[JJLizard]

We have a new house with a Bermuda lawn. Usually the grass is cut very short, like a carpet. My wife wants to keep it that way. But by the time I got my new mower (McLane), the grass had grown to the point of seeding.

So when I started cutting the grass, the result is brown. I suppose that when the grass grew tall, the bottom halves turned brown.

Should I go ahead and continue cutting it short? Will the grass green up over time? What can I do to accelerate the greening of the lawn?

I could cut it higher, but the necessary adjustment on the McLane is no fun. I would rather cut it short as long as I know it will green up okay over time.

Thanks in advance for any help you give me.

 

[ffemt1271]

i wouldn't cut more than 25% of the height off. then in a few days recut, again at 25% of the current height. that way it will take you a week or 2 to return it to the original height, and shouldnt leave your lawn looking brown.

 

[JJLizard]

What would happen if I went ahead and cut it short? Sure, it will look ugly, but will it damage the grass in any way?

 

[Clay]

Hey there Lizard...

I grew up in Vegas (very similar climate and conditions to you in Fresno) and bermuda is some of the toughest stuff known to mankind!!! .... The more you abuse it, the better it comes back... lol....

Go ahead and cut it at the eventual height you want, give it a shot of fertilizer, keep it watered and just watch how fast it comes back... The trick is to keep it mowed frequently if you are keeping in very short... The hybrid variety is what all the putting greens are your area, but they are cut daily... You take off too much at once and it will be brown underneath and never get that thick, full, carpet look you will surely enjoy...

It's tuff stuff, but is also very high maintenance if you want it to look really nice... and in order to keep it green and short, you need to level it with a sand topdressing.... After you cut it low, topdress it with sand and broom over any little valleys to get it smooth like a putting green.... If you are willing to fertilize monthly, water and mow regularly, you can have a stunning yard... Sharpen your reel mower blades, cut it low, fertilize, topdress, water, and watch it come back better than ever...

Good Luck, Clay

 

[JJLizard]

RE: "You take off too much at once and it will be brown underneath and never get that thick, full, carpet look you will surely enjoy..."

This suggests that cutting it real low right now will permanently damage the grass. Is that what you are suggesting? Sorry, I just want to clear the confusion.

 

[Clay]

Originally posted by JJLizard
RE: "You take off too much at once and it will be brown underneath and never get that thick, full, carpet look you will surely enjoy..."

This suggests that cutting it real low right now will permanently damage the grass. Is that what you are suggesting? Sorry, I just want to clear the confusion.

That's in regard to your frequency of mowings... not your one time cut to get it back where it should be.... Remember, you can't really kill the stuff long term...

But, after you cut it to the height you like, mow often enough so that you only take a small portion off the top... This way you won't cut all the green off... In the heat of the summer with high fertilizer and daily irrigation you may need to cut every few days... Then in the winter months it will go dormant and won't need to be cut hardly at all (unless you overseed with rye)...

With the effort hybrid bermuda will yield a truly amazing lawn, but to make it amazing you need to keep it smooth, fertilized, irrigated, and cut...

Later, Clay

 

[JJLizard]

I did as you say, and the lawn doesn't look too bad right now. Not as bad as I originally thought, anyway. It helped once I got the hang of the McLane.

Thanks for the advice. Nice forum, by the way.

 

[Clay]

you're very welcome.... gotta keep the wifers happy, right???

When you get it lookin' pretty good, you can get fancy and spray some liquid iron/nitrogen (like Ferromec AC) on it and really give it a dark green...

Post us some pictures when it comes back....

Good Luck, Clay

 

[JJLizard]

Will do. Thanks.