Most South African lawns slow down during winter, and some warm-season grasses may turn dull, yellow or brown. This does not always mean the lawn is dead. In many cases, the grass has simply gone semi-dormant and is waiting for warmer soil temperatures before it starts growing properly again.
The first job is to look closely. Walk across the lawn and check for bare patches, mossy areas, compacted pathways, soggy spots and weeds. A lawn tells you what it needs long before it fails.
Thin areas usually point to shade, poor nutrition, worn traffic zones or compacted soil. Yellow patches may be linked to winter stress, poor drainage or a lack of available nutrients. Weeds often move into gaps where the lawn has become weak. Fixing the cause is more important than only treating the symptom.