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Santa Ana Couch Problems: Fast Diagnosis & Proven Fixes

Seeing yellowing, browning, thin patches or scalping on Santa Ana (fine-leaf couch/Bermuda)? Use this quick visual checklist to identify the cause, apply the right fix, and lock in prevention. Works for home lawns and high-wear areas in Australian conditions.

Spot the Problem (What it looks like → Most likely cause)

Uniform tan in cold months → Normal winter dormancy (returns in spring).
Yellow edges/tips after mowing → Dull blades or scalping (height too low, bumpy ground).
Patchy bronze/brown in hot spells → Drought stress or hydrophobic soil (water not penetrating).
Interveinal yellowing (veins green, tissue pale) → Iron/micronutrient unavailability (often higher pH) or uneven feeding.
Soft, spongey surface; mower sinks → Thatch and/or compaction, shallow roots.
Circles/irregular brown patches in humid weather → Brown patch / leaf diseases (extended leaf wetness).
Ragged chew, thinning that quickly browns → Armyworms/cutworms; turf lifts easily → possible grubs.
Edges lighter than centre → Scalping & dry perimeter (concrete heat, wind) or poor spreader/spray coverage.
Persistent thinness in shade/traffic lanes → Insufficient light or wear exceeding recovery.

Immediate Fixes (Do this now)

Mowing: Set 20–30 mm; obey the one-third rule; sharpen blades. Raise deck 2–4 mm on bumpy zones; light topdress to level highs/lows.
Watering: Deep, infrequent sessions to ~25–38 mm/week in warm months. Use cycle/soak on hydrophobic areas and add a wetting agent.
Colour recovery: Use a hose-on with iron/micros for fast green-up without surge growth. Keep the bottle’s exact coverage and adjust only timing.
Thatch/compaction: Core-aerate in active growth; light verticut if thatch >12 mm; follow with steady, not heavy, feeding.
Disease pressure: Water mornings only, improve airflow, avoid feeding right before humid/rainy nights; treat with a labelled fungicide if confirmed.
Pests: Soap-flush or night scout for caterpillars; treat if present. For grubs, check for easy “tug-up” of turf before choosing a control.
Edges & high-heat strips: Hand-water after hot/windy days; raise mow height on perimeter passes; feed evenly (outline edges first, then fill).

Recommended for quick, even recovery between granular work: CompleteGrow Lawn Grow – Hose-On Liquid Lawn Fertiliser (fixed-rate hose-on; apply by interval, not dose).

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Root Causes & How to Prevent Them (Dial in the program)

Mowing & Traffic

Height & cadence: 20–30 mm; increase frequency in peak growth to avoid scalping. Reel or sharp rotary only.
Levelling: Light sand/topdress in spring–summer to smooth humps that get shaved.
Wear lanes: Rotate play routes; consider stepping stones or a higher cut in heavy-use strips.

Water & Soil

Deep/infrequent watering: 1–2 sessions/week to total ~25–38 mm. Short daily sprinkles = thatch, disease.
Uniformity: Check output with catch cups; fix clogged heads and low pressure zones.
Hydrophobic sands: Wetting agent + cycle/soak; consider core aeration to improve infiltration.
Soil reaction: If repeated iron-style yellowing, get a soil test and plan pH correction; use iron/micros for immediate cosmetic lift.

Feeding (Hose-On Interval Only)

Spring: Apply every 3–4 weeks once growth starts.
Summer: Apply every 2–3 weeks (use the longer interval if mowing races).
Autumn: Every 4 weeks for 1–2 passes, then pause as growth slows.
Winter: Pause fertilising; irrigate only to prevent desiccation.
Application pattern: Outline edges first, then cross-hatch the interior; keep the bottle’s stated coverage per zone.

Disease & Pests

Brown patch / leaf disease: Morning water only; avoid evening leaf wetness; don’t overfeed before humid nights; fungicide only when confirmed.
Armyworms/cutworms: Night inspect; treat promptly; resume normal feeding to speed recovery.
Grubs: Look for spongy turf that lifts easily; treat per label and irrigate in as directed.

Sunlight rule: Santa Ana wants 6–8+ hours direct sun. In shade, accept a slightly higher cut and longer fertiliser interval; don’t try to force growth.

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FAQ & Quick Reference (Santa Ana Couch)

FAQ

Why does my Santa Ana go brown in winter?
It’s warm-season and naturally goes tan in cold. That’s dormancy, not death. Resume your normal program when growth restarts in spring.

Best quick fix for pale colour?
A hose-on with iron/micros for rapid cosmetic green-up (use exact bottle coverage). Keep mowing sharp and regular.

How do I stop scalping?
Raise height to 20–30 mm, mow more often, level small highs with light topdressing, and never remove more than a third of the leaf at once.

Wet spots stay brown—why?
Likely compaction or thatch blocking infiltration. Core-aerate in active growth and use cycle/soak; add a wetting agent on hydrophobic sands.

Only the edges look off-colour.
They dry and heat up first and are often scalped. Hand-water after hot days, raise deck on perimeter passes, and start fertiliser passes by outlining borders.

Recommended product for colour recovery and steady growth: CompleteGrow Lawn Grow – Hose-On Liquid Lawn Fertiliser. Apply by interval only; never change the bottle’s coverage.