Why your lawn is patchy, and how to fix it.
Patches are a symptom. Find the cause first (water, wear, shade, mowing or soil), or the new grass goes the same way.
The short answer: a patch is a symptom, so work out the cause before you repair it. Look at where the patches are and what they look like, then fix the cause: dry soil, wear, compaction, dogs, shade, mowing too low, thatch or weeds. Small patches can be filled with pieces of turf. If most of the lawn is gone, a new lawn on prepared soil is often the better fix.
Work out the cause first
| What you see | Likely cause | First step |
|---|---|---|
| Brown, dry patches after summer, and water runs off instead of soaking in | Dry, water-repellent soil | Water deeply. A wetting agent helps water soak in |
| Bare tracks along fences, paths and goal mouths | Foot traffic and compacted soil | Aerate, then rest the area |
| Round dead spots, often with a dark green ring | Dog urine | Water the spot soon after. Patch the dead centre |
| Thin, weak grass under trees or beside walls | Not enough sun | A shade-tolerant grass, or a different surface |
| Brown, scalped strips after mowing | Mowing too low | Raise the mower |
| A thick layer of dead grass and runners in the lawn | Thatch | Rake it out |
| Thin grass full of weeds | Weeds crowding out the lawn | Remove the weeds, then thicken the grass |
The causes and fixes come from Gardening Australia’s lawn segments and a University of Illinois gardening newsletter on dog urine, listed under Sources. Several of them, such as scalping, thatch and weeds, come down to routine care, which is where regular lawn mowing and care helps.
Dry patches after summer
Gardening Australia says that after a hot, dry summer without watering, most lawns are “on their last legs”. Some soils also become water-repellent, so water runs off the surface instead of soaking in. Gardening Australia suggests a wetting agent when that happens.
Water less often but more deeply. Moonee Valley’s sustainable gardening booklet suggests placing an ice-cream container on the lawn while you water: once it holds 10 mm of water, you’ve watered long enough. Gardening Australia’s autumn advice is a deep soak once or twice a week.
Victoria’s permanent water saving rules apply. You can use a hand-held hose with a trigger nozzle at any time, but sprinklers and other watering systems only between 6 pm and 10 am.
Couch, kikuyu and buffalo spread by runners. As Gardening Australia puts it, “Running lawn will regenerate itself”, so small dry patches can fill in once the lawn is growing strongly again.
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Wear, compaction and dogs
Gardening Australia notes that many lawns end up with thin patches and dead spots because of foot traffic. Busy areas also compact the soil, so air and water struggle to reach the roots.
If a dog runs the same fence line every day, that track may struggle to hold grass. A tougher grass or a different surface may suit it better: see our honest comparison of artificial grass and natural lawn.
Shade
Some grasses cope with shade far better than others. Gardening Australia recommends buffalo for shaded areas, and some zoysias also manage shade well. In one of the show’s test patches, couch struggled in shade and was replaced with buffalo.
If even a shade-tolerant grass won’t hold, a lawn may not be the answer there. Moonee Valley’s booklet suggests kidney plant as a lawn substitute in moist, shady spots with light foot traffic. Mulched garden beds or artificial grass are other options.
Mowing too low
Scalping is one of the easiest causes to fix. Gardening Australia’s advice is to lift the mower blades so the lawn isn’t scalped. Longer grass is also more waterwise and better at crowding out weeds. Never take off more than a third of the leaf in one cut: our guide to how often to mow your lawn explains the rule and the seasons.
Thatch and weeds
Thatch is a layer of dead grass and runners that builds up in the lawn. Gardening Australia suggests raking it out, which loosens the soil surface and helps new runners take root, then removing the weeds.
Pull weeds as soon as they appear, and catch the clippings while weeds are seeding. As one turf expert told Gardening Australia, “One year’s seed is seven years weed.” To identify what’s in your lawn, see common weeds in Melbourne.
Repair, re-turf or start again?
We lay new natural lawns across Melbourne. When base preparation is needed, removing the old lawn and soil is typically included in your quote, and a mid-size lawn takes 2 to 4 days. For problem spots, see our artificial grass installation.
The best time to fix a lawn in Melbourne
Laying new turf? Read the best time to lay turf in Melbourne before you start.
Getting help
Not sure what’s causing your patches? Text a few photos of the lawn, your suburb and roughly how big it is to 0415 386 399. We’ll tell you whether it needs regular lawn care, a patch-up or a new lawn. Still choosing a grass? Read the best grass for Melbourne.
From EKO Gardening Solutions. Sources checked on 9 October 2026.
A few useful answers.
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Will a patchy lawn fix itself?
Sometimes. Running grasses such as couch, kikuyu and buffalo can grow back into small gaps once they’re growing strongly, but only if you fix the cause first, whether that’s wear, dry soil, shade or mowing too low. Large bare areas need patching or new turf.
How do I fix patches from dog wee?
Hose the spot well soon after your dog goes. Research reported by the University of Illinois found that watering within eight hours can help prevent injury to the grass. Warm-season grasses may recover with extra watering. If the centre is dead, remove it and patch it with a piece of turf.
When is the best time to repair a lawn in Melbourne?
Autumn and spring. Gardening Australia’s autumn advice covers aerating, top-dressing worn patches and a gentle feed. The show also rates autumn and spring as the best seasons to lay new turf.
Should I re-turf or re-seed?
Gardening Australia patches running lawns with pieces of turf, and its turf expert warns that growing a lawn from seed is difficult and takes a lot of time and care. If most of the lawn is gone, a full re-turf on prepared soil is often the better fix.
Sources
- Gardening Australia: Repairing the Lawn (aired 22 May 2010, updated Aug 2020; checked 9 Oct 2026)
- Gardening Australia: Autumn Lawn Care, aerating, top-dressing, watering and weeds (1 Mar 2019; checked 9 Oct 2026)
- Gardening Australia: Lawn Maintenance, shade grasses, wetting agents and mowing height (30 Sep 2006; checked 9 Oct 2026)
- Gardening Australia: Laying Down the Lawn, shade, soil, seed and when to lay turf (14 Oct 2022; checked 9 Oct 2026)
- University of Illinois, Home, Yard and Garden Pest newsletter (Maria Turner): making a dog-friendly lawn (29 May 2018; checked 9 Oct 2026)
- ABC News: lawn survival tips for summer, watering after your dog goes (30 Dec 2018; checked 9 Oct 2026)
- Moonee Valley City Council and Sustainable Gardening Australia: Sustainable Gardening in Moonee Valley, watering and shade (PDF, undated; checked 9 Oct 2026)
- Victorian Government: permanent water saving rules (page modified 13 Jan 2026; checked 9 Oct 2026)
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