burn Bermuda lawns?

[ericlemson]

A neighbor of mine decided to burn his Bermuda lawn a week ago. Why do some people do this? Is it beneficial?

Also, do you recommend scalping Bermuda lawns right now?

[4.3mudder]

Farmers I know used to do that in their fields if a fire got out of hand. It is great ferltizer, and helps promote new nutrients back in the soil for planting, but on lawns I think it will work the same way.

[hmartin]

The idea behind burning off the dead bermuda is to let the ground be better exposed to sunlight. You can get almost the same result by setting your mower down to about 1" and cutting off the dormant material. Studies show that there is only a tiny fertilization effect from burning.

Fires usually scare the neighbors and can be dangerous. Domant bermuda can burn very very fast when the conditions are right.

[jqlawn]

I burned my bermuda lawn at my previous home about 12 years ago. It worked like a charm!! But, be warned have your water hose ready. Thourghly wet down places you don't want to burn. Let me tell you, when I threw the match on my scalped lawn the fire looked as if it was alive!!! It spread sooooo fast! I didn't have the water hose in hand, I tripped over something running to get it. Meanwhile, the blaze stayed low and just follwed my property line stopping at the street, driveway and sidewalk. The neighbors and people passing by were curious and a couple asked why'd I do this. The neighborhood had a HOA, but no one complained. Afterwards, it looked so ugly that I was afraid the HOA would raise HE%%! Although, my yard was the prettiest it'd ever been I decided not to push it and never did it again.

I'd love to do it on my current zoysia lawn, but my home is now in a more exclusive neighborhood(golf community) with homes as high as 500-600K. I KNOW the HOA would deem such acts as felonies:)

In conclusion, wet the boundaries, have water ON, water hose in hand and it'll pretty much put itself out. DO NOT ATTEMPT on a windy day!!!! It was calm when I did it but, man did it move fast!

Good luck and be safe!!!