How to revive patchy Buffalo lawn?

Blackfish

My lawn (I'm being way too generous - it's more of a collection of grasses!) has developed a series of patches where the grass has died, with nearby grass seemingly unable to spread to re-cover.

I'm not sure if the problem is a fungus or if the turf is thatched. The soil underneath is quite poor quality with a lot of heavy clay so that's probably not helping things.

I don't know whether to treat it with fungicide, scarify it, get an aerator onto it or do a combination of them all

I'm hoping that the clever people in this community can give me some guidance about how to attack the problem.

Thanks in advance.

MitchellMc

Hi @Blackfish

It looks like the affected areas are very compacted, especially with heavy clay soil. The best approach is to aerate the lawn first to relieve compaction and improve water and nutrient movement. After that, top up the bare patches with some fresh topsoil, which will give the grass a better chance to spread and fill in naturally.

Once the soil structure is improved, your existing grass is much more likely to recover and gradually cover those dead patches. Scarifying can also help if there’s a layer of thatch, but aeration and topsoil are the priority for compacted areas.

Here's a helpful guide: How to care for Buffalo lawn.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell