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Hello everyone. I am approaching my first summer in SE QLD and I am a new homeowner. I would like to fix my lawn which has multiple dead patches in it (pictures attaached). I am unsure of the grass type. ChatGPT tells me it is couch grass or Zoysia. Looking for any and all advice to have an even, green lawn.
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @SM508. It's brilliant to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about fixing a lawn.
From your photos, most of the lawn looks healthy, which makes the brown patches stand out as unusual. These areas could be caused by disease, or they might indicate pests like lawn grubs or beetles. Before doing any repairs, it’s best to check whether pests are the culprit. One simple way to do this is with a soapy water test. Take a large bucket, fill it with water, and add a good few squirts of dishwashing liquid. Stir it until bubbles form, then gently pour it over a dead patche and a little of the surrounding healthy grass. Let it soak in for about 5 to 10 minutes. If insects are present, they should come to the surface. If you see larvae or adult pests such as cutworms, armyworms, sod webworms, or African black beetles, it’s best to tackle them promptly before trying to repair the bare spots. Once you know whether pests are involved, you can plan the next steps to restore your lawn.
Take some images of anything that comes to the surface so we can identify them for you.
It's essential to address any underlying issues, as simply re-seeding these areas would be a futile effort, and you could ultimately lose the entire lawn.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
That makes a lot more sense now, and at least you know exactly what caused the damage @SM508. The best way forward depends on how quickly you’d like to see results. You could remove the dead patches and re-seed the areas, but that will take a few months to grow in and blend with the rest of your lawn. The faster option is to re-turf. If you can match the existing grass type, you could cut out just the affected sections and lay new turf in those spots. That way you get instant results without having to redo the whole lawn.
The tricky part is confirming what variety of grass you currently have. From your photos it could be couch, though buffalo is another possibility. It’s worth getting a positive ID before you buy replacement turf so that it blends seamlessly.
Mitchell
If you pull out a few pieces from the roots and show us some close-ups, that could assist with identifying @SM508. Or, you can also take some in-store with you and ask to speak with a horticulturalist if there is one there.
Mitchell
