How to fix lawn yellowing and patchy?

[lenny__]

Hi, 

My lawn is yellowing and patchy and I was wondering how to fix it. The patching is especially bad in the photo next to the fence and appears worse (to me) than the photos.

I have had this lawn for about 2 months and I would consider myself a gardening beginner. 

I have been watering it around 2-3 times a week for about 2 weeks for what I believe to be an inch of water. 

Before that I was watering it once a week. 

I am planning to reseed the lawn come spring. The lawn has not had any seasol applied to it and I recently aerated it with some aeration sandals. 

How quickly should I expect a recovery if improper watering is the issue? 

How would I fix this?

 

Thank you! 

[EricL · Accepted solution]

Hello @lenny__

Thanks for the photos it’s very helpful. Based on what you’ve described and shown, it looks like your lawn is experiencing some early-stage stress, likely caused by inconsistent watering, poor root establishment, or even shade stress near the fence. Two months in, your lawn is still establishing, and this period is critical for root development. The yellowing and patchiness, especially where the grass meets the fence, suggest that part of the area may be getting less sun or airflow, which slows recovery. You’ve done well by aerating with sandals it helps oxygen and water reach the roots, but the lawn still needs consistent support to bounce back.

At this stage, I’d recommend using a seaweed tonic like Seasol, which helps reduce transplant shock, promotes root growth, and improves drought tolerance. Apply it once a week for the next few weeks and monitor for signs of greening. Watering 2–3 times a week is a good general rule, but during cooler or shaded conditions, the soil may stay moist for longer, so always check moisture levels with your finger before watering again. Lawns typically respond within 2–4 weeks if watering has been the issue, especially if the roots haven't fully established yet.

As for reseeding in spring, that’s a good plan, but only if your lawn is a type that can be grown from seed. If you have warm-season grass like Buffalo or Kikuyu, they don’t reseed well, and you’d need runners or patches instead. Until then, keep the area free of weeds, avoid mowing too low, and consider top-dressing any particularly bare areas with a thin layer of quality lawn soil to encourage spreading. Give it some time and gentle care, and you should start to see improvement leading into spring.

Here are some handy guides that will help:

• How to detect lawn problems by @Adam_W
   
• How to repair a lawn by @Adam_W 

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[lenny__]

Thank you Eric! 

Could you also please advise if I should be using any sort of a lawn fertilizer or will that harm the roots? 

Thanks in advance! 

Best, 

Leonard

[EricL]

Hello @lenny__ 

Due to the delayed root establishment, I suggest delaying the application of the fertilizer. Yes, you are correct it will harm the roots of the lawn. 

Eric