Every January we get the same phone calls from Berwick, Narre Warren, Beaconsfield, Endeavour Hills and Hampton Park:
“My lawn was perfect in November… now half of it is brown and crunchy!”
Here are the six real reasons it happens in our area — and the fixes that bring 95 % of lawns back green within 2–3 weeks.
1. You’re Cutting It Too Short (The #1 Cause We See)
Most people drop their mower to 25–35 mm in summer “to make it last longer”. That’s the fastest way to cook your lawn in 38–42 °C heat.
Fix: Raise the height immediately.
– Sir Walter / Palmetto Buffalo → 60–80 mm
– Kikuyu → 50–70 mm
– TifTuf or Couch → 40–60 mm
2. Hydrophobic (Water-Repellent) Soil
Newer homes and renos in Berwick Chase, Narre Warren North and Timbarra have sandy fill. After a few hot weeks the soil literally repels water — it beads and runs straight off.
Fix: Apply a wetting agent (SaturAid, Lawn Soaker, Debco Wet) this week and again in 6 weeks. Water will soak in instead of wasting away.
3. Shallow, Daily Watering
Sprinkling for 5 minutes every night keeps roots in the top 2 cm — the hottest, driest part of the soil.
Fix: Water deeply twice a week (25–35 mm) before 8 am. Roots grow down 10–15 cm where it stays cooler and moist.
4. Lawn Grubs / Army Worm Eating the Roots
Common in Berwick’s newer estates and Narre Warren South. You think it’s drought, but it’s actually caterpillars eating the grass from underneath.
Quick test: Tug on the brown patch — if it lifts like carpet, it’s grubs.
Fix: Acepryn or Yates Grub Kill the same day → lawn starts growing back in 7–14 days.
5. Lack of Potassium (Heat-Stress Burn)
Buffalo especially needs extra potassium in summer. Low potassium = burnt leaf tips and brown patches even when you water.
Fix: Apply a high-potassium summer fertiliser (Yates Buffalo PRO, Lawn Solutions Premium 4-in-1, OxaFert Plus) in late November and again in early February.
6. Compacted Soil & Poor Drainage
Older clay areas of Narre Warren, Hallam and Endeavour Hills get rock-hard in summer. Water and fertiliser can’t penetrate.
Fix: Core aeration + gypsum in autumn (we do packages every March–April) prevents it year after year.
Summer Brown Lawn Rescue Checklist (Do This Today)
- Raise mower height (today’s mow)
- Apply wetting agent (this weekend)
- Check for grubs — treat if needed
- Deep water early morning only
- Feed with summer fertiliser if you haven’t since spring
Real Client Example — Timbarra, Berwick (January 2025)
Customer sent us a photo of 60 % brown Sir Walter. We raised height, applied wetting agent + Acepryn (grubs found). 18 days later — completely green again.
Still worried? Send us a photo of your brown lawn right now — we’ll diagnose it for free and tell you exactly what it needs (takes us 2 minutes).
Call or text 0470 514 201 — we’re in Berwick, Narre Warren and Beaconsfield daily.
Small Brother Lawn Mowing Service
Local experts from Pakenham to Keysborough
www.smallbrother.com.au | 0470 514 201