New Bermuda turn to yellow after mowing

zmhpanda – posted 18 June 2012 16:43

Living in Tx, and install the new Bermuda in Apr. Have mowed last week for the second time, about 3 inch down to 1 inch. Before mowing it’s all green, after mowing, some patches turns yellow. And now the yellow patches have become larger and larger…

Not sure what’s wrong w/ the grass, is it because of lacking fertilizer, or mowing issue?

Here is the link of the picture,

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/rkesi

[This message has been edited by zmhpanda (edited 18 June 2012).]

zmhpanda – posted 18 June 2012 19:59

Here are two more pictures

[img]http://s18.postimage.org/qaem3oe1h/IMG_0678.jpg[/img]

[img]http://s18.postimage.org/ojvl26wid/IMG_0679.jpg[/img]

[This message has been edited by zmhpanda (edited 18 June 2012).]

AlphaBravo83 – posted 04 November 2012 21:52

Hi zmhpanda — I’m sure by now you’ve gotten the answers you need (5 months later!), but if not, hopefully I can offer my observation. The general rule is to only cut 1/3 of its height at a time. In this case, you cut 2/3. To cut more than 1/3 will shock the plant and cause undesirable effects, and unsightly appearance.

Typical residential Bermuda does best between 1/2″ to 2″ — and if you bend it down with your hand you’ll see that only the top portion of the grass is green (where photosynthesis takes place). Mowing can be a traumatic event for the lawn as it has to put additional energy into recovering. Cutting only 1/3 at a time is less damaging.

In your situation at 3″, it would be best to cut down to 2″, wait a few days, and then cut the next third until you get down to the optimal height.

I’m curious though…how much have you been watering? Incidentally, if you do bend the grass down as I mentioned above and it doesn’t spring back up, it’s time to break out the sprinkler!

Again, hopefully you’ve already resolved this issue, but just in case (or if someone else comes along), I hope this helps!

zmhpanda – posted 05 November 2012 21:09

quote:Originally posted by AlphaBravo83:Hi zmhpanda — I’m sure by now you’ve gotten the answers you need (5 months later!), but if not, hopefully I can offer my observation. The general rule is to only cut 1/3 of its height at a time. In this case, you cut 2/3. To cut more than 1/3 will shock the plant and cause undesirable effects, and unsightly appearance.

Typical residential Bermuda does best between 1/2″ to 2″ — and if you bend it down with your hand you’ll see that only the top portion of the grass is green (where photosynthesis takes place). Mowing can be a traumatic event for the lawn as it has to put additional energy into recovering. Cutting only 1/3 at a time is less damaging.

In your situation at 3″, it would be best to cut down to 2″, wait a few days, and then cut the next third until you get down to the optimal height.

I’m curious though…how much have you been watering? Incidentally, if you do bend the grass down as I mentioned above and it doesn’t spring back up, it’s time to break out the sprinkler!

Again, hopefully you’ve already resolved this issue, but just in case (or if someone else comes along), I hope this helps!

Hi AlphaBravo83, Thank you for detailed explanation, that’s really helpful. With 1/3 rules, I’ve found the Bermuda turned to green after getting thru the hot summer. Now I’m watering the grass twice a week per water restriction, now it looks better.

As you’ve said, the grass only green on the top, I’ve found that’s true!

Thanks again for your help

AlphaBravo83 – posted 09 November 2012 01:30

So happy to hear the results, and glad to know that your lawn recovered!

Take care.

mohsin123 – posted 25 October 2013 01:15

Not sure what’s wrong w/ the grass, is it because of lacking fertilizer, or mowing issue?

__________

Mohsin

[This message has been edited by mohsin123 (edited 25 October 2013).]