Bermuda grass problem

10 years ago

I need help with my six week old lawn.

I sprouted this Bermuda grass with Scotts EZ Seed and it was doing great. I mowed it week four (2 weeks ago) and cut back the watering to once a day for 5 minutes and it started dying. Below are more pertinent points:

* the spot in the middle that's still alive is the low point. However it is not (I don't think) getting under watered

* watering twice a day for 5 minutes (increased it to this after it started dying once I decreased it).

* it is dying from the outside in toward the center.

* the 5 year old established Bermuda grass in my side yard started getting watered twice a day like this patch and it's never looked better.

* water is definitely getting past the roots depth wise.

im in Phoenix az

any ideas?

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Comments (5)

iandyaz
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
When did you plant it? It's been a long time since I had any grass, but I remember needing to give grass time before the real high temperatures hit because if the roots are shallow, they dry out fast. You might be able to bring it back by watering 2 times a day again, but it needs to grow the roots deeper so if you can water a couple inches down, it's best. Also if you water when it's windy or sunny, the water evaporates a lot faster.. I've found it was best to water at night or very early morning so the water can get into the soil deeper.

You can also test how much water the sprinklers are putting out and if it's evenly watering by putting open cans (empty catfood or tuna cans work well) around the area and check the water level after running the sprinklers.
sunnyvalley
10 years ago
I don't know a lot specifically about grass but generally, watering shallowly and frequently grows lots of roots right at the surface that will dry out quickly. 5 minutes is really not very much water across that much area and probably isn't going as deep as you think. I would try watering much more deeply but less frequently, once per day in the early morning would probably be best. As the roots grow deeper to look for that water, it should be able to go longer and longer between waterings. (Are you able to get irrigation? That might be ideal.)
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PRO
GLC
10 years ago
Bump water up to 8 min,3x a day,4 days a week. Find a fertilizer with high nitrogen properties. Sprinkle lightly by hand in bare spots. I would recommend cutting your lawn short, it will force the bermuda to grow outward.
PRO
GLC
10 years ago
how is your progress coming along?
PRO
User
10 years ago
I was talking to Steve at Treeland Nursery here on the east side of the valley and he told me the best way to water is less frequent and deeper. With an established lawn he told me to water every 2-3 days for 10 minutes. I changed my watering and everything is looking good.

Are you getting proper over spray by each sprinkler head to be sure everything is getting watered? A sprinkler head should water at lease 4 plus feet away and the other sprinkler head should hit the area between. Good luck!