Bermuda has brown or yellow areas (not green anymore) after using Scotts Turf builder

saxtech – posted 23 August 2006 07:50

Hello: I have a Bermuda lawn that has been neglected for many years. FINALLY this year I have been able to get it back in shape to where there are little or no weeds or bare spots and it was looking really nice and green. A few of the old ladies in the neighborhood even complimented me as they walked by. (Seems that grass is a conversation piece) . However, about 2 weeks ago I put down some Scotts Turf Builder Fertilizer. The package specifically said that “It Won’t Burn Lawns” …. well now my beautiful green Bermuda that I worked so hard to get back into shape is turning yellow or brown or at least, it is not as green as it used to be a few weeks ago. In attempt to try to reverse things, I threw some Ironite down 3 days ago to try to get it green again, so far no results from the Ironite…… Is my Bermuda done being Green until next spring ? Did I kill it is spots ? I had also been watering ALOT almost everyday for a month or two too. Did I water too much to cause this ? Will the Ironite fix things ? Will it get green again this summer. I am in Southern Calif where temps are over 75 to 80 almost daily. I hope I didn’t kill or burn my lawn after working so hard this summer to get it back into shape. What happened ? Scotts package said it doesn’t burn lawns. Will the Ironite help fix things ? When will I see results if any from the Ironite ? Thanks… Gary

tommy – posted 23 August 2006 18:12

You are watering too much, and yes, Ironite should help. Turf builder is not the best food for alkaline soils (which is the norm for So. Cal), so use fertilizers with are higher in sulpher. Ironite is high in sulpher, but don’t use it more than twice a year- use a balanced food such as ‘turf supreme’ inbetween Ironite applications. (Use Ironite again in November to keep bermuda greener into the fall.) You can also use ‘Gro power’fertilizer once a year to build the humus content in the soil.

tommy – posted 23 August 2006 18:40

……you can use ‘Gro power’ towards the end of Sept.- beginning of Oct. ….and if you really want to get crazy, mow the turf a couple of height settings lower than what your mowing at now- before you use the gro power. This will remove some thatch, and promote completely new grass blades- which will have color like you have never seen before!

saxtech – posted 23 August 2006 20:01

Thanks Tommy …. Before I got the grass to gree-up this past spring I had been mowing it way to short to the point of scalping it. So as I slowly raised the cut height and I then noticed the scalping effect to go away. However, I think it is stil too short (because of the brown spots) so in a few days, I plan to raise the cut height one more notch (I use a 7 Blade McLane). The reason I have been obsessed with watering everyday is because recently I dug out a small patch of St Augustine that was starting to move its way into my Bermuda. THe patch was about 10ft by 10ft (aroudn 100 sq feet) I dug up the roots and all after hitting this spot with roundup…. I then planted a small amount of bermuda sod to replace the dead and dug up patch of 100 sq feet….. I will back off the watering then as you suggest…. I hope the green will still re-bound even though I back off watering as you suggest…. I am glad you told me to only use Ironite 2 times a year.. I was planning on throwing some more down this weekend after I mow….. Could you please give me the BRAND NAMES of the Fertilizers that you suggest for me to use and WHEN I should use them.. also, I usually buy everything at Home Depot…. Do they carry a good fertilizer for Bermuda for Southern Calif (Huntington Beach / Orange County) Thanks again and I will be looking forward to everyones replies….. Gary

tommy – posted 24 August 2006 10:56

Ya, it doesn’t sound like you have much thatch with your low mowing routine- and it is a good idea to raise the mowing height this time of year, and then start lowering it as the days get shorter and nights cooler. ‘Gro power’ is usually available at full service nurseries, and I think Dixieline lumber carries it. Home depot has at a few fertilizers with decent sulpher content….check labels before buying. Gro power can be used in the warmer months….its not effective in the winter. Iron can be used in the cooler parts of the year to help hold color. A good balanced lawn food with sulpher can be used in spring and summer.

saxtech – posted 25 August 2006 14:17

Tommy .. When you say “find a fertilizer that is high in sulfer” …. what specification on the fertilizer bag should I be looking for… What number is considered HIGH in sulfer content ? Will the bag give a certain number for sulfer content and what number is considered high opposed to a low number ? ThanksGary