Fertilizing Bermuda Grass
December 18, 2008
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.
2 Cycle Fuel Mixing Made Easy. Try 50 Fuel!
April 28, 2008
Okay! Why has it taken this long for such an innovative product to hit the market? My first guess would be the EPA or some governmental agency bureaucracy, but let me be the first to say this is an extraordinary idea hitting the market way to late! The boys over at TruSouth Oil have come out with a can of 2 cycle fuel, 50 Fuel, that’s been perfectly mixed to the two most common ratios 2 cycle engines need to run properly.
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The Benefits of Aerating Your Lawn
March 11, 2008
The major benefit of aeration is to loosen compacted soils. If the ground is not composed of clay soils, subjected to children or animals moving about or automobiles that may drive on it, the lawn may not require aeration. Ground subjected to winter freezing and thawing or that is home to a healthy earthworm population may remain open and not require aeration. Wet areas often become compacted and will need to be aerated. A simple inspection can determine if aeration is necessary. Soil that is subjected to heavy foot traffic should probably be aerated annually.
Aerating opens the soil by pulling out small plugs of soil about 3-5 inches deep and then depositing them on the surface to eventually decompose and disintegrate back into the ground. Make sure you leave them on the ground to decompose. This provides the opportunity for the grass root systems to acquire the nutrients, water and air that are essential for growth. Loose soils allow the roots systems to penetrate more deeply into the soil and become stronger and more resilient if they have to fight off the effects of drought or disease. Soil microorganisms become more abundant and help in breaking down and preventing the formation of thatch in the lawn. Aerating destroys heavy thatch in the coring process and aids in adding this nutrient rich compost back into the soil.
Aerating is an ecological friendly endeavor. Water is more readily absorbed by loose soils. Fertilizers which are subject to run off and contaminate adjoining water sources are less likely to run off because the loose soil more readily absorbs the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that is contained in the fertilizers that are normally applied to lawns. Obviously the more fertilizer that ultimately is absorbed by the root system the more healthy the grass will be. Pesticides that may be applied to a lawn also become more effective in loose soil. Earth worm activity is promoted and after several succeeding years of aeration, it is likely that a year can be skipped.
Seeding after aeration will produce excellent growth and any compost that is spread will settle into the small holes as a result of the coring process and add substantial fertility to the soil.
Aerating is a win-win proposition for the soil and the environment as well as the owner of a lawn that will be the envy of all who gaze upon it.
Fescue Grass
January 19, 2008
Fescue grass is identified in two major categories as fine-leaved or broad-leaved. The broad leaved Fescue, sometimes referred to as a tall fescue is a bit more heat and drought tolerant than the needle leaved or fine leaved variety. Read more
Bermuda Grass Care
January 19, 2008
About Bermuda Grass
Bermuda grass is a wonderful selection for anyone who lives in a southern climate and desires a turf grass that can withstand the harsh sun and survive with minimal amounts of water. Bermuda grass care is simple: Read more
Types of Grass
January 19, 2008
Different types of grass grow in two different types of climate. These are generally classified as warm season and cool season types of grass. We’ll discuss the different types of grass that grow really well in each of these areas. It should also be mentioned that there are a few different types of grass that can survive in both areas. There is an area of the country called the transitional zone where warm and cool season grasses can both be found growing.
Cool Season Types of Grass
Cool season grasses include the Rye and Fescue varieties as well as Bentgrasses. These types of grass are well suited to the north of an imaginary line from central Virginia across the country to southern California, although there is a fairly broad transition area on either side of that line where either warm of cool season grasses may thrive.
Cool season grasses are commonly established through the use of seed whereas the warmer season grasses are more often established through the use of plugs or sod.
Air temperature, soil temperature, moisture and soil type are the major determinants for the type of grass that can be successfully cultivated in a particular region of the country. The cool season grasses experience optimum growth when soil temperatures are between 50° and 65°F and air temperatures are between 60° and 75°F. One can easily see that these air and soil temperature ranges exist in most of the United States so one has to examine the local grasses that are thriving in a particular region to judge what might be best for their purposes. Areas affected often by drought might do well to pick a warmer season grass and if drought is not a problem then a cooler season grass might be more appropriate.
Best Cool Season Grass Types
Tall Fescue Grass - This is probably the most beautiful type of grass out there. If it dense enough it can provide a good weed and disease resistant lawn. It needs plenty of water to remain dark green, but makes for a stunning lawn year round.
Rye Grass - Rye grass comes in Annual and Perennial. Both are cool season grasses and are well adapted to sunny conditions and moderate temperatures. Annual rye grass is mostly used to overseen warm season grasses to provide fall and winter color.
Bentgrass - This grass type is primarily used on golf course putting greens. Bentgrass is generally not found in the majority of lawns as is extremely expensive to maintain. Bentgrass prefers full sun but is tolerant of some shade.
Kentucky Bluegrass - This type of grass grows best during the fall, winter, and spring months as do most cool season grass. Kentucky bluegrass prefers full sun but can tolerate some shade throughout the day.
Warm Season Types of Grass
The warm season grasses include Bermuda, Zoysia, and Buffalo grasses. These grass types grow best in the southern portion of the United Stats, but there is a fairly wide transition line exists that is impacted by a number of local climatic conditions.
Warmer season grass types experience browning periods when they become dormant due to cool temperatures whereas cool season grasses will maintain their green color throughout the year. The warmer season grasses experience their best growing periods when soil temperatures are between 70° and 90°F and air temperatures are between 80° and 95 °F.
Since the warmer season grasses may experience browning when exposed to cool temperatures that may be a fact that influences a decision on the type of grass to grow. For those that wish to maintain a green lawn throughout the year, an alternative is to plant annual rye during the dormant periods of the warm season grasses. Annual Rye seeds and grows relatively easily and will gradually disappear as the temperatures begin to rise and the warms season grasses begin to spring to life.
Before selecting a grass for any particular area it is important to evaluate the characteristics for each seasonal grass and compare that to the climate in the region where it will be grown. As with all things in life there are advantages and disadvantages for each grass type.
Best Warm Season Grass Types
Bermuda Grass - Bermuda grass can survive the harshest of summers and is therefore extremely drought resistant. This grass spreads easily and is a perennial grass which means you won’t need to reseed every year.
Zoysia Grass - Zoysia forms one of the thickest turfs you’ll ever see. Once its well established it is nearly impossible for weeds to penetrate which is a major benefit of zoysia lawns. Another major benefits is that it doesn’t grow quickly so that means a lot less time mowing the grass.
St Augustine Grass - Florida and Texas are the most common areas of the country to find St. Augustine grass. This type of grass flourishes in sunny and humid conditions. It forms a very thick turf which is a pleasure to walk on when watered properly.
Bahai Grass - This grass type is also quite popular in Florida and southern California, but unlike St Augustine it is much more resistant to drought. Aside from being drought resistant it is also very resistant to bugs and diseases.
Buffalo Grass - Buffalo grass probably the only grass that is native to the United States. It grows extremely well in the Great Plains and is also drought resistant. This grass spreads very easily which helps form a great lawn in no time at all.
Carpet - Carpetgrass is a creeping type of grass that loves wet soil conditions. Carpet grass is planted from seeds or sprigs and is native to the interior Gulf states.
Centipede - Centipede grass produces a very nice looking lawn that is virtually weed free and very dense. This makes centipede lawns very attractive. While centipede grass is slow growing it’s very aggressive which gives it the aforementioned characteristics.
The Skinny on Preemergent Herbicide
January 7, 2008
The old adage “A good offense is the best defense” couldn’t be more true when trying to keep your lawn weed free. Weeds are the inevitable enemy of your lawn and will take over if nothing is done to stop them. Read more
Everything You Need to Know About Lawn Mowing
December 18, 2007
In the spring time when your lawn breaks out of the winter dormancy stage, another year of lawn mowing begins. If your followed any of our winter lawn care tips you’ve probably got nice, thick, green grass to tend to. Here’s a quick guide on mowing your grass to keep your lawn in tip top shape all year long.
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5 Simple Winter Lawn Care Tips
December 17, 2007
Now that you’re out of your weekly lawn mowing chores it’s time to get your lawn ready for the long, cold winter months. Taking the time to prepare your lawn for December, January, and February can give your lawn the jump start it needs in the spring.
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