How to stop Kikiyu dying off?

arrin

Hi there,

I have Kikiyu lawn, partly shaded and it’s always been average.

In an effort to finally get it looking good, I have fertilised, watered regularly and cut weekly.

Initially it came back well, however in the last 2-3 weeks it’s started dying off, turning yellow / almost dead from the shaded area and extending back.

Left hand side is new lawn from lawn seed (purchased from Bunnings), first photo was approx 4 weeks ago.

Any ideas what would be causing this?

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @arrin. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about lawn care.

In the first photo, your lawn looked like it was bouncing back well, but in the latest shots, it does seem to be struggling. The yellowing and exposed runners suggest the lawn may be getting scalped, likely from being mown too low. I’d recommend raising your mower height by at least two notches to allow the grass to retain more leaf and recover.

It also looks like the soil might be compacted, which can make it difficult for the roots to get the water and nutrients they need. Aerating the lawn thoroughly will help. After aerating, apply a thin 30mm layer of topsoil over the area, being careful not to completely cover any existing grass blades, then re-seed to help thicken things up.

Keep your mowing height fairly high while the lawn re-establishes, especially in the shaded area where growth is naturally slower.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell