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First year living with this lawn so I'd like to take care of it; region/location is near Canberra, which may or may not be important considering climate of high summer heat and winter frost.
It appears as though there is a dead patch in the middle of the backyard which I'm guessing might only need some aeration and potentially seed. However I don't know if this is Couch or Buffalo and AI image identification seems to swap answers all the time.
Over the last 2 weeks there has been a massive growth of what I think might be chickweed that wasn't there before.
So now the ask:
1. Can someone please help identify what variety of grass this lawn is?
2. Do I need to do more than aerate the dead patch (and entire lawn)?
3. How do I remove the invasive weed without killing the lawn?
4. Should I apply any fertiliser?
Lastly, if I need to aerate, poison, fertilise and mow, is there any particular order to this and any time gaps between activities?
Hello @chickensoup64
In Canberra’s climate, your lawn looks like Couch grass fine‑bladed, vigorous, and runner‑forming which aligns with common varieties in similar environments. To revive the dead patch, begin by aerating the entire lawn to relieve soil compaction and improve water and nutrient uptake. A great budget-friendly option is the Saxon Lawn Aerator Spiked Roller (hand‑roll tool), or if you want a more thorough coring, the Cyclone 3‑Prong Lawn Aerator is available and ideal for larger lawns.
Once aerated, you’ll want to overseed the bare area with Couch-compatible seed blends that promote quick, lush recovery. Good options include Munns Professional 1.1 kg Couch Lawn Seed Blend which is coated with a germination booster and slow‑release fertiliser, covering up to 100 m² for new lawns or Scotts Lawn Builder 1.4 kg Seed & Feed Couch Lawn Seed (special order), which mixes Couch and annual rye for fast greening and your new lawn will be nourished for up to three months.
To tackle the fast‑spreading chickweed without harming your Couch grass, use a selective broadleaf herbicide that targets weeds like chickweed while sparing grasses. An effective choice is Amgrow 250 ml Multiweed All Purpose Lawn Weeder, which controls chickweed and many other broadleaf weeds and is safe for Couch lawns. Apply this in spring when chickweed is actively growing, following label instructions carefully.
For fertilising, a slow‑release lawn food helps your lawn thicken and outcompete weeds. Scotts Lawn Builder 8 kg All Lawn Types Lawn Food feeds for up to three months, is safe for Couch, and promotes deeper green growth with boosted iron.
Suggested product sequence and timing:
First, mow the lawn to a manageable height. Then, aerate using the Saxon Roller or Cyclone Aerator. Immediately overseed the bare patch using one of the Couch seed options, and apply the slow‑release fertiliser (Scotts Lawn Builder). Keep the area well-watered to help seed germinate.
Once the seedlings are established (or if you chose not to seed immediately), apply the selective herbicide (Amgrow Multiweed) to curb chickweed. Avoid applying herbicide too close to seeding allow at least two weeks before or after seeding, or follow the herbicide instructions for safe intervals.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
Hey @EricL thought I'd post an update. It's taking a bit longer than expected but the growth has come through in the dead/compacted patch!
The rest of the lawn is looking so-so as I feel it all needs more aerating but time will tell. I've just done the first mow and will hit it with the weedkiller in a couple of days. Additionally, all around the edge of the lawn under the pittosporums I've recently taken a pick axe and turned up the soil to now add fertilizer and more seed; will probably grab some topdressing too since a lot of the soil was bone dry and I had to soak it. Let me know if you think I should do anything more to this.
A follow up question for the lawn in general, something completely unexpected when I was turning the soil, I hit a sprinkler about 2-3 inches deep. I didn't have time to dig around it further but I feel this is what the cut hose might lead to next to the lawn. Pictures below.
For a lawn sprinkler system, would you happen to know what the usual layout or distances between sprinklers would be? I am trying to figure out if it might still work, if there are more, or if it was removed but this one was missed. The sprinkler head was completely buried so I can't spot any others either but if there is a typical installation pattern then I might be able to roughly "guess" where another might be and dig around.
Hello @chickensoup64
It's good to hear that you've got some initial growth, that is always a positive sign. Using top dressing is always a good idea specially if the soil appears to be a bit bare.
In regards to the sprinkler system, I propose attaching your garden hose to the black irrigation pipe and running water through it at high pressure. You might be surprised to see that some of the sprinkler heads might still be in working condition. I propose tracing the edge of your garden at 1.5meter intervals and looking to see if there are any other heads buried in the garden. Hopefully the warmer weather will encourage more growth from your lawn.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
