Sunday, April 19, 2009

Best Maintainence for Bermuda Grass?

I am trying to figure out what is the best approach to keeping up my lawn. I recently purchased a house in Atlanta, Georgia that has about 1/2 acre, mainly comprised of Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon), accompanied by various flowering bushes and trees; it isnt anything extremely complicated or difficult. But, I am wondering what is the best way to maintain my lawn. Right now, winter conditions and drought restrictions have caused my lawn to be completely browned, do I need to reseed it and when if so? Also, what is the best time to lay fertilizer, as I am sure the previous owners have never done so. Lastly, does anyone know what the specific watering restrictions are for Metro Atlanta (Gwinnett County)? I heard that they changed recently, and am trying to find the exact policy so I dont get fined. I am just trying to find the best watering schedule as well for the grass so that it will grow in thicker and with a better color this summer. Thanks for your help.

Best Maintainence for Bermuda Grass?
Hey djturner151,





Congratulations on your new house! Whew-hoo, bet it feels nice.





Good question - I like that you specified the grass type. Check the Clemson Master Gardeners Turfgrass presentation below. Start tracking everything you do. You can water a little (I do not know about your watering restrictions) in the dormant state of the grass - that is why it is brown (because it is dormant). You need about 1 inch of water a week otherwise. Water deep and infrequent, you want the water to go deep so the roots go deep.





By comparison to centipede, st. augustine, zoysia and others, Bermuda grass is high maintenance. You sound like a match for it. Mow frequently, 3/4%26quot; inch to 1.5%26quot; height - but take no more than 1/3 of the height at any one mowing. If the lawn is stressed, mow at the higher setting. KEEP THE BLADES SHARP on this grass, or use a Reel type mower.





Bermuda grass is shade intollerant. So, don%26#039;t put shade trees in unless you plan for the shade to hit a patio, not the grass. You will have a high occurance of Thatch - so, plan to dethatch in the spring.





Fertilize according to southern turf grass instructions on bag labels. The varieties fo Bermuda grass can vary, but generally, this is the best grass, if you can keep up the maintenance.





Do practice Integrated Pest Management too. See the slides (turfgrass IPM).
Reply:Your lawn is brown because it is dormant from the lack of water. Call your water district to see when you can water and do so in the early morning (if possible), you want to water deeply so that the water reaches all the root areas.





You have a very good resource in your Gwinnett County extension office. Call them or look online and you will find out how to take care of your lawn properly for your climate. I have Bermuda grass and we are on water restrictions here in S FL as well. I water once a week, do a regular weed and feed and the lawn is lush like a carpet.





Hope this helps!
Reply:Pour salt all over your lawn,this will make it rich and full.
Reply:Check out a soil amendment called %26quot;Pozzolan%26quot; or %26quot;Lassenite ATS%26quot; (same product, different names). Pozzolan is an all natural volcanic diatomaceous soil amendment that conserves water. It will absorb up to 104% of it%26#039;s weight in water and then release it back to the plant (grass in your case). This is being used in the middle east to grow grass in the desert. It will cut your watering in at least half!





Pozzolan is also great at retaining nutrients in the soil, like fertilizers. It will store water and nutrients at the root zone, which promotes deeper, healthier roots.





Best of all it is a ONE TIME application. It will keep working year after year after year.





I think you will be seeing this used a lot more in the US, especially in areas where there are watering restrictions. The absorbtion capability is amazing but the best part is that it gives the water back to the plant. Other products out there will hold water, but none of them will release it back like the Pozzolan does.





Good Luck!



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