Need Fall Feeding Schedule for Bermuda in So. California

saxtech – posted 05 September 2006 07:46

Hello:I am in sunny Southern California (Orange County / Huntington Beach) and it is the Beginning of September (still quite warm).

This is the first Fall Season that I have really gotten my Bermuda to look nice and I need to know what should I do from this date onwards throughout spring 2007.

Please list dates of applications and Brand / types of fertilizers, pre-emergent weed control fertilizers, and other weed control products, and also when to apply Ironite.

Should I use Scotts Winterizer in September with Halts or ??????

I usually shop at home depot so if you could list brands that HD carries that would make life so much easier.

ALSO .. Please list dates that i should apply all requested.

Thank You everyone for all of your help getting my Bermuda to look nice this past summer (first time in many years).

Gary / saxtech

tommy – posted 06 September 2006 13:55

If your not going to over seed with rye, apply ‘Halts’ in mid Sept. You can use ‘winterizer’ a month after that, and Ironite a month after winterizer. If you want you can apply Ironite again around xmas- along with a weed preventer other than Halts. The reason being that the high nitrogen in halts will stress the lawn in winter. Use a straight weed preventer(without any fertilizer in it) labled for lawns. (such as ‘green light Amaze’). Make sure you make this second application in winter- because the Halts will not last through the whole rainy season. Apply winterizer again in mid feb. Apply ‘gro power’ April 1.

saxtech – posted 08 September 2006 09:15

Thank You Tommy:You are ALWAYS so helpful on this forum and you always give me such detailed responses. Question .. At Home Depot, they sell the Halts mixed with fertilizer (I believe).. Is this Halts with Fertilizer the one in which you are referring to for me to use?

Also … Where do you get “green Light Amaze” ? Does Home Depot carry a good “weed Preventer without fertilizer” as you speak of..

Where do I get Gro power ? or is there a brand that HD carries similar to gro power ?

Lastly …. do you think that I should overseed with Rye ? Will this harm my Bermuda ? What are the Pros and Cons of overseeding ?

Thanks again Tommy for all of your responses.

Gary / saxtech

tommy – posted 09 September 2006 19:15

The ‘Halts’ formula only comes with fertilizer mixed in. I don’t remember seeing a straight weed preventer (without fertilizer) at HD……usually they only carry weed preventer’s for shrub beds, and Halts for lawns. Home Depot does not carry some of the specialty items that a big time turf nut like’s to use at times. Halts is good, but there are times when I don’t want to apply fertlizer with my weed preventer. ‘Amaze’ and ‘Gro power’ are usually sold at Nurseries. I live in the San Diego area, so I couldn’t tell you who carry’s the products in your neck of the woods. Full service nurseries are kind of a dying breed because of the big home improvement places, but I am sure you have a couple near you because of the high population center you live in. You can also find specialty items on-line , and also at landscape supply places- such as ‘Hydroscape’ and ‘Ewing’. ‘Gro Power’ is usually pretty easy to find at Nurseries, but if you can’t find ‘Amaze’, just ask the salesperson for a weed preventer labeled for lawns. As for ryegrass, its always a tough call in So. Cal. coastal areas, because bermuda will stay green all winter long if its maintained properly. Even so, some people like the lush, shiny, look of rye in the winter…..so basically its personal preference. I prefer not to winter seed rye, because bermuda is very low maint. in the winter. (hardly any mowing) If you want to boost the color of bermuda in the winter, the Ironite will help, and also there are turf colorants (such as those used at stadiums) available on-line.

saxtech – posted 13 September 2006 19:57

Hi Tommy and Thanks again for your GREAT replies ….

Yes.. there is a HALTS only formula Without fertilizer http://www.scotts.com/media/media/pdf/productGuide/labels/Halts.pdf

However it seems that neither Home Depot nor Lowes carries it THIS TIME OF YEAR either the Halts with fertilizer or the Turf Builder Fertilizer With Halts … I read the Scotts site and it says to use Halts in the Spring.. maybe that is why HD or Lowes does not have it in September ?????? Maybe you might have some additional insight as to why ? Thanks again Tommy

Gary / saxtech

tommy – posted 13 September 2006 20:54

The climate in So Cal. is such that a whole bunch of weedy grasses and weeds will germinate in the fall and winter if weed preventer is not used. In a case like your’s where a pure bermuda stand is desired, its very important to apply weed preventer in fall and winter. Even if you do not have weeds now, many of your neighbors do- and their weed seeds will end up in your yard.

bermudakid – posted 18 September 2006 21:49

I live in westminster. I have GN-1 bermuda and the dude around the block drools over it.

Raise the lawn mower to 1″ or 1″ 1/2 now. This will keep color as long as possible for fall. Also, if you do not have pets, or kids, I suggest you spray Monterey Crab and Spurge preventor with good rubber gloves and a Hudson type sprayer. The stuff is gnarly bad poison. Spray it in late October or early November. I did so last year which was the first Winter for my lawn and I had not one weed in a 1800 sqft front yard this year. My back yard which I did not spray with the stuff had many more issues because I did not spray. I am sure there are more enviro ways of controlling the weeds but I am not here to debate but only to tell you what worked great for me. Make sure you water very, very well within a day of appying. That is what activates the stuff.

Oh ya, do not bother over seeding once you spray it. The lawn will green up quicker if do not overseed and you get to cut way back on the mowing. Good luck.

saxtech – posted 19 September 2006 08:31

Thanks Bermudakid and Tommy:

Bermuda Kid .. Sprays scare me as it is very possible to inhale them or have the mist get on your skin even though you use gloves. (also overspray goes everywhere including on your car)…. you say “this stuff is gnarly bad poison” …. I know almost everything on the market is poisonous but I would rather use granules like “Halts” .. I just can’t seem to find any Pre-Emergent Weed Controlers this time of year. Halts isn’t even available yet at HD or Lowes…

Do you know of a granule sold “in our area of Orange County” that is a pre-emergent for lawns ? Some have tried to sell me weed control for flower beds in a shaker bottle but not what I need.

Looking forward to your help.

ThanksGary / saxtech

tommy – posted 19 September 2006 14:03

Ya, good thing you didn’t buy the weed preventer for shrubs…….it will kill the grass! I don’t know if your willing to buy stuff on-line- but “Green light amaze” is available thru the green light web site.

bermudakid – posted 22 September 2006 21:17

I do not have too many problems with over spray, and oh yes, definatley wear a respirator. Make sure the sprayer nozzle on the pump sprayer is set to larger droplets rather than misting. Do not mess with it though. Too complicated. I just do not like granular because it goes everywhere. Post emergant will typically work only if it sticks to wet grass. The pre-emergent is typically activated by deep watering. To be honest with you, the HD and Lowes are going to be hard to find the combo you need in one product. If you expect to control large weeds, that will be nearly impossible because once weeds like crab grass get to a certain stage in growth cycle combo weed herbicides are not too effective. I will try to do some research and see if I can prove myself wrong. You might have to get two different products to do what you want.

saxtech – posted 23 September 2006 05:13

Thanks Bermuda Kid…. I will be looking forward to your research finds.

Thanks again..

Gary / saxtech

colfvp – posted 28 October 2006 16:17

Bermuda Kid, All, this will be my first full winter with my GN1. I live in HB and have been struggling with finding the right type of fertilizer. One area of the lawn gets a little too much shade and I can’t seem to keep the green going on that section of lawn. Any tips on overseeding and fertalizer would be appreciated.

tommy – posted 31 October 2006 14:24

Yep, bermuda lawns that run in and out of shade can be a bitch. If you had full sun in the winter you could keep GN- 1 green with applications of iron……but with your situation, the only way to have an evenly green lawn from sun to shade, would be to overseed with rye. Perennial rye will give you a lawn thats just as good in appearance as GN-1.

bermudakid – posted 02 November 2006 21:33

Do not bother fertilzing the GN-1 right now. Cut it low in in the full sun areas and not in the shade areas. Get a big bag of rye grass from Home Depot and overseed the whole lawn. WAter it really good the first day. Then lightly water twice a day for a few days. Mow two weeks later. Do not fertilize until March 1st. I use pure urea granulated in small doses once a month. I water twice a week for 10 minutes during the spring and summer. No need to water more with Bermuda. I mow every 5 days at 3/4″.

bermudakid – posted 02 November 2006 21:39

oh ya, do not put a premergent down if you are going to overseed. If you are looking for Halt, call Orange County Farm Supply in Orange. They are off Champan and 57, I think.

colfvp – posted 09 November 2006 16:02

Bermudakid, thanks for the tips. I am going to try the overseeding route. If I understand your water scheudle correctly, after the rye grass gets going, you stop watering until spring/summer? I am currently watering my GN1 once a week for 10 minutes.

bermudakid – posted 16 November 2006 21:41

If you do not overseed then 10 minutes once a week during the winter until March 1ST IS fine. Then you fertilze and water really well the first week of March. Then 10 minutes twice a week is fine even throug the summer. If the water begins to run off after 5 minutes then you need to water the lawn in two intervals of five minutes during the same morning of that watering day.If you do over seed then you will have to water twice a week even during the winter.

Have fun! talk to you soon.