Landscape Tips - Basic Grass Upkeep

Posted July 14, 2008

One of the most important - and enjoyable - aspects of keeping our home values high is a simple yet beautiful landscape. Property values can be influenced dramatically by relatively inexpensive and simple additions to your landscape maintenance and design.

Caring for Bermuda grass require periodic maintenance. Use the general procedures below and add a few of your own.

Fertilization
Our Bermuda grass requires periodic fertilizing. Visit your favorite home improvement store or nursery to learn about the best fertilizers to use and when to apply. Differing ratios perform at appropriate times of the year. Use a standard grass fertilizer obtained at your local home improvement store and apply according to the directions.

Pre-Emergent
One critical aspect of Bermuda lawn care is the use of a pre-emergent chemical at certain times of the year. The pre-emergent must be applied seasonally to discourage weed growth. I suggest contacting a lawn maintenance company, such as Fairway or Top Turf for the pre-emergent applications since these are strong chemicals and since the application of pre-emergent is so necessary for healthy Bermuda growth and weed deterrence.

Weeding
Crabgrass and other unsightly weeds love our Bermuda grass! Try this technique. Use a hand shovel and dig under and around the weed, pulling the whole plant out with its roots. Now spray an herbicide into the hole. Do not use Round-Up as this will kill any chance of the surrounding grass to grow into that area. Go for a "grass only" herbicide. These are readily available at your hardware, nursery or home improvement store.

Watering
Bermudas can go for extended periods of time without irrigation (60 to 90 days), thus their popularity as a drought tolerant grass. The only drawback is they go off-color as they become dormant. Most grasses need 1-2 inches per week to maintain a good growth; yet with current dry conditions and restricted watering schedules this may not be possible. Yet Bermuda is superior to many other grasses in drought tolerance.

Mowing
Bermudas are mowed from around 3/8 inch to 1 & 1/2 inches in height. Heights of 1+ inches can usually be maintained with a rotary mower. Height is a matter of personal preference. Common Bermuda should generally NOT be mowed below 1/2 inch. Lower mowed height will require more maintenance and water monitoring.

For more detailed information on Bermuda care visit the following site: University of Arkansas - Bermudagrass Lawn Care

Author: Peter Williams