How to revive patchy Buffalo lawn?

[LinL]

My buffalo lawn is not doing well. I’ve neglected it. Lots of bare and dry spots. Areas under shade is doing better. Wondering if it can be revived with lots of love and care or should I start again and returf my lawn? If I can revive it, please let me know what to do. There’s some weeds and there’s a patch of a different type of grass growing in some spots, one with a finer leaf. Thanks

Fine leaf grass

[Alison2]

 

 

 

Hi all, 

My buffalo lawn looked nice once upon a time but now has numerous dead patches. I first noticed it in the summer and assumed it had dried out but it’s now mid winter and I’m getting weeds grow in the dead patches but the grass is not recovering. Does anyone have any ideas why it’s not recovering and what I can do to fix it? Can I aerate and fertilize mid winter or is it best to put down some more buffalo seed? 
I’ve attached photos of what it looked like in 2023, 2024, and yesterday
Thanks in advance!

Alison 

[JacobZ]

Hi @Alison2,

It's completely understandable to be concerned about your buffalo lawn, especially after seeing it decline from a healthy state. Since buffalo grass is a warm-season variety, it naturally slows down and can become brown or patchy during the cooler months. This dormancy is perfectly normal, but this patch certainly seems to be more of an issue than dormancy. I suspect a major part of the issue is that the soil is compacted, which will affect the root growth and how water drains.

Even though buffalo grass doesn’t actively grow in winter, there are still a few things you can do now to help set it up for recovery in spring. One of the most helpful steps is to aerate your lawn. Compacted soil limits air and water reaching the roots, so using a garden fork or lawn aerator to open up the soil can help relieve this. I would also give this patch a good dethatching to remove any of that dead material and open things up for sideways growth. Check out How To Aerate Your Lawn and How To Dethatch Your Lawn for some guidance.

You can also apply a slow-release fertiliser that is safe for buffalo grass, such as Munns Professional Buffalo Booster Lawn Fertiliser, which will help strengthen the roots and support healthier growth when spring arrives.

In terms of dealing with weeds, it’s important to stay on top of them even during the cooler months. Hand-pulling is the most effective method, especially in small patches, but you can also consider using a buffalo-specific selective herbicide such as Yates BuffaloPro Weed 'N' Feed Hose On Weed Killer. Just be sure to check that any product you use is buffalo-safe, as some chemicals can damage this grass type.

Unfortunately, Buffalo grass is not typically grown from seed and consequently, seeds are not available, so if the dead patches don’t recover in spring through lateral growth, the best solution is to install new turf sections. Rolls of Sir Walter are available in most stores. It's usually best to call ahead as the stock only stays good for so long and it is often snapped up rather quickly. If you are struggling to find some that is available it can also be ordered through the Special Orders desk.

Let me know what you think and if you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[SP1]

Hi all, hoping someone can help me with some advice on how to get my front buffalo lawn lush and green again. Over winter (and last summer) it has become very patchy and brown. All advice appreciated and TIA.

[EricL]

Hello @SP1 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your lawn.

Can you please tell us a little bit about your lawn and location? This will help us with our recommendations and suggestions. Have you fertilized the lawn these past few months? Have you topped up the lawn soil? Have you aerated the soil in any manner? Any extra care information you can share with us will be very much appreciated.

In the meantime, I suggest having a look at this guide - How to detect lawn problems by @Adam_W. 

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[SP1]

Hey @EricL,

Thanks for your prompt reply. I am in Melbourne and have not done anything to the lawn yet as I thought I would ask the best process and timing before I get stuck into it.

Cheers.

SP1

[EricL]

Hello @SP1 

Thanks for sharing the photo and the background info. It looks like your buffalo lawn has gone through some stress, which is pretty common over winter, especially in Melbourne’s cooler conditions. The patchiness and brown areas are often due to a mix of cold weather, lack of nutrients, possibly compacted soil, and maybe even some shade or poor drainage in certain spots. Since no fertilizer or action has been taken recently, the lawn might just be starving a bit and struggling to bounce back.

To bring it back to a lush green state, you’ll want to give it a bit of a kickstart now that we're heading out of winter. As a first step, I’d recommend applying a slow-release granular fertilizer designed for buffalo grass such as Scotts Lawn Builder 4 kg Buffalo Lawn Food. Make sure to water it in well, especially if there hasn't been much rain. If the soil feels really firm underfoot, giving the area a light aeration with a garden fork can help oxygen and nutrients get down to the roots. 

I also suggest making sure that your mower blades are sharp and try not to cut the grass too low, as buffalo prefers to be kept a bit longer. Keep an eye out for any signs of pests or fungal disease too, just in case the browning is coming from something like that.

If you're consistent with a bit of TLC over the next month or two feeding, watering, and mowing properly you should start to see it green up nicely again as the temperatures rise.

Here is a handy guide that will help - How To Care For Your Buffalo Lawn 

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[SP1]

Thanks @EricL ,

I'll give it a crack and hopefully be able to post some lush green photos in a couple of months.

have a great one.

Cheers.

[KarWren]

Last year we layed Sapphire Buffalo. We are not gardeners. For prep we shaved off about 40mm of dried compacted dead grass . Watered and fertilized  (granula), Layed the turf. We did not aerate prior. Then watered every day for 3 weeks. Grew well. Roots seemed embedded. Mowed and liquid fertised - double dose by mistake. It’s been a year now and this is the result. Obviously we need advice. Thank you 

 

 

[JacobZ]

Hi @KarWren,

I'm assuming when you accidentally double-dosed your lawn with fertiliser, you applied it to the whole lawn. Would that be correct?

If so, then I doubt the fertiliser is the cause of the bare patch.

Do you notice water pooling in this area when it rains heavily?

Is this area getting less sun than the rest of the lawn?

Buffalo lawns like Sapphire are hardy, but they can struggle if the soil is compacted, too shaded, or holds water for too long. 

To help the patch recover, start by checking for drainage issues and gently aerating the soil with a garden fork to improve water and oxygen flow. You can then apply a light top-dressing of Lawn Top Dress Mix to improve the soil structure and even out any low spots. 

If there are significant issues with pooling water, you might have to consider installing some subsurface drainage in the form of a french drain. Check out How to install garden drainage for some guidance.

If the area is shaded, try to increase sunlight by pruning back overhanging branches, as Buffalo needs at least 4–5 hours of direct sun each day. 

To re-establish coverage, you can encourage the lawn to self-repair by transplanting a few healthy runners into the bare area or by laying a small piece of new turf. 

From there, focus on consistent care — water deeply but less often to train roots, fertilise with a slow-release lawn product each season, and mow regularly, keeping the grass at around 40–50mm to protect the stolons and promote thick, healthy growth.

You might also like to check out How To Care For Buffalo Lawn for some further guidance.

Let me know what you think, and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[KarWren]

Thanks Jacob- I will give this a go.....and report back

Karen