Ongoing Maintenance For Bermuda
Celebration and Tifway 419 are tough, hardy Bermuda turf grasses for full sun that once established, produces a beautiful lifetime lawn, landscape, sportsturf, or golf course.
Mowing: Mowing is a critical to a healthy lawn:
- Maintain BERMUDA at 0.5”-1.5” (1″ is optimal)
- Mowing with a Reel mower is preferred
- Mow every 5-7 days during the active growing season
- During cooler weather mow every 10-14 days, or as needed
- Never cut more than 1/3 of the total length of the blade at any one mowing
- Bagging of clippings is not usually necessary if mowing schedule is maintained.
Insecticides: Apply insecticide as needed to reduce stress on your lawn:
- Always read and follow label directions carefully for any insecticide applications
- Walk your yard regularly and be aware of seasonal pests like billbugs, armyworms, webworm and grubs
- Early identification and treatment of insect problems minimizes the application amount and damage to your grass
- Grubs can reduce quality if infestation is allowed
- Control army and webworms with Sevin®, Orthene®, Diazinon® or Permethrin-based products
- If you are unsure of label instructions consult with the retailer where you purchased your insecticide
Herbicides: Reduce your weeds through proper mowing, irrigation and fertilization of BERMUDA. If a weed problem persists:
- Always read and follow label directions carefully for any herbicide application
- Improper use of herbicides can severely damage or kill BERMUDA
- Walk your yard regularly and be aware of seasonal weeds
- Early identification and treatment of weed problems minimizes the application amount and damage to your grass
- BERMUDA is tolerant of most commonly used herbicides but always read the label
- If you are unsure of label instructions consult with the retailer where you purchased your herbicide
Fungicides: BERMUDA grass is not known to have significant issues with fungus. Fungicides should be used only as needed:
- Always read and follow label directions carefully for any fungicide application
- Walk your yard regularly and be aware of unusual symptoms of disease
- Early identification and treatment of disease minimizes the application amount and damage to your grass
- If predictable seasonal problems are expected, consider a broad-spectrum fungicide application
- If you are unsure of label instructions consult with the retailer where you purchased your fungicide
Irrigation: Established BERMUDA exhibits very good drought tolerance however, like all turf grass, requires regular irrigation for long term health and beauty
- Watering requirements are greatly dependent on soil type, season, geography and other factors
- Ensure irrigation systems are working properly and covering all areas sodded with BERMUDA
- Walk your yard regularly and be aware of signs of wilting that would show irrigation is needed
- Shaded areas and heavy soils require less water than full-sun areas and sandy soils
- Encourage deep root growth by watering until the soil is moist to a depth of 3”, shallow watering will result in a shallow root system
- Infrequent deep watering maximizes drought resistance and tolerance
- Visit our Tips on Watering Your Lawn video
Fertilizing: Properly fertilizing your lawn will encourage health and reduce disease and insect in your BERMUDA yard:
- Test your soil to understand your soil needs and fertilizing requirements
- BERMUDA generally requires three fertilizer applications per year: spring, summer and fall
- Walk your yard regularly and take notice when the yard requires fertilizing
- Take care to apply the correct amount and type of fertilizer
- Reduce nitrogen rates to avoid disease and insect inducing growth flushes
- Use iron sources to improve color and limit growth surges
- Higher Nitrogen rates should only be applied in the spring or for injury recovery of BERMUDA
- Apply balanced fertilizers with lower rates of Nitrogen in the summer and fall
Visit our Tips on Watering Your Lawn video.