Fertilizing Bermuda Grass
by
Dawn West, All About Lawns Columnist
Lawn fertilizer is not a one-size-fits-all purchase. The amount and type of lawn fertilizer you need depends on your grass type and the nutrients already at work in your soil. Soil testing can tell you what's missing and point you toward nutrients you should add, but then there's the question of lawn type. If you have Bermuda grass, you should know that it needs plenty of fertilizer to look its finest. Read on for Bermuda grass fertilizer tips that will keep your lawn in tip-top shape.
Bermuda Grass Likes Frequent Fertilizing Some lawns are fine with a light feeding once or twice a season, but not Bermuda grass! When it comes to nitrogen and the other nutrients that keep lawns growing, Bermuda grass is hungry on a monthly basis during its peak growth time. That will mean four or five fertilizer applications a year between May and August. While Bermuda can certainly survive with less lawn fertilizer, the extra maintenance will help it look its finest.
Bermuda Grass Craves Nitrogen Not every lawn loves nitrogen as much as Bermuda grass does. For each fertilizer application, roughly one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of your yard will give you great results. In the fall, a fertilizer with higher potassium and significantly lower nitrogen will help winterize your Bermuda grass.
Avoid Fertilizer Damage With frequent, high-nitrogen fertilizer applications, you run the risk of chemically burning your Bermuda grass. Lawn fertilizers with a blend of slow and fast-release nitrogen will help minimize the risk. For the lowest risk, look for a lawn fertilizer with at least 50% slow release nitrogen.
Different lawns have different fertilizer needs. But once you recognize and meet your Bermuda grass's nutrient needs, you'll see the reward in lush, green growth.
About the Author
Dawn West B.A. holds a B.A. in English from Harvard University and teaches writing at Oregon State University.
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