After a cold, dry Highveld winter, many Gauteng lawns (often Kikuyu or LM grass) are left patchy, pale, and dry. Don’t worry – August is “lawn time” in Gauteng,  the perfect month to start rejuvenating your grass so it bounces back lush and green in spring. Follow these easy steps to nurse your lawn from winter dormancy to spring vitality, whether you’ve never fertilized before or gave it some feed in the past 6 months.

1. Mow Low and Remove Winter Thatch

Start your spring lawn care by cutting the grass shorter than usual to clear out the dry, brown build-up left from winter. Then, rake the lawn firmly to remove the layer of dead grass (called thatch). This might make the lawn look a bit thin at first, but it helps sunlight, water, and nutrients reach the fresh new growth. Clear away all clippings, leaves, and debris—this clean-up helps the lawn “wake up” for the new season. Removing winter thatch also makes future mowing easier and keeps the lawn healthier.

2. Aerate the Compacted Soil

Dry Gauteng winters often lead to hardened, compacted soil. To help your lawn’s roots get the air and water they need, loosen the surface by raking out the dead grass and then aerate the lawn. You can use a garden fork or a spiked roller to punch holes across the lawn. Focus on high-traffic areas where soil is hardest. Aeration improves drainage and root penetration, which is crucial after months of dry weather. This will help any spring rains or watering soak down to the roots instead of running off.

3. Patch and Top-Dress Bare Spots

If winter left you with bare or sunken patches, now is the time to fix them. Lightly loosen the soil in those areas and consider adding a quality lawn dressing (a mix of topsoil and compost) to level the ground. Fill low spots so that the lawn surface is even – you can spread lawn dressing over the lawn until just the grass tips show. This topdressing improves soil quality and moisture retention for the coming growing season. For very large bare patches, you might sow lawn seed or plant grass runners. If you sow seed, rake a starter fertilizer, like KynoGarden 2:3:2 (25) lightly into the soil first to encourage strong root germination. Keep any newly seeded spots moist daily until the grass establishes.

4. Early Spring Feeding for Root Recovery

Now that the lawn is groomed and aerated, it’s hungry for nutrients after its long dormant period. Feeding in early spring is essential to help grass recover from winter dormancy and strengthen its weakened roots. We recommend an initial feeding with a balanced, root-boosting fertilizer at the end of winter. For example, a 2:3:2 (N:P:K) formulation such as KynoGarden 2.3.2 (25) is ideal at this stage. It acts as a soil conditioner and provides a complete range of nutrients to restore vigor to your lawn. In late winter (August), applying a fertilizer with a higher phosphorus content (the “3” in 2:3:2) encourages strong root growth as the lawn prepares to green up. This focus on roots will “repair” the grass from the base up, ensuring it can support new blades come spring.

• If you have never fertilized your lawn before: Apply the 2:3:2 fertilizer at the recommended rate evenly across the lawn (Kynoch Garden Fertilizers a 5 kg covers ~250 m² ). Since your soil is likely very nutrient-deprived, this feeding will provide much-needed nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to jump-start growth. Don’t be tempted to apply extra – follow the instructions for your lawn size, and be sure to water thoroughly after application to wash nutrients into the soil and avoid any fertilizer “burn”. The added phosphorus will kickstart root development, crucial for a lawn in poor condition.

• If you fertilized within the last 6 months: Your lawn may have some residual nutrients, especially if you did an autumn feeding. You should still do a spring feed, but you can apply a slightly lighter dose. Use KynoGarden 2.3.2 (25) sparingly to give the roots a gentle boost without over-fertilizing. The goal is to replenish what winter’s cold and dry conditions have leached or what the grass used up. Even with prior feeding, lawns benefit from a spring nutrient top-up – just avoid doubling up on fertilizer if your autumn application was heavy. A moderate feeding now will top off the nutrient levels and help any patchy areas recover (in fact, experts note that applying 2:3:2 is great for “patchiness” in spring).

5. Water Deeply and Consistently

After feeding (and topdressing), water your lawn deeply. This is critical in Gauteng’s dry late winter, since you’re likely not getting much rain until the spring thunderstorms arrive. A thorough watering dissolves the fertilizer granules and carries nutrients to the roots. It also rehydrates the parched soil and grass plants, helping to wake them up. For the first week or two after treatment, water consistently – every few days or as needed to keep the soil slightly moist. This consistent moisture will spur the grass to start growing new shoots.

Note: If water restrictions are in place or water is scarce, even a couple of deep waterings will do wonders. Early morning is the best time to water, to reduce evaporation and allow blades to dry (preventing disease). Once the rainy season starts (typically by late spring), nature will take over the watering, and you can reduce manual irrigation.

6. Resume Mowing and Edging (Gradually)

As temperatures warm up heading into September, you’ll notice your lawn greening up and growing more actively. At this point, resume a regular mowing schedule. Be gentle with the first mow – set the mower blades a notch higher than your lowest winter cut. You don’t want to scalp the tender new growth. Follow the rule of never removing more than one-third of the leaf blade height in one mowing. Mowing regularly (about once a week as growth picks up) will encourage the grass to grow in thicker. Also, take this time to trim the edges; the winter dormancy may have allowed your runner grasses to creep into flowerbeds or paved areas, so edge them back to keep the lawn neat. By keeping up with mowing now, you’ll train your lawn to be dense and prepare it for the burst of spring growth.

7. Boost Spring Growth with High-Nitrogen Feed

Once your lawn has started actively growing and you see a flush of green (usually by early to mid-September in Gauteng), it’s time for the next phase: promoting leafy growth and lush green color. This is when you switch to a high-nitrogen lawn fertilizer to fuel that growth. A product like Turbograss 10.1.5 (25) is perfect for this stage – it’s a nitrogen-rich fertilizer specifically designed to stimulate vigorous green growth for lawns. TurboGrass has an innovative coated formulation (Kynoplus Pro® technology) that releases nitrogen efficiently and prevents burning of your lawn. It also contains added potassium and micronutrients (like magnesium, zinc, and iron) to ensure lasting green color and overall turf health. About 2–3 weeks after your initial feeding (or when you see the grass “waking up”), apply TurboGrass 10:1:5 across the lawn to “boost” the spring growth spurt. This will thicken up any thin areas and give the lawn that carpet-like, emerald green look within one to two weeks of application. Always water well after applying this fertilizer as well, since even with a burn-preventing coating, water is needed to activate the nutrients.