Why does my Sir Walter Buffalo grass turf have brown patches?

[vish9]

Brown patches

Hi Bunnings Team and wonderful community,

I have installed the Bunnings sir Walter’s buffalo grass turf couple of days ago. Some of the grass turfs were green however some were brown at the time of purchase.

the roots of the brown grass are white and not able to easily tear however I am concerned whether I have purchased dead turf patches. Please advise if the grass would be green in couple of weeks and does Bunnings sell brown patched buffalo turfs (which might be expected and normal)?.

[EricL]

Hello @vish9 

I've given the Bunnings Altona store a call and Tom is at the store. I've left a reminder for him to call you, but if you would like to get in contact with him, this is the stores number 03 9392 7700.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[vish9]

Thanks a lot Bunnings team. I received the replacement turf from Coolabah and it looks amazing. Appreciate the amazing customer service.

 

[Jewelleryrescue]

Great out come @vish9 

You did a great job on laying it

Thanks  to @MitchellMc  and @EricL  as liaisons

[MitchellMc]

Now that's what I'm talking about @vish9! That looks sensational and would be my expectation for a new lawn.

I do apologise for the inconvenience of having to replace the lawn.

Please keep us updated and reach out if you need further assistance.

Mitchell

[PeterShannon]

Hi MitchellMc,

Can you message me privately as I have the identical issue and am waiting on a return call from the Singleton store, which hasn’t happened. The turf was purchased late Thursday and laid that evening in semi-darkness, so the issue was only realised Friday morning. I can supply photos.

iI would appreciate you looking into this for me.

Thanks

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @PeterShannon. I've reached out via PM for further details.

Mitchell

[PeterShannon]

Thanks Mitchell,

The store has communicated with me now and the problem has been resolved.

Thank you for your time in responding to this issue.

Thanks

[MitchellMc]

It's great to hear that your issue has now been resolved @PeterShannon.

Please let us know if you need further assistance.

Mitchell

[ronn]

Hi MitchellMc, I am facing the same issue with the patches being at specific pattern on each slab which js exactly like the photo on this thread. The brown patches are now dead grass only 5 days later. They were all green when bought and installed right away after delivery. Is this something you can help with. 

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @ronn. It's a pleasure to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about lawn turf.

I'm sorry to hear that’s happened, I can understand how frustrating it is when turf goes downhill so quickly after laying. Because the grass was green and healthy at the time of delivery and installation, this situation is a bit different to cases where turf was already deteriorating when purchased. When buffalo turf browns off in patches within a few days of being laid, it is usually related to establishment conditions rather than the initial quality of the turf.

A few things are worth checking so we can get to the bottom of what might have caused it. How was the soil prepared before laying, particularly in terms of levelling, loosening, and adding any underlay soil or fertiliser? How often has the turf been watered since installation, and was it watered immediately after laying? Also, what have the temperatures been like over those five days, especially if there have been hot or windy conditions, as fresh turf can dry out very quickly if watering is not frequent enough during establishment. Patchy browning that follows slab patterns often points to uneven watering, poor soil contact underneath certain rolls, or rapid drying of the turf roots before they have had a chance to knit into the soil.

In terms of next steps, I’d recommend reaching out directly to the store you purchased the turf from and having a chat with the manager there about your situation. They will be best placed to discuss what options may be available and to offer guidance specific to your purchase. In the meantime, if you can share a bit more detail around soil prep, watering routine, and weather conditions, we can certainly help troubleshoot what may have caused the dieback and what you can do to give the remaining turf the best chance of recovery.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell