Tif 419 Bermuda in Texas

[jason72g]

Hey all,

We are attempting to get my dad's backyard whipped into shape. It is Tif 419 that was installed about 6 years ago. The yard is half level and half unlevel.

He has it sprayed every 6 weeks(don't know what product), but it just doesn't look like I think it could. We mow it at about 2.5 inches every 4-5 days. We water in 20 minute intervals for each zone 3 times per night, one day per week. So each zone on Friday night is getting a total of 60 minutes of water.

The problem is, is the grass is very "stemmy," for lack of a better term. If you walk on it after it has been mowed you will leave behind a trail of dead grass stems (see pic below.) It is also not very green although you can't tell in the pics.

I have decided that we need a couple of things:

1.) Topdress the soil (what is the best method of doing this?)
2.) all of the nurseries around here say to use Southwest Green Maker
3.) Go from a cut of 2.5" to 1" (with a rotary mower, yes we'd like to have a reel, but it's not going to happen right now.)

Does this sound about right? Is there something I'm missing?

[Florida Gardener]

Sorry, but 1" with a rotary is not going to work. If you really want to get this yard in shape...scalp, topdress, and verticut. Then, start using a reel. Either pony up the $ to do it right, or you get the same results.
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[Florida Gardener]

Use sand to topdress btw...the green stuff
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[jason72g]

Originally Posted by diamondlandscaping

Sorry, but 1" with a rotary is not going to work. If you really want to get this yard in shape...scalp, topdress, and verticut. Then, start using a reel. Either pony up the $ to do it right, or you get the same results.
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Would you recommend scalping at 1"?

[Florida Gardener]

Originally Posted by jason72g

Would you recommend scalping at 1"?

What you should do, is cut the bermuda as low as you can with your rotary with a very sharp blade. You may have to cut it twice.....

Scalping down to an inch when the grass has been maintained at 2.5" is going to be very messy. I would cut it down to 2" first, then around 1.5" if your rotary goes that low.....

Best thing to do would be scalping it with a reel. If you have a rotary that can get down to an inch, I guess you can do it.....make sure blade is very sharp though....

Next, you need to verticut. that lawn looks puffy as hell and there is prob a good amount of thatch...especially if you have never verticut this lawn ever.

Then, topdress with sand.....You may need to do a couple topdressings if your lawn is that un-even. I would do one now.....let the bermuda grow back, and then do another....Not sure how your winters are....you may only be able to topdress once....

[jason72g]

Would it be wise to verticut and aerate? Also can I verticut without having to scalp?

[Patriot Services]

TIF419 is a semi dwarf varitety that won't ever look good at 2.5 inches. How big an area are we talking about? The verticut serves a better purpose than aerating. It needs the scalp and the dethatch.
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[jason72g]

talking about less than 2500 sq. ft.

[cgaengineer]

Originally Posted by jason72g

Would you recommend scalping at 1"?

If you have a reel. If not, don't bother. Bermuda will never look its best cut with a rotary...I don't care what kind of rotary mower or who tells you otherwise.
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[cgaengineer]

Verticutting also removes high spots and makes topdressing easier and will stretch your sand further.
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