GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR BERMUDA GRASSES 

For Bermuda, warm temperatures, regular watering, and consistent mowing will be all it needs. It may sound like a lot, but it is much less than what other types of grass need to look and be healthy. 

 

TRANSPLANT SHOCK & HEAT STRESS

Any brownish/yellow spots on your new lawn are completely normal the first few months after installation.

Hand watering these areas with a hose in addition to running your sprinklers will help to alleviate this.

Any areas near stone/bricks, driveways, sidewalks, patios, stone mailboxes etc. will hold heat longer meaning these areas will need to be hand watered to prevent heat stress.

 

 

WEAK OR THINNING AREAS IN THE LAWN

Bermuda grass needs a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight but if there is too much dense shade the grass will begin to weaken/thin in some areas.

Evaluate if you have a large tree canopy causing deep shade in this area and consider trimming the tree to let in more sunlight.

Additionally, you can get an over the counter soil drench called “Garrett Juice Plus” by Medina on Amazon and will help the lawn fill in these areas. (please be sure to apply the recommended amounts)

 

MAINTENANCE 

(Suggested but not limited too)

• In Spring and Summer, mow height can be .5″-2” every 7-10 days or adjust to your preference. Shorter heights require regular and more frequent mowing. Do not scalp. Never remove more than 1/3 of leaf blade in any single mowing. In Fall and Winter, mow every 10-14 days. Once established, your lawn should be fertilized routinely to keep it dark and growing strong. For a very thick, highly maintained lawn, fertilize with 3-4 lbs of Nitrogen per 1,000 sq.ft. per year. If you want a lush lawn, but without the high maintenance, 1 1/2 to 3 lbs of Nitrogen per 1,000 sq.ft. per year works well.

Consult your local nursery, Home Depot or Lowe’s lawn and garden department for recommendations

WATERING AND WEED CONTROL

Day 1: Right after installation you will do a one-time 30-40 minute (or longer depending on yard size) deep soak of the complete installation areas. For the next 2 weeks water twice per day AM (4am-5am) and in the evening 7pm-8pm) for 10 minutes-adjust as needed. Second 2 weeks water once per day morning or evening whichever you prefer for 10 minutes-adjust as needed.

Note: During the first 30-days walk and inspect your yard to see if it is getting enough water. You can increase the watering time if needed or you can hand water any dry spots or around the edge of the yard. 

Regular watering: In general, you need about one inch of water per week (either via irrigation or rainfall). You may also need to take site conditions into account. High wind areas, for instance, may require more water due to faster evaporation

The absolute best time to water your lawn is the early morning, before 10 a.m., Watering in the morning keeps the turf cooler during the hottest parts of the day, which means less stress on the grass.

On average, it will take 30 minutes to get a half inch of water. So, 10 minutes per zone, three times per week will give a lawn about an inch of water. ( If you have rotor heads you will need to run the system for 30-40 min as they have larger coverage areas and a slower saturation rate.)

Note: It's okay to water your lawn after you mow (but you probably shouldn't water before you mow). Realistically, as long as you're watering and mowing at all, you're doing better than most

WEED CONTROL: The best form of weed control is a healthy, dense, actively growing lawn. To control crabgrass and other grassy weeds, apply pre-emergent herbicides (which control weeds before they sprout from the ground) in the spring when the soil temperature reaches 65 ºF. Apply post emergent herbicides (which control weeds that have already sprouted) when weeds are present in established yards where the grass is healthy and actively

 

Special Note: For newly installed sod turf allow 60-days before applying a pre/or post emergent if we weeds are beginning to bloom. New sod grass has been fertilized and treated at the sod farm as part of the growing process. Check with your local nursery or lawn and garden department at Home Depot or Lowes for recommendations.

 

You can also find useful information about yard care and techniques on YouTube

 

MOWING HEIGHT

• Begin routine mowing as soon as the grass begins to turn green in the spring. Set the mowing height at .5 to 2 inches for Bermuda grass and adjust to your preference. Remove no more than one-third of the leaf area with per mowing. The lower the mowing height, the more frequently you will need to mow. The grass will be much better quality if you mow frequently at a lower height. You can keep the grass a little higher during peak summer months: July-mid September. Mow every 5-7 days during the active growing season. Mow every 10-14 days, or as needed, during cooler weather

• Pet Waste Management: Always pick up pest waste as soon as possible. Frequently hand water the spot/areas your pet pees to dilute the urine to prevent burning

FERTILIZER OPTIONS

Best Times For Fertilizing:  Early Spring, Perhaps Again Late Spring, and Fall

• Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food for New Grass-first few applications
• Scotts Southern Turf Builder Lawn Food Established yard
• Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Lawn Food

 

You can always consult with your local nursery, Home Depot or Lowes Lawn and Garden department for recommendations