Fertilizing Bermuda Grass

If you've ever walked through your local home improvement store you've seen the racks and racks of fertilizer.  There are many brands and many types and each uses a slightly different blend of nutrients to arrive at the final fertilizer.

A few of the nutrients used to formulate bermuda fertilizer are urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, urea formaldehyde.   Each of these chemicals provide a quick shot of nitrogen which thick lush bermuda lawns need more than phosphorus and potassium.

Nearly every fertilizer you find on the shelf these days will be in a granular form.  This allows quick application to the lawn with a broadcast spreader and will last up to 3 months before another application is necessary.

The First Application

Bermuda grass goes dormant during the winter months.  It won't come out of dormancy until the ground temperature hits a balmy 65ºF.  It's likely that your grass will be about 50% greened up at this point for a visual reference.  This is the perfect time to drop your first application of fertilizer on your lawn.  It's likely it mid-April when this first application will be needed as a point of reference.

For this first application you're looking for a high nitrogen content.  That means the first number should be high like 31-3-9.  However a product that has 29-3-4 is going to give very similar results.  If all the products have a high nitrogen content pick your fertilizer based on price.  The higher premiums you'll pay will likely add in slow release nitrogen to keep your lawn green between feedings.

Subsequent Applications

Your bermuda grass is going to thrive off fertilizer.  You'll want to apply another bag of bermuda fertilizer in 6 - 8 weeks (June 15).  Drop a third bag 6 - 8 (August 15) weeks later and you'll have the greenest lawn in the neighborhood.

Winterizer

Again depending on your area of the country you'll want to drop a bag of winterizer on your lawn in the mid-September to mid-October time frame.  The idea is to get the fertilizer down and watered in before the grass goes back into dormancy.  This will feed and protect your lawn during those brutal winter months.

Weed Control

One area we failed to mention earlier was about weed control.  Several fertilizer brands out there mix in some weed control products like HALTS.  It's likely you'll find a winterizer with a weed control product.  That will be your best bet for the winterizer fertilizer application.  In the mid to late February time frame you'll want to consider a broad leaf weed controller like HALTS to keep your lawn weed free.  If you're lucky you can mix this in with your first application if the grass has greened up enough.

A healthy well fed Bermuda lawn is a weed free lawn.

Organic Fertilizer For Lawns

There is considerable debate that occurs as to the effectiveness of using organic fertilizers versus the chemical fertilizers that are used throughout the world. Chemical fertilizers are synthetic materials derived from man-made chemicals whereas organic fertilizers are the remains or the by product of a once living organism. Organic fertilizers generally include manure (chicken, cow, horse, pig, sheep), plant byproducts like cotton seed meal and corn meal, municipal sewer sludge, fish meal from dried and pulverized fish, blood meal which is dried blood from cattle slaughterhouses, various seaweed products and several other mixtures to include worm castings, molasses and honey.

By far the most practical organic fertilizer for lawns is one of the several types of manures that are available. In addition to adding necessary nutrients to the soil, these fertilizers add organic content to the soil which aids in the moisture retention which is essential for a healthy root system. Grass uses nitrogen in high quantities and often organic fertilizers do not have the high content of nitrogen that grass demands. Nevertheless, several years of using organic fertilizers like manure will add the organic content necessary to produce a strong root system that will not require the large doses of nitrogen that grass obtains from chemical fertilizers. The organic content of the soil will enable air to more easily reach the root system and the nitrogen is extracted from the air.

Organic chemicals on the whole are much more environmentally friendly than the synthetics, however it might be prudent to avoid the use of municipal sludge on garden crops because of the higher concentrations of heavy metals that may be present.

While organic chemical have lower levels of nitrogen available, their primary advantage lies in the soil building characteristics which make available more natural nitrogen. Synthetic fertilizers are nutrient rich, but do not add any organic content to the soil.

A review of some of the literature available indicates that there appear to be no adverse impacts on grass from the use of organic fertilizers while the extensive use of synthetic fertilizers adds pollution to water systems when it runs off of fertilized lands. Organic fertilizers should be more widely used on lawns for these very reasons.

There is only a slight cost premium involved in using organic fertilizers and they are widely available. Scotts, one of the foremost producers of synthetic fertilizers also manufactures organic fertilizers that are widely available.

How much Lawn Fertilizer Do I Need?

Cool season grasses and warm season grasses have different times for application and vary somewhat in the quantity of lawn fertilizer that should be applied. Note that the number of times that fertilizer is applied will have a direct impact on the quality of the lawn. Homeowners should measure the square feet of their lawn area to determine exactly how much fertilizer is needed. Simply pace off your yard and multiply the length times the width to determine square feet. For a relatively square yard this is a simple exercise. For irregular shapes it might be best to divide the yard into square areas for measurement.

Make sure and keep the square footage numbers close at hand as over fertilization will result in wasted time and expense as well as contribute to the pollution of water supplies. The tables below will provide a guide for those attempting to determine exactly how much should be applied.

Cool Season Grasses

Since lawn fertilizer is available either in immediate release or slow release types, the following tables apply. Note the minimum and maximum amounts depending on the lawn quality desired. Please keep in mind that there should be at least 4 weeks between successive applications of fertilizer

Nitrogen Application by Month – Number of Pounds per thousand square feet – Immediate Release

Desired Lawn Quality	Sep	Oct	Nov	May 15 - June 15
Minimal	0	1	0	0 - 1/2
Acceptable	1	1	0	0 - 1/2
Lush	1	1	1	0 - 1/2

Nitrogen Application by Month – Number of Pounds per thousand square feet – Slow Release

Desired Lawn Quality	Sep	Oct	Nov	May 15 - June 15
Minimal	1.5	0	0	0
Acceptable	1.5	1.5	0	0
Lush	1.5 - 2	1.5	0	0 - 1.5

Warm Season Grasses
Nitrogen fertilization of warm season grasses using immediately available fertilizers
Nitrogen Application by Month – Number of Pounds per thousand square feet – Immediate Release

Desired Lawn Quality	April	May	June	July/Aug
Minimal	1	1	0	0
Acceptable	1	1	1	0
Lush	1	1	1	1

Nitrogen Application by Month – Number of Pounds per thousand square feet – Slow Release

Desired Lawn Quality	April/May	June/July
Minimal	2	0
Acceptable	1.5	1.5
Lush	2	2

In summary, measure your yard as precisely as possible and apply fertilizers in the recommended quantities. Keep in mind that there is considerable time and expense involved in the health and maintenance of a well manicured lawn, but the self-satisfaction of enjoyment is well worth the effort.

Choosing a Fertilizer Spreader

Spreading fertilizer will occur several times a year for the homeowner that desires a healthy, well manicured and weed-free lawn.

Essentially there are two types of fertilizer spreaders. They are the drop-spreader and the rotary style (sometimes referred to as a “broadcast” spreader). The drop spreader is better suited to smaller yards with few obstacles as it requires relatively straight lines to be followed in a overlapping pattern. As can be determined by the name, the drop spreader in fact drops the fertilizer or weed and feed product directly underneath it. A series of holes (20 or more) underneath the spreader meters the amount of fertilizer that is applied. This is by far the most precise way to apply fertilizer.

The rotary spreader “broadcasts” (slings) the fertilizer product outward from it in a pattern that generally encompasses a circle of about 3 feet in diameter. This spreader has just one hole underneath that drops the fertilizer onto a platform which rotates thus “broadcasting” the product in a predictable pattern. This pattern of spreading does not achieve the same degree of accuracy that is accomplished by the drop spreader, but will do well for most large yards. This pattern also means that less steps are required to complete the application process.

A small yard where a high degree of accuracy for the application of fertilizer is desired would probably dictate a drop spreader whereas a larger yard with several trees might be better suited to a rotary spreader. A yard that has many garden beds may be most suitable for a drop spreader as the precise application will prevent any product from getting into garden or vegetable beds as it may with a rotary spreader. Weed and feed fertilizers that get into garden or flower beds will prevent or kill desirable plants.

In either case, to insure proper coverage of the lawn area it is important to make parallel applications in one direction and then apply again in a path that is perpendicular to the first. This insures that all areas are well covered and prevents either over fertilizing or under fertilizing. Areas that have been missed or over applied will become obvious in about a week to 10 days.

In all cases make sure that the spreader is well washed after use. Fertilizers are corrosive and metal parts will deteriorate quickly if the spreader is not washed well. Plastic is often used in making spreaders and will normally last longer than metal ones.

Weed and Feed Fertilizer

Weed and feed lawn fertilizer is plentiful and in most cases when applied properly will contribute positively to a lush lawn. They contain nitrogen, phosphate and potash which are essential for lawn growth together with a herbicide. Again, it is important to select a product that is designed for either warm or cool season grasses.

Typically the Spring fertilization period is best for applying these products. The first weed and feed product to be applied to the lawn contains an herbicide known as a preemergent herbicide, that is it prevents the weeds from successfully germinating and thus prohibits weeds from starting. These products are generally successful in preventing early weeds, but as summer approaches weeds will emerge and become more noticeable.

During the late Spring and early-Summer another weed and feed application may be necessary which includes a herbicide designed to kill weeds that have successfully emerged.

Weed and feed products will generally kill a wide range of different types of weeds, however they will generally not prevent or kill crabgrass – the most pesky of all weeds. Consumers should examine lawn fertilization products to insure that a crabgrass pre-emergent is among the herbicides in the package or purchase a separate crabgrass preventer if the desire is to eliminate this weed. Following recommended procedures for the application of a crabgrass pre-emergent will generally prevent crabgrass during the entire growing season. Typically nature gives us a clue as to when to apply the first application.
When one sees daffodils, forsythia, and dogwoods begin to bloom it is time to apple the pre-emergent. The early time frame for application is signaled by the blooming of Forsythia and daffodils. The blooming of Dogwood trees represents the last opportunity for application.

Warm season grasses essentially start growing from the roots up as the warmer months approach. It is important to read product labels carefully to insure that any weed killers or crabgrass preventer's will not stunt the growth of any warm season grasses. One should be particularly careful when applying these products to St Augustine grass.

In summary weed and feed products make the fertilizer application process much simpler and easier. One should follow product labeling procedures and if applied in the right amount at the right time the homeowner will be rewarded with a beautiful lush lawn.

Best Time to Fertilize Your Lawn

The schedule for the application of lawn fertilizer is dependent upon the type of grass that is being grown. Cool season grasses (Fescues, Rye, Bluegrass) have a different growing cycle than the warm season grasses (Bermuda, Zoysia, Bahia, St. Augustine) and therefor need to be maintained on a different schedule.

Cool Season Grasses (Fescue, Rye Grass, Bluegrass)

The most important time for fertilization of cool season grasses is during the fall from late August through November. During this time period the grass is beginning its period of dormancy and it is critical to strengthen the root system so that a healthy plant can emerge in the Spring. The next most important time for fertilization is during the the months of May – June in the Spring. This application should be a little lighter that the fall application. The object is to promote greening and feed the roots without encouraging so much growth of the leaves that the root system becomes weakened. Too much fertilization in the Spring can actually weaken the plant and encourage the emergence of weeds during the Summer months. If a second application of fertilizer is necessary either in the Fall or Spring, it should not be accomplished sooner than 4 weeks after the first application.

Since Fall application is the most important there is an acronym that is often used to remind one of the cycle times. SON – standing for September-October-November is a useful for remembering when to fertilize. Remember that there should be at least 4 weeks between applications.

Warm Season Grasses (Bermuda, Zoysia, Bahia, St. Augustine)

Warm season grasses respond best when fertilized between early April and mid-August. Since warm season grasses grow most vigorously during the summer months it is more important for these types of grasses to be fertilized at this time as opposed to the fall like the cool season grasses. The root systems will be strengthened and depending on the type of grass the rhizomes and stolons will be encouraged to spread and propagate new growth. Here again any successive applications should be spaced at least 4 weeks apart.

At a minimum cool season grasses should be fertilized twice annually - once in the fall (the heaviest application) and again in the Spring. Successive applications can be applied depending on the quality and use of the grass being maintained.

Warm season grasses need a minimum of at least one application of fertilizer during the early growing season. Here again successive applications can be applied based on the use and quality of the lawn desired.