Fertilizing sodded bermuda

19 years ago

I appreciate all the information on my prior post but am confused with fertilizing the new sod. The sod was laid in late May. It has a good root system but needs fertilizing. I have to use manual sprinklers and can water midnight to 10 AM three days per week. The lawn is in three sections totaling approximately 6500 sq ft. and so I water one section per day meaning each section gets watered once per week. I can get about a half inch of water on each section per watering. Is this enough water for the lawn to accomodate fertilizing now? I had read an article saying not to put nitrogen on the lawn during the drought so naturally am concerned with fertilizing at this time. Never had bermuda grass before only tall fescue and am having to rethink information stored in my mind which is hard for a senior citizen to do sometimes. Thanks for any help given.

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Comments (3)

quirkyquercus
19 years ago
The care regimen for bermuda is in many ways opposite from what you'd do with tall fescue or other cool season grasses. Bermuda requires monthly high nitrogen feedings during the summer to keep it's appearance up in most cases. The easiest way to obtain your fertilzer is to go to Lowes and buy Scotts turfbuilder or similar. Although not as convenient, you can get beter quality and results by finding a local lesco distributor and going there during business hours and getting a supply of their fertilizer that they recommend for bermuda.
texas_weed
19 years ago
Streamside, I think you might have mistaken advice for cool season grasses as opposed to warm season grasses as quirky suggested. Bermuda is a warm season grass and is a heavy nitrogen feeder.

It is possible to burn Bermuda, but you really have to try to do it, or make a big mistake.

Here are some specifics:

Apply at 1-pound of nitrogen per 1000/ft2. For example if the numbers listed on the bag are 20-5-10, then you would apply 5-pounds of product per 1000/ft2. What you are looking for in the numbers is the first digit. In the preceding example it is "20", which means the fertilizer is 20% nitrogen by weight. So all you simple do to figure any fertilizer is 100/X=pounds of product per 1000/ft2. ie 100 / 20 = 5

Use slow release fertilizers with at least 50% slow release nitrogen. This will prevent any chance of fertilizer burn. Avoid the fast release with the numbers like 46-0-0 for urea formulation, or 33-0-0 for Ammonia Nitrate formulations.

Always apply fertilizer to dry grass, never on wet grass. The reason is obvious because the water will cause the granules to stick to the blades of the grass increasing the chances of burn. Note some Weed-N-Feed products instruct to apply to damp grass so doesnÂt be confused, different product.

Water in fertilizer within 24 hours.

Hope that help.
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stephen9
19 years ago
I have nothing to add on the fertilization but I know bermuda is drought tolerant once established. I don't know that you are there yet. I would think you want 1 inch of water a week in two waterings. Unless you get rain then only water what it takes to get up to an inch. After August I think you can cut back on the water.