If you’ve ever stepped outside to find brown, lifeless patches ruining your lawn’s look, you’re not alone. Dead patches are one of the most common problems homeowners and property managers face, especially in North Queensland’s hot and dry conditions. The good news? They can almost always be revived with the right approach.
At Professional Pump Services & Irrigation, we work with customers every day to restore lawns and irrigation systems. Here’s our step-by-step process for bringing those dead patches back to life and keeping them healthy year-round.
Find the Cause First
Before jumping into fixing dead patches, it’s important to figure out why they appeared in the first place. Treating the symptoms without solving the root cause means the problem will come back, often worse than before. Take a moment to inspect your lawn and look for:
- Irrigation issues – Check for blocked or misaligned sprinklers, broken pipes, or poor coverage that might be leaving certain spots thirsty.
- Compacted soil – Hard, compact soil prevents water and nutrients from reaching the grass roots.
- Lack of nutrients – Lawns need regular feeding. If your fertilising schedule is irregular, your soil might be starving.
- Pests or disease – Look out for grub damage, fungal spots, or lawn diseases that can quickly turn green grass brown.
A quick irrigation check can often reveal hidden problems. At PPS, we can inspect and service your sprinklers, pipes, and controllers to ensure even coverage.
Fix Your Irrigation Coverage
A thriving lawn depends on even, consistent watering. If some patches aren’t getting enough water, no amount of fertiliser or reseeding will bring them back.
- Adjust or replace sprinkler heads so water reaches every part of the lawn.
- Upgrade your irrigation controller for more efficient and accurate watering schedules.
- Automate your watering for larger lawns — this ensures consistency and can save water (and money) over time.
Why it matters?
Proper watering encourages deep root growth, prevents water waste, and reduces the risk of overwatering that can lead to fungal problems.
Repair the Soil & Reseed
Once your watering is sorted, it’s time to bring those patches back to life.
- Loosen the soil in the dead patch with a garden fork or aerator to improve drainage and airflow.
- Apply a top-dressing of quality soil and compost to enrich the area and hold moisture.
- Reseed or re-turf with a grass type suited to North Queensland’s conditions for the best results.
Water lightly but frequently until the new grass establishes. Keep the soil consistently moist to help seeds sprout quickly.
Feed Your Lawn
Nutrients are the fuel that keeps your lawn green and strong. A balanced feeding schedule is essential to repair and prevent future damage.
- Liquid fertilisers work fast to give your lawn an instant boost.
- Organic fertilisers improve soil health over the long term.
- Buffer or stabiliser products can balance your soil pH and make fertilisers more effective.
Always follow fertiliser instructions to avoid burning your lawn, and water in well after application.
Prevent Future Patches
Once your lawn is looking green again, keep it that way with a simple maintenance routine.
- Fertilise seasonally to keep your lawn consistently nourished.
- Check your irrigation system regularly for leaks, blocked lines, or broken sprinkler heads.
- Use herbicides carefully to stop weeds before they compete with your grass for space and nutrients.
A little regular attention goes a long way. By keeping your irrigation and fertilising schedule on track, you’ll enjoy a thick, green lawn all year round.
Your lawn is more than just grass, it’s where your kids play, where you relax, and where weekend BBQs come to life. At Professional Pumps Services & Irrigation, we make lawn care easy with expert irrigation servicing, controller programming, and professional advice on fertilisers, herbicides, and soil health.
Whether you need irrigation maintenance, controller programming, or advice on the right fertilisers and herbicides, our team is here to help. We service North Queensland wide, so you can keep your lawn healthy and patch-free all year round.
Contact Professional Pump Service & Irrigation today to book a lawn and irrigation check-up, let’s bring your lawn back to life!
