Bermuda grass Woes
by
Shirley R
+6
I sprayed my grass with Image because weeds were u,p do to a light winter, then I cut the grass before it turned green very low and then I put fertilizer on it. We got rain so I did not water after the fertilizer was down. It is not very thick and in fact I have not cut it since I fertilized it. There are weeds up in the lawn again. Since we got rain today in GA. I will need to cut it, but it just doesn't seem very thick and lush.. Does it need something else I have not limed in years or did I do something to it?? Thanks
9 answers
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I have seen quite a few lawns that have not thickened up yet. In some cases the lawns were cut way to early. Normally, you do not need to cut a lawn that is not actively growing. Since you cut it in a dormant state, you could have lost some protection from the cold. Try using a pre-emergence to stop future weeds from germinating.
Flowerscapes Garden Design & Landscaping
on Apr 18, 2012
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OK I will get a pre-emergence and put it on now?? What do I do about the weeds that are up now?? I usually bag the grass should I or not bag the grass??
Shirley R
on Apr 18, 2012
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Shirley, if you mow regularly you should not bag the grass. Grass clippings decompose quickly, helping to nourish the lawn, and do not contribute to thatch. I think it's probably late for a pre-emergent, which is usually applied when the forsythia are in bloom. Here are some good tips for Bermuda from Clemson University's Cooperative Extension service. You may need to adjust the times forward a little bit for where you are in Georgia. http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/lawns/hgic1216.html
Douglas Hunt
on Apr 18, 2012
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Have you aerated or sanded your grass?
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Apr 18, 2012
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4S, can you believe how early some people are aerating this year! We are not even supposed to see green yet, lol. When do you suggest aerating and putting down river sand for this year. Our Bermuda has been so thin for two years. Don't know if it is the lawn company. I have moss growing in full son areas on the lawn. My Zoysia in the back is great, except for those darn voles and moles.
Flowerscapes Garden Design & Landscaping
on Apr 18, 2012
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Ground temperatures at 4" deep are now over 65 degrees in our area. http://www.georgiaweather.net/ , so Bermuda roots should be actively growing now and that is the best time to aerate Bermuda grass. I think that moss in sun is an indicator of soil compaction, as the moss will survive with very little soil nutrition.
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Apr 18, 2012
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Give it some time. As long as it's getting GOOD SUN (min 6 hours), it should be almost completely greened up and will now start to fill in and thicken. If that blotchey green and brown bermuda pic they used in the mass email mailer is your lawn, then you have a more serious problem. BTW, you should have put down pre-emerge in the fall, winter, and early spring. If you did that, you shouldn't have many weeds at all, if any. IF you didn't put down preemerge, you will be fighting weeds the rest of the season, including crab grass. Hopefully you did that. LIme will help, but won't make much of a difference, especially short term. You may want to have your soil PH tested through local county extension office. Sometimes certain weed killer products tend to stunt the lawn temporarilty. The over the counter stuff nowadays is junk compared to the commercial stuff the companies can get (which require a license). If you don't want to pay a company to come out every 4-8 weeks for $45 or so, you should at least have them come out in the fall and spring. Believe me, the 2 or 3 visits are VERY MUCH WORTH IT since their chemicals are so much better and will give your lawn a great start.
Joey G
on Apr 19, 2012
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Thanks. My lawn company did a poor job last year. Hoping he is better this year. I'll check to see if they limed it. As a Master Gardener, I'm the worst with testing my own soil, lol. I am going to do the river sand mix. How soon after aerating can I do this? One client says he pits a compost soil mix down immediately after aerating. What do you guys think.
Flowerscapes Garden Design & Landscaping
on Apr 19, 2012
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Shirley, don't forget that one of your best resources is the UGA website. What about your county agent Hort Line?
Claudia
on Apr 21, 2012
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