A lush, green lawn is the pride of many Sydney homeowners – but it doesn’t always come easy. You’re not alone if your grass looks patchy, yellow, or overrun with weeds. As a trusted lawn care provider, we’ve seen it all.

Here are the five most common lawn issues we encounter in residential gardens, along with easy-to-follow tips and professional solutions.

 

1. Bare Patches

What causes them?
Heavy foot traffic, pet urine, low sunlight, or poor soil can lead to bare or thinning grass.

How to fix it:

• Loosen compacted soil in the affected area.
• Re-seed or re-turf using a matching turf variety (Buffalo, Kikuyu, Couch).
• Cover lightly with topsoil or compost.
• Keep the area moist until the new grass establishes.

✅ Lawn tip: If patchiness recurringly occurs, it could be due to overall soil health or nutrient deficiency. Regular lawn and garden maintenance can help prevent this.

 

2. Yellowing Grass

What causes it?
Overwatering, nutrient deficiency, poor drainage, or dog urine can all cause yellow spots on your lawn.

How to fix it:

• Test your soil’s pH and nutrient levels.
• Apply a high-quality, slow-release fertiliser.
• Water deeply (but not too frequently) to encourage strong roots.
• Aerate areas with poor drainage.

✅ Lawn tip: Early morning watering helps avoid fungal issues and keeps your lawn greener longer.

 

3. Weeds Taking Over

What causes it?
Thin or unhealthy grass allows weeds like bindii, clover, and nutgrass to take hold.

How to fix it:

• Apply a selective herbicide safe for your lawn type.
• Maintain a regular mowing routine (avoid cutting too short).
• Feed your lawn with seasonal fertilisers to improve density.

✅ Lawn tip: Removing weeds before they flower helps prevent them from spreading.

 

4. Lawn Pest Damage

What causes it?
Common pests like lawn grubs, beetles, or armyworms can quickly destroy your turf.

How to fix it:

• Inspect for signs of grub activity (birds pecking, loose turf, brown patches).
• Apply a pest control treatment designed for residential lawns.
• Follow up with fertiliser to help your lawn recover.

✅ Lawn tip: Schedule regular lawn care services in warmer months when pest activity is highest.

 

5. Scalping from Mowing Too Short

What causes it?
Cutting your grass too low removes vital leaf surface and stresses your lawn, especially in hot weather.

How to fix it:

• Raise the mower height to leave 4–6cm of grass.
• Follow the “one-third rule”: never cut more than a third of the grass height at once.
• Water and fertilise scalped areas to speed recovery.

✅ Buffalo lawn tip: This popular Sydney turf type thrives with a slightly higher cut (around 5–6cm).