Autumn in Australia is a pivotal season for lawn care. This period offers a golden opportunity to revive struggling turf. Perhaps the past season has been harsh on your lawn. Signs of brown patches, thinning grass, or compacted soil may be visible the last time you checked. But don’t worry. Here at Australian Lawn Concepts, we believe that these things happen, and when they do, they are opportunities to learn and improve. By implementing targeted strategies, you can revive your lawn. More importantly, now is the perfect time for second, third, or simply, new chances! You can transform a lacklustre landscape into a vibrant, resilient asset. For your expert guide to breathing life back into your lawn, here’s our top advice to making a winning lawn before the winter months!
1. Assess Your Lawn’s Health: Diagnose the Root Cause
Before trying out treatments, identify why your grass is struggling. Brown grass or dead patches often stem from a few reasons: poor soil conditions, inadequate watering, excessive thatch, or physical damage from foot traffic. Conduct a soil test to check nutrient levels and pH balance—this helps reveal whether your turf lacks essential minerals or suffers from acidity.
Do you have signs of dormant grass or completely dead areas? Dormant warm-season grasses may turn brown temporarily but recover with proper care while dead spots require re-planting fresh turf. For established lawns, compacted soil is usually the culprit, suffocating grass roots and preventing water to be absorbed. Pay close attention to areas where grass dying is widespread—this often indicates deeper issues like fungal disease or an impaired root system.
2. Aerate to Alleviate Compacted Soil
Compacted soil is a frequent issue in high-traffic commercial spaces like golf courses or public parks. Aeration—creating small holes in the ground—allows grass roots to absorb oxygen, water, and nutrients. Use a lawn roller with aerating attachments or hire professional equipment for large areas.
For smaller lawns, manual aerators are enough. Pair this with lawn topdressing (applying a thin layer of sand to improve soil structure. This step is vital for reviving lawn areas where grass struggles to grow. Aerating also helps break up thatch layers, ensuring your lawn grass can access the resources it needs to thrive.
3. Address Poor Soil Conditions with Amendments
Healthy roots need nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. If your soil test indicates deficiencies, apply a slow-release fertiliser that matches your lawn type. Warm-season grasses thrive on balanced nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium blends. This will support green growth without overwhelming the root system.
You can also incorporate soil wetting agents if water pools or runs off the surface. These products break down hydrophobic layers, ensuring moisture can enter deeply to encourage growth. For areas that are severely affected, consider lawn topdressing. Healthy soil is the foundation of a healthy lawn, so invest time in correcting poor soil conditions now to avoid dead patches as the weather gets colder.
4. Adjust Mowing Practices for Stronger Turf
Sharpen mower blades to avoid tearing grass, which stresses plants and invites disease. Raise the cutting height slightly to shade soil, retain moisture, and support deeper roots. A good rule to remember is to never remove more than one-third of the grass height in a single mow.
If you’re handling commercial landscapes, regular mowing prevents overgrowth. However, avoid cutting your grass too short before winter. Dormant grass benefits from slightly longer blades to survive frost. This means it’s important to keep your lawn mower in top condition; blunt blades shred grass tips, which we know leaves lawn grass vulnerable to pests and brown patches.
5. Optimise Watering Techniques
Consistent watering is key no matter the season. In summer and even in cooler weather, deep, infrequent sessions (20–30 minutes, 2–3 times weekly) are better than shallow daily sprays. Early morning irrigation will also help reduce evaporation and fungal risks.
If you’re using an irrigation system, take note that dry spots often lead to brown grass, so always check for coverage gaps. You have to check that the whole lawn receives even moisture, and then make adjustments accordingly. Always stay in the sweet spot or middle ground of watering. Overwatering can be as harmful as underwatering, so monitor soil moisture to keep your lawn healthy. For fresh turf or new sod, water deeply to establish a robust root system.
6. Control Weeds and Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicides
Weeds compete with grass for resources. Moreover, autumn is an opportune time for weeds to grow, too. Remove as many weeds as possible by hand or with targeted herbicides. For specific weeds like nutgrass, use Tempra instead as hand pulling can worsen the problem.
Opt for pre-emergent herbicides in early autumn to prevent winter weed seeds from sprouting, and avoid products that may harm new grass or lawn blocks.
Persistent weeds often indicate underlying issues like compacted soil or nutrient imbalances (see numbers 2 and 3). Addressing these root causes will help your grass stay healthy and resilient. For established lawns, a proactive approach to weed control ensures resources go toward growing grass, not unwanted plant invaders.
7. Apply Autumn Treatment for Lawns
A tailored autumn treatment for lawns includes a slow-release fertiliser to nourish grass through winter. This treatment feeds roots without triggering excessive top growth. Add on potassium-rich blends and this will enhance frost resistance. For brown lawns recovering from summer stress, this step is important to revive grass and promote green growth in late spring.
Your autumn regimen can also benefit from additional wetting agents. This ensures moisture reaches the root system, even as temperatures drop. A well-timed treatment can mean the difference between a dead lawn and a fresh lawn come spring.
8. Protect and Prepare for Winter
As temperatures drop, it’s advisable to reduce foot traffic on dormant grass. Especially in regions with frost, avoid walking on frozen turf to protect brittle blades. You should also clear fallen leaves to prevent mould and disease.
For severely damaged areas, consider laying fresh turf or sod. This provides instant results for commercial spaces needing pristine aesthetics. Protect new turf with consistent watering and avoid heavy use until the root system establishes.
9. Dethatch to Encourage Healthier Roots
A thick layer of dead grass and organic debris or thatch can smother your lawn by blocking water, nutrients, and air from reaching the soil. While a thin thatch layer is usual, anything over 1 cm thick harms grass roots and creates breeding grounds for pests and disease. Use a dethatching rake or mechanical dethatcher to gently remove excess thatch, particularly in established lawns showing signs of stress.
This process revitalises the soil surface, allowing new grass seed or slow-release fertiliser to penetrate effectively. After dethatching, water deeply to help the soil recover and apply a thin layer of top dressing to protect exposed roots. For warm-season grasses, autumn is an ideal time to tackle this task, as it prepares the turf for vigorous green growth in late spring.
Final Thoughts: Set the Stage for Spring Success
Revitalising your lawn this autumn requires patience and precision, but the rewards are undeniable. With these steps: aerating compacted soil, addressing poor soil conditions, replacing dead patches, and adjusting maintenance routines, you’ll strengthen grass roots and set the stage for a healthy lawn in early spring.
Also remember that every lawn type has unique needs. Warm-season grasses like Buffalo or Zoysia demand different care than cool-season grasses, so tailor your approach. Whether managing a sprawling golf course or a suburban garden, these steps will help bring your lawn back to life—transforming brown grass into a lush, green asset ready to thrive year-round.
Autumn’s cooler climate may be challenging, but it can also be your ally. Start now, and watch your revitalisation efforts pay off when warmer days return. Keep your lawn regularly maintained, prioritise the root system, and address issues like dying grass promptly. With the right strategies, any struggling lawn can be revived into a fresh lawn that’s also revitalising for your well-being from winter to spring.