiest. How can this tool be improved? If this is something you find useful, or you have any suggestions, please let us know either on Facebook or through our Contact form. If there is enough interest, we will look at incorporating it into the Lawnsmith app with features to provide notifications so you'll never miss your ideal watering days! Let us know what you think!

How Often Should You Water Your Lawn?

In Australia, the use of agricultural chemicals in home lawn care is common, but few people understand their legal obligations or the risks of “going off label.” The Role of the APVMA The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is the national regulator for agricultural and veterinary chemicals. Under the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994, often called the Agvet Code, the APVMA oversees the approval, control, and registration of these chemicals to ensure safe and compliant use. Applicable Legislation The use of agricultural chemicals in Australia is governed by several key legislative frameworks, designed to ensure safety and environmental protection. The primary legislation is the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994 (commonly referred to as the Agvet Code), which establishes a national system for the evaluation, registration, and control of agricultural chemicals. This law mandates that all chemical products are assessed by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to ensure they meet safety, efficacy, and environmental standards before being made available for sale. In addition, the Poisons Standard (SUSMP) provides a uniform scheduling system for classifying poisons based on their potential harm, and sets out labelling, storage, and packaging requirements. While the Poisons Standard is not directly enforceable, it is referenced and adopted through state and territory legislation, making it binding in practice. Each state and territory has its own laws that regulate the use, storage, and disposal of pesticides. Examples include the Pesticides Act 1999 (NSW) and the Chemical Usage (Agricultural and Veterinary) Control Act 1988 (QLD). These laws often align with the federal framework but include additional provisions specific to local needs and conditions. Users must comply with all relevant legislation, including strict adherence to the instructions provided on the chemical's approved label, which holds legal authority under the Agvet Code. Non-compliance, such as "off-label" use, can result in significant penalties, as demonstrated in case law. Poisons Standard (SUSMP) The Poisons Standard, which includes the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP), classifies chemicals by their potential harm and sets guidelines on labelling, storage, and sale. Though not binding, each state and territory can adopt its recommendations to promote uniformity across Australia. The SUSMP’s schedules include: Schedule 5: Low harm potential; labelled “Caution.” Schedule 6: Moderate harm potential; labelled “Poison.” Schedule 7: High harm potential; labelled “Dangerous Poison” and restricted to authorised users. Legal Cases and Off-Label Risks State and territory legislation often references the Agvet Code and Poisons Standard, making label compliance legally binding for users. Two notable cases highlight the consequences of improper use: Environment Protection Authority v Le Dome Pty Limited [2002] NSWLEC 167
In this case, the New South Wales Land and Environment Court dealt with a business that improperly applied a Schedule 6 pesticide, leading to hospitalisations. The court reinforced that compliance with label instructions is a critical legal requirement under the Pesticides Act 1999 (NSW) s 15(1). Environment Protection Authority v Warwick Ronald McInnes (No 2) [2020] NSWLEC 147
This case involved a council worker who decanted a Schedule 7 pesticide into a drink bottle, which was consumed by a member of the public. The court ruled that this violated Pesticides Act 1999 (NSW) s 10(1)(a), emphasising strict liability and the importance of proper storage and labelling. Takeaways for Domestic Users Homeowners using pesticides face the same legal requirements as businesses. Labels provide essential safety instructions, and failure to comply, even in domestic settings, can lead to serious liability. For example: Using chemicals that specify “not for home garden use” on your lawn is prohibited. Decanting chemicals into unlabelled containers or sharing “bulk” purchases with others increases risks and legal accountability. While proactive enforcement is limited, these laws act as a deterrent against improper practices that risk harm. By following label instructions carefully, you help protect your own safety and that of others.

Legal Obligations for Chemical Use in Lawn Care

Getting the right application rate for your lawn care products is important.  Product labels can be inconsistent across different products, with some recommending an amount per 100m2 while others might be in hectares. If you have a precise measurement of your lawn area and don't feel like mental gymnastics or just want to confirm your calculations are right, then check out our free Application Rate Calculator tool. This easy-to-use tool takes the guesswork out of calculating exactly how much product you need to apply, giving you the confidence that you're applying the right products in the right amounts. Why Accurate Application Matters Applying the correct rate of lawn care products is crucial for a number of reasons. Using too much can cause harm to your grass, lead to chemical runoff, or simply waste your money. On the other hand, using too little can mean your lawn doesn't get the nutrients or protection it needs, resulting in weak growth or continued weed problems.  By calculating the correct rate, you ensure your lawn gets exactly what it needs, in compliance with product labels, without any unnecessary waste. How the Application Rate Calculator Works Our Application Rate Calculator is designed to be user-friendly and straightforward. Here’s how it works: Enter Lawn Size: The first step is to enter the size of your lawn or the area you're treating. Add Product Details: Next, add the product information from the label. This includes the recommended rate per unit area, found on the product label. Calculate: Once you've added this information, press 'Calculate' and the calculator will tell you exactly how much product you need to apply to your lawn based on its size, saving you from annoying maths and uncertainty. Head over and try the Application Rate Calculator now!

Easily Calculate Lawn Care Application Rates

Welcome to Lawnsmith: Your Lawn, Our Passion Welcome to Lawnsmith!  Whether you're a seasoned lawnie or just starting your journey, Lawnsmith is here to make each step as enjoyable and easy as possible. Who We Are Lawnsmith is dedicated to empowering lawn enthusiasts with technology solutions that make lawn care easier, smarter, and more effective. We understand the satisfaction of achieving a vibrant, healthy lawn and provide innovative tools to help you get there. Our goal is to simplify lawn care, giving you the resources and insights needed to create lush, beautiful grass with less effort. Lawnsmith is more than just about the grass in your yard. It's about enhancing your well-being, finding purpose in the process, and fostering community connections through the shared pursuit of great lawns. What We're About Our mission is simple: to help you achieve the lawn you've always dreamed of with the power of smart technology. Lawn care doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. By utilising technology, you can navigate the process with ease, saving you time and money. What We're Trying to Achieve Our goal is to develop innovative software and app solutions that solve common lawn care problems, helping users reduce costs and frustration.  Lawnsmith aims to provide practical tools that make lawn care simpler, more efficient, and affordable.  By addressing frequent challenges, such as understanding the right products to use, optimal application times, and troubleshooting lawn issues, we strive to take the guesswork out of lawn care. We want to create a platform where you can easily access expert guidance and resources to improve your lawn care results.  Our app is designed to provide straightforward solutions that help users maintain healthy lawns with minimal effort and cost.  Lawn care can be a rewarding experience, and we're dedicated to making it accessible and manageable for everyone through effective, user-friendly technology.