How Do You Treat New Bermuda Grass?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  1. Maintain a height of between one-half to two-and-a-half inches.
  2. Start mowing in the spring when the grass turns green.
  3. Mow frequently enough that no more than one-third of the blade is removed at a time.
  4. Always use a sharp blade.
  5. Avoid bagging unless scalping for the first spring mow.

How do you care for Bermuda sod after installation?

  1. Lay Bermuda sod in spring, when air temperatures are 75–90°F (24–32°C).
  2. Water twice daily for the first 2 weeks after laying Bermuda sod.
  3. Mow 2 weeks after laying sod.
  4. Reduce watering in weeks 3 and 4 after laying Bermuda sod.
  5. Fertilize Bermuda sod in week 4 to promote lawn growth.

How do you maintain new Bermuda sod?

  1. Lay Bermuda sod in spring, when air temperatures are 75–90°F (24–32°C).
  2. Water twice daily for the first 2 weeks after laying Bermuda sod.
  3. Mow 2 weeks after laying sod.
  4. Reduce watering in weeks 3 and 4 after laying Bermuda sod.
  5. Fertilize Bermuda sod in week 4 to promote lawn growth.

How do you keep Bermuda sod alive?

  1. Watering. It's important you douse the sod with water once you lay it, within the initial hour at the latest. …
  2. Watering tips. Ensure water reaches every area of your lawn. …
  3. Fertilizing. …
  4. Keep Traffic off Your Sod. …
  5. Mowing.

How often do you water new Bermuda sod?

For the first nine days of establishment, you will need to water your bermuda grass

twice a day

—once in the morning and again in the evening for about 20 minutes each. Starting on day 10, you can reduce your watering schedule to once per day.

How long does it take for Bermuda sod to establish?

It can take

up to six weeks

for the sod to develop a deep root system. As the sod develops its shallow root system and moves on to develop a deeper root system, it's critical to increase the amount of time between waterings to encourage roots to grow deeper in search of moisture without stressing the lawn.

When should I fertilize Bermuda sod?


MID-SPRING

: Bermuda grass begins to green when reach a consistent 60-65 degrees. The best time to apply fertilizer is after the danger of frost has passed and your lawn is at least 50% green.

How do I make my Bermuda grass thicker and greener?

  1. Mow the lawn closer. Mowing is very important if you're trying to grow a thicker lawn. …
  2. Feed your lawn with 4-1-2 fertilizer or a 16-4-8. …
  3. Apply pre-emergent weed herbicide. …
  4. Apply post-emergent on visible weeds. …
  5. Aerate your lawn. …
  6. Treat lawn diseases.

How long should you water Bermuda grass?

Bermuda grass needs 1 to 1.25 inches of water on a weekly basis to retain its color during summer. On sandy soils it requires more frequent watering, like 0.5 inch of water every third day. For homeowners, it often requires

three to five hours

of irrigation to water the soil to 1 inch of depth.

Can you water Bermuda grass too much?

Frequent watering can be too much of a good thing for a lawn. For example, warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda and zoysia grasses, need

1/2 inch to 3/4 inch of water as infrequently as every one to three weeks

. … Too much water interferes with healthy grass growth and makes the lawn susceptible to pests and diseases.

What is the best time to water new sod?

Water

early in the morning, 6-8am

. Wind speeds are lower and less water is lost to evaporation. Watering in the evening is discouraged—water remaining on the grass can promote disease and fungus. Infrequent, deep watering is better than shallow watering.

Why is my new sod dying?

New sod is

especially prone to drying out

because of its shallow root system. Brown spots occur when sod dries out and experiences drought shock. Sod will go into dormancy to combat the lack of water it's experiencing. Once dormant, it needs water or it will die.

What kind of fertilizer is best for Bermuda grass?

The best fertilizer for Bermuda grass will have an

N-P-K ratio that's high in nitrogen, contains little or no phosphorus, and may include a small amount of potassium

. For example, an NPK ratio of 16-0-8 contains 16 percent nitrogen, no phosphorus, and 8 percent potassium. This is a great ratio for Bermuda grass.

How do you water new sod by hand?

Just keep sod slightly moist until the fourth cutting at which point treat it pretty much like any established lawn. Allow the ground to dry to the point of cracking slightly and then water fairly heavily.

One inch of water per week in

the form of rain or sprinkling is about right.

Can you over water new sod?

Overwatering new sod will

prevent the roots of the sod

from getting the oxygen they need to thrive. If you are planting new sod in warm weather, overwatering can also lead to disease. One way to tell if your sod is being overwatered is to check the bottom of the soil a few minutes after watering.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.