Bermuda Grass in San Antonio

Adam – posted 30 October 2005 10:01

I have Bermuda grass in San Antonio put down by the builder. I have kept it at 2 inches all summer because my neighbors that have been cutting it short aren’t able to keep up with the heat. I’ve noticed several people recommend keeping the grass around 1 inch instead.

So, since I’m new to being a homeowner and new to Bermuda (I’m actually from the North), I don’t know what to do. Should I keep different heights for the summer and different for the winter? What fertilizers should I be using? How often should I water? Should I begin bringing my lawn down to one inch slowly this winter? Also, I read somewhere that you should let your Bermuda turn yellow in the fall with little watering. Is that true?

Sorry about all of the questions, but I need help. Thanks again!

tommy – posted 31 October 2005 09:58

Your bermuda will stop growing and turn brown when night time temps get cold. (soon). Many people over seed bermuda in the fall with cool season grasses- usually annual or perennial rye. If you go this route, cut your turf as low as your mower will cut- remove clippings, seed the area and top dress with a 1/4 inch layer of steer manure. As for the summer cutting height, you are correct mowing higher if low maint. is the main concern, but make sure you lower the height during cooler parts of the year. This helps limit thatch build up…..a major concern with bermuda. Fertilizer applications should be timed so that you don’t cause excessive growth in the summer. Regular, balanced lawn food products can be used in spring and fall, along with a low nitrogen fertilizer for summer. Bermuda needs less water than most grasses, and should never be watered every day in the summer. 3 days a week will usually do,(as long as your getting good water penetration into the soil). If your water is running off due to surface compaction, you may have to aerify (hole punching machine).

Adam – posted 31 October 2005 19:11

Thanks Tommy, that helps quite a bit. I actually am not too concerned about the amount of time it consumes as I really enjoy mowing the lawn and taking care of it. I would actually like to see it thicken up more than it is now, which I’m not sure if that requires more watering or shorter mowing. Anyway, thanks for the help. It rained today, but tomorrow I will make some time to start bringing the height of the grass down to prevent thatch buildup.

Thanks again!

wadevl – posted 31 October 2005 19:50

through out slow slow release fert, we will all be dormant soon, but once we get in the spring it will be nice and thick,

wvl