How to treat patchy Sir Grange turf?

[jrowland]

hi there, just looking for help to improve my lawn.

I'm in south east queensland and layed sir grange turf just before Xmas. It was okay for the first 6-8 weeks and I thought it had established. Since then it has become increasingly patchy. I've been trying to brush it and give it liquid lawn fertiliser but it doesn't seem to be helping.

I was initially using a crap lawn mower and possible cut it too short to quick. Could this be causing the issue? any tips on how I can improve it, or what lawn mower i should get on a budget for this small area?

[JacobZ]

Hi @jrowland,

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community and thank you for your question.

Before getting into what might be causing the patchiness in your Sir Grange lawn, can you share what surface preparation you did before laying the turf? Did you properly level the soil, remove debris, and apply a quality underlay? The condition of the base can have a big impact on how well the grass establishes.

If your lawn was doing well for the first 6–8 weeks but has since become patchy, a few things could be at play. Cutting it too short too soon, especially with a poor-quality mower, could have stressed the grass and slowed its recovery. Sir Grange prefers to be kept at a higher mowing height (20–30mm) to maintain its density. If the mower blades were dull or uneven, it could have also caused tearing rather than a clean cut, leading to patchiness. In a small area like this, a sharp cylinder mower will give you the cleanest cut possible. The Ozito 300mm Cylinder Push Mower CPM-300C is a good option on a budget. 

Beyond mowing, nutrient deficiencies could be a factor. While liquid lawn fertilisers provide a quick boost, slow-release granular lawn fertilisers will better support long-term health. 

Soil compaction could also be restricting root growth, so aerating with a garden fork might help if the ground feels hard. This will allow more air to get to the root layer, which will in turn improve the health of your lawn.

Since Sir Grange is drought-resistant but slow-growing, deep, infrequent watering, once or twice a week, would certainly help your lawn thicken up. If you are not currently watering, then I would suggest you start watering deeply at least once a week.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob