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Bermuda Grass Help!!!!

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Joemartinez316

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hey Everyone. I need your help/assistance with getting my Bermuda to grow in my front yard. The grass just won't frow and nobody ever walks on it. No matter how much water it gets, it wont grow. I have fertized it 3 times this year, water for atlest a half hour twice a week in the evening but it still will not grow. I believe the soild is compacted and want some advice as to what the best solution would be to free up the soil. I almost feel like I should pull the whole thing out add 3 inches of top soil. Is it possible that the bermuda can be restored?
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Thanks!
Joe
 
#2 ·
First thing you need to do it get a soil test. Looking at your photo, there is excessive thatch in your lawn, so I would recommend thatching as well.

But a soil test will identify your problem.
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#4 ·
Bermuda needs temperatures over 85 degrees. Add plenty of water. Add plenty of nitrogen fertilizer. If any one is missing--no go.
Of course, acid soil could be a problem--but if trees and bushes in the background can grow--Bermuda should do fine.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Thanks for the advice. I use Scotts Turf Builder with Plus 2 weed gaurd fertilizer. I think it's either a moisture or compaction issue. When we water the lawn it just rolls right off but that also has do with the fact that there is no grass to collect the water, plus it's on a hill. I aerated last year with a machine that pulls out plugs. With regards to scalping, there wasn't really much to scalp because I could not get it to grow much last year. Should I add some sand?
 
#6 ·
You need to move on to another fert with a higher amount of nitrogen. I don't remember off the top of my head how much nitrogen the plus 2 fert has in it. But if you are dead set on using scotts go with the southern turf builder with iron. I think the nitrogen in it is around 30. Bermuda is nitrogen hungry and that may be what your lawn needs. I don't think it's a soil compaction issue if you core aerated last year. You can sand your lawn only if you want it to be ultra smooth. I did this to mine but the only reason was to get it smooth enough to mow with a reel mower.
 
#7 ·
Do a google search for "the Bermuda Bible." It was written by a sod farmer. You should be using Lesco#777 (39-0-0) and water (when it elss you it needs it) approximately once a week to put down 1". Mow at 1" or less at least twice a week. Remeber, Bermuda grows laterally tto, so keep it short.
 
#8 ·
I've got almost 2 acres of Bermuda & follow the feeding schedule given to me by my local JD/Lesco.......

March 19-0-6 Dimension
May 19-0-6 Dimension
June 32-3-8
July 32-3-8
August 32-3-8
Sept 5-0-17
Nov 0-0-8 Momentum

My June application will be put down this weekend. In a couple of weeks I'll be cutting every 3 days.
 
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#9 ·
The first thing you need to do is to water first thing in the morning instead of the evening. That will make a big difference. your lot was probably prepped with a bulldozer so you might have some compaction. Bermuda is very tough, it can handle some compaction. It is a nitrogen hungry grass and ideally should be fed monthly. Give this grass the right treatment and you should be fine. It is not that difficult.
 
#11 ·
Believe it or not, bermuda clippings will rapidly decompose if the lawn has adequate nitrogen and the soil pH is correct. Also important is the height of cut. 1" once a week with a reel mower is the minimum maintenance, every other day at 3/4" is optimum. What I see in the pictures is a starved lawn cut too high and with the wrong type of mower.
 
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#12 ·
chaser2587 said:
I disagree about the thatch problem. That looks like last seasons dormant turf. I bet the lawn wasn't scalped prior to this growing season.

what fertilizer did you use to fertilize your lawn with?
Click to expand...
Dethaching wouldn't hurt. It looks like you could have some JUNK in there, whether its dead grass or compaction issues, you need to start from scratch and figure out the problem.

I did a yard similiar to yours and here is what I did.

Soil Sample: This is very because these test can lead you in the right direction when determining problems with your lawn.

Garden Rake: Do the garden rake test. If you can get half a bag of thatch by barely going over the yard, then you need to dethatch your yard. Its not going to hurt you, it can only help. The only downside is, it may take your yard longer to recover because dethatching is hard on the lawn.

Dethatch/Power Rake: In the industry, you may hear terms like dethatcher, thatch remover, turf rake or power rake. Home Depot and Sunbelt rentals have a large supply of these machines. Watch a video on what they do

http://classenturfcare.com/cl-turf_rakes.asp

I can only share my experience with you. I am not going to tell you someone is right or wrong. I just know that when I do someone's lawn and their lawn looks like yours, I will start with a dethatch just to clear all the junk and debris from the yard. It gives you a fresh start and then if that doesn't work, you can carefully consider other options.
 
#13 ·
looks like its just coming out of dormancy or greening up. if when you water ,it runs on the sidewalk then its time to CORE aerate( not a pull behind with pointy
spikes). fertilize with 32 3 8 or 34 3 11. we cut bermuda at different heights, some less than 1" others a lot taller 3" range , depending on the property.
good luck and lay off the scotts stuff
 
#14 ·
Greendoc hit the nail on the head... the lawn is starved from nitrogen and kept up with a rotary mower. Honestly it dosen't look all that far off from any other rotary mowed bermuda lawn. I bet if it was hit with some fert like a 32-0-4 with some iron it would take off and fill in really well.
 
#16 ·
Not everyone can mantain Bermuda at 1" or below and use a reel mower. My lawn is not flat enough. Here it is at roughly 2" cut with a Honda rotary mower 2x per week. I never, ever bag clippings (except for first scalp of the year). Mulch mowing puts back important nutrients and does NOT contribute to thatch in Bermuda (maybe Zoysia).

Image
 
#18 ·
i would de thatch and then aerate and over seed
 
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