The Echuca-based turf production and distribution company will devote its entire allocation of turf grants available for this current financial year to support local not-for-profit community organisations to raise funds to help towns rebuild and recover from the impacts of flood.
Coolabah Turf managing director Suzie Shearer said the recent flooding events had left a trail of destruction and devastation across the region, and the impacts would be far-reaching for weeks and months to come.
“This is such a heartbreaking time for those who have been directly affected by the floods, for those whose friends, family and loved ones have lost everything, and for entire communities who have played a pivotal role in helping prepare their towns for the unknown,” Ms Shearer said.
“In contrast to the overwhelming sadness we are all feeling, it has also been a humbling and heartening experience to witness our incredible communities in both the Murray and Campaspe shires rally together during this crisis to protect homes, businesses and livelihoods.”
Ms Shearer said the recovery and rebuilding process would be a painstaking one and would require all levels of government, business and community to work together.
She said Coolabah’s turf recovery grants were just a small way the home-grown business could play its part.
“The priority right now is the health and wellbeing of our families, friends and neighbours, and rebuilding those homes, businesses and community infrastructure that have sustained water damage,” Ms Shearer said.
“But we’ll also be here to support our customers in every way we can to help them bring their water-damaged lawns back to life.”
Ms Shearer said the biggest challenge for turf during flooding events was the damage caused by water logging for extended periods.
She said once the water levels dropped, the soil and sediment left behind could also smother lawns and create a significant barrier for recovery.
“If your lawn has been impacted by the recent rains or flooding events, there are a number of steps you can take to aid in the recovery process,” Suzie said.
“When the rain has passed and flowing water is no longer present, try to drain away any excess water as best you can by aerating your lawn with a garden fork to alleviate moisture and allow oxygen into the roots. Try also to divert water away from the turf where possible, and remove all debris that may restrict direct sunlight to the grass. If there’s lots of mud and river silt smothering the grass, remove what you can by hand wearing gloves, or try using a high-pressure hose to blast as much of the sediment off the lawn so the grass blades are unobstructed.
“Keep an eye out for turf disease due to excessive moisture, and handweed, or spot treat any weeds that have popped up. Also look for signs of your lawn being hydrophobic where the water is repelled by the soil and pooling rather than absorbing quickly, and if required, apply a wetting agent.
“It’s really important to avoid any activities that could lead to additional stress for your lawn such as dethatching, fertilising or topdressing until conditions are drier and you are seeing signs of growth. As soon as it’s dry enough, mow the lawn at your normal mowing height to help promote healthy lateral growth for recovery. And once your lawn is showing signs of recovery, then you can fertilise and target any emerging weeds more aggressively.”
For further advice or support to get your lawn back on track, give the team at Coolabah Turf a call on 1800 055 515.
To learn more about the eligibility criteria for the turf recovery grants or to apply online, visit coolturf.com.au (click on Community Sponsorship under the About Us tab).
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