Impatient or Start over?
pks2141 – posted 02 May 2012 12:52
Hello all.
So, I have a home in Titusville, FL (hardy zone 10/9b.) I needed to create a new lawn, and decided to seed one part bahia and one part common bermuda. My question here is for the bermuda part. So, here’s the back story.
Seeded and had decent growth of Bermuda. About 70% grass 30% weeds. The newest of the seed was put down no later than June. It was growing well in the summer. needed to be cut at least weekly. In the fall, I treated teh weeds with Weed-B-Gone (safe for Bermuda) in Late October only to weeds (not broadcasted). Scalped the dead weeds with the bermuda and probably made mistake number 1, overseeded with annual rye. Now the lawn looked great over the winter. Full. Lush. but mostly rye grass kept at 3 inches.
Over the winter, I make the commitment to properly grow bermuda in the back yard. Buy the reel mower. So, I have 2 mowers 1 for the bahia, one for the bermuda. Ready for the spring to kick in and I start trying to take the lawn to the next level this year.
Late February:
Treated the lawn with pre emergent containing Balan/Treflan. I am certain the amount was appropriate. This did nothing to the rye grass, so I think it is OK.
Mid March:
Fertilized with Scotts Green Max (thought it would work well for both the bermuda and bahia.) Rye grass seemed to dry out and die. Bermuda did nothing. Bahia and weeds started growing.
April:
Scalped the bermuda/dead rye. Applied Weed-B-Gone on weeds only.
Started watering 2 times per week 45 mins per day.
It is now May. Very little life for the bermuda (maybe 20% of what was growing in the fall.) The Bahia is growing pretty strong where I expected it to be.
Here are my questions. I know the bermuda needs Nitrogen 1lb/1000sqft per month. Should I hit the grass again, maybe that will kick start it? I have seed to fill in the weedy spots that I treated and hopefully killed. Should I just buy more use starter fertilizer and reseed the whole yard? Or am I just being impatient with it greening up?
Thanks for anyone’s help.
tommy – posted 02 May 2012 15:44
You can’t seed because the pre-emergent is still active……so try fertilizing again, and if that doesn’t work, order some bermuda sprigs from your local nursery. The sprigs are more tolerant of pre-emergent- compared to seed.
pks2141 – posted 02 May 2012 16:18
Thanks for the reply.
The Pre emergent said it was OK to seed after 8 weeks. Is this an optomistic time frame?
tommy – posted 03 May 2012 09:23
You can test a small area and see if you can get some seed to germinate.
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