On the other hand, do not mow the young turf when the length is less than 2 inches. Identifying Common Lawn Weeds Continue to soak twice a day, once in the morning and once in the late afternoon. Fertilize your Bermuda sod 34 weeks after installation. Heat and dryness are your enemies when fertilizing your lawn. Safer Brand's Lawn Restore fertilizer is another organic option that's good for your soil as well as your Bermudagrass. At this point, the roots of the sod will have had a chance to grow and establish themselves, and they will be able to better absorb the fertilizer. This timing is optimal because it is after the lawn has greened up and is beginning to grow. Dont apply fertilizers to your lawn during the winter months as the grass is dormant and will not achieve any better results. However, you may want to use weed and feed for St. Augustine Grass to feed your sod and control weeds. Hand water these areas thoroughly. Thinking about installing new sod? Fast-release fertilizers are the ones that expose your garden to the risk of harm. Once youre done, level out the soil and you can install your new sod. It will look like rotted pieces. Because you know that babies have special needs. Late spring (March to April) and early summer (June to July) are perfect seasons for fertilizing because of the warm temperatures. You can fertilize your newly-seeded Bermuda grass lawns (even within the first week of installation) to great effect, but only with specific types of fertilizers, including slow-release fertilizers, organic fertilizers, or starter fertilizers. You can tell which nutrients your fertilizer has by reading the three hyphenated numbers on the product l. abel. Most lawn care companies recommend that you apply lawn fertilizer in the spring, between February and April. What differentiates this lawn food from others is the high nitrogen content that ensures deep green Bermuda grass. Pro tip: Remember to wait to fertilize a new Bermuda lawn until at least 8 weeks. When Should You Not Fertilize Your Field? Applying fertilizers at thewrong time or too early can burn the Bermuda grass. This will help to evenly distribute the fertilizer over the entire area. Each of the guides lay out maintenance tips for spring, summer and fall. Dont mow the lawn 3 days before or after applying the fertilizer. One benefit of fall fertilization is that it bolsters lawn density. Selecting a suitable time for planting plays a key role in creating a fuller and healthier lawn. We disagree. But it will be soon damaged by the freezing temperatures, and you will end up with no grass in the coming spring. Measure the square footage of the new grass youre trying to grow in order to determine how much fertilizer you need to purchase. At least four weeks, and possibly as many as eight. When fertilizing new sod, you want to wait until the root system has been established and grown down into the topsoil before feeding it with a specially-formulated started fertilizer. Watch on. Additionally, youll want to make sure you apply your last batch of fertilizer well before the first frost of the season. If this is present, apply a systemic fungicide likeHeritage G. This will be the first mow on your newly sodded bermuda grass lawn. Usually, depending on time of year, we recommend that you wait about one month from the time that it's been laid down, four to six weeks, and then we recommend that you put out a balanced fertilizer such as a triple 15, or a 15-5-10, or something like that. One of the most important things you can do for a new sod is to fertilize it. Most lawns do not need to undergo fertilization more than 2 times a year. The formula for slow release is perfect, as it ensures that you only have to apply the drug once every two months. Applying fertilizer in the winter will increase the chance of polluting waterways by excessive run-off of the nutrients into nearby streams. Use either a drop spreader or a rotary spreader to disperse the fertilizer. This is best done by watering deeply, for 3040 minutes twice per week. This will help improve drainage and reduce compaction. Wait until the weather cools back down to a normal temperature. This means it needs sprinkling anywhere from two to six times a day. Spread the seed onto the soil. Fertilize your Bermuda sod 34 weeks after installation. Starting on day 10, you can now reduce watering to once per day. You can use general-purpose fertilizer for this. Obviously, this can vary quite a bit by region, so another way to tell when you begin is to pay attention to your lawn. Grow it diduntil it started dying off. Be sure to follow the directions on the fertilizer package in order to. Apply fertilizer as recommended by the results of a soil test or broadcast a slow-release, granular fertilizer with a 10-10-10 or similar formula at a rate of no more than 1 pound nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. For healthy turf and improved color, apply iron supplements in spring and fall. For more information, readWhen to Water Newly Installed Sod. Lightly rake the soil, loosening it up so that the new seeds can make good contact with the soil surface. This solution helps grow the grass roots deeper, and allows the grass to absorb more water at one time, so less watering is needed next season. Continue reading for a full fertilizer application schedule below. Our professional lawn care technicians have been keeping lawns all across the south looking their best for generations, and we can help your yard, too. Besides fertilizing and watering new sod, you must avoid stepping on the lawn in the period that it grows roots. Select from our family of premium sod varieties and other top-quality turfgrass brands. Sod Solutions works with private breeders and university researchers across the globe to find and bring to market the best grasses with the best genetics on the planet. Also, the soil gains ample water absorption needed for the formation of new sod. It also states the key features of the fertilizer. After your grass starts to grow, you can swap the starter fertilizer with regular fertilizer and apply a second dose roughly four to six weeks later or when the grass is 1 to 1 inches tall. St. Augustine: Least drought-tolerant of the warm season grasses. Adjusting the pH level is a preferable method to improve the soil quality and avoid damage to the meadows growth. Finally, if growth suddenly stunts post-fertilization, it indicates over-fertilization. More insects. Make sure its actually grass that needs mowing, tooweeds may need to be cut well before this, but they dont count. You seeded new grass into problem areas and waited for it to grow. This will help speed up new growth to replace the nitrogen-burnt grass. Too much water or fertilizer can lead to unhealthy brown spots on your lawn, especially if you don't pay attention to what you're doing. That's the best time. When you mow, be sure to set your mower to the highest setting so that you are only removing the tops of the leaf blades. Nitrogen and iron are still included as nutrients in the New Lawn Starter Box, but they are located in the last bottle of the box, Maintain. Does implementing a year-round fertilization schedule sound like a lot of work? Fertilize sod a minimum of two times per year, once in spring and again in early fall. Although new sod and established sod are both grass, their needs differ. 3. There are a number of reasons. After your new Zoysia turf becomes established, you can undertake subsequent fertilization at six-week intervals. The lawn is supposed to be kept perpetually wet and walking may leave behind depressions besides damaging the still-sensitive grass. Key Features: For Northern lawns. Each year, a TifTuf lawn needs 1-2 pounds of nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet. Included also are pre-and post-emergence herbicide . At this point, the roots of the sod will have had a chance to grow and establish themselves, and they will be able to better absorb the fertilizer. This bottle of Maintain will provide your lawn with all the nutrition it will need for the next 30 days. After doing this, proceed to fill in the middle. If it is granular, it is better to dampen it immediately. Sprinkle fertilizer onto the surface of your newly laid sod the day after you lay the sod. Save yourself frustration and possible contamination: do not re-fertilize early. After the first couple of weeks, however, take care of weeds with your chosen . Fertilizing in the morning allows the soil to take in the most nutrients, soak in the morning dew and take advantage of cooler temperatures. This is the "sweet spot" but it also can be planted during the summer months if LOTS of water is available. Have you wondered how do people keep their lawns green and thick throughout the year? Provide a good long soak in the early morning and begin mowing regularly. Select a fertilizer that is labeled for use on Bermudagrass lawns. ft.) so that it doesnt leach or carry over. While laying new sod gives your lawn a great head start, it is still very fragile and must be cared for properly in order to survive and thrive. Aerating will help the fertilizer and water reach deep into the plant's roots, preventing the soil from becoming compacted and blocking moisture absorption. Mulch leaves in the fall to provide nutrients for the grass and help prevent thatch buildup. Taking the right action steps in new sod care promises to pay long-term dividends. Your email address will not be published. . Weed and Feed fertilizers- on the other hand- arent recommended. Bermuda pasture uses nutrients from the soil and transfers them into energy to keep growing. You can give your grass a bit of extra help by applying slow-release nitrogen fertilizer in 45- to 60-day intervals throughout the season. Suppose youre working on a budget and cant get your soil phosphorus levels tested, or maybe your region lacks a local agricultural extension office to help you with the same. Lawn Starter Fertilizer vs. Copyright 2023 Lawn Model | Powered by [Chris Wheeler, When to Fertilize New Sod [Guide for St. Augustine, Bermuda + Zoysia], How to Make Bermuda Grass Thicker and Greener, Does Soapy Water Kill Lawn Fungus? Remove debris and rubbish from the area. And you dont need that amount if your yard is less than 4000 square feet. Mowing heights below 1 inch will require a reel mower and very level ground; therefore, most bermudagrass lawns are maintained between 1 and 2 1 2 inches. Apply between 2 and 3 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet each year during the growing season. Seriously. Thats great for established plants, but not so wonderful for seedlings. With regular application, you will soon have a soft and lush green carpet of Bermuda grass. At this time, the roots continue to anchor into the ground, and cutting may lead to long-term damage. When tomato plants begin to flower and bear fruit, fertilize them every 2-3 weeks, depending on plant productivity. You will end up wasting most of the fertilizer because, in dormancy, the grass cannot absorb the nutrients. If you have an automatic sprinkler system, you should fertilize your lawn about every six weeks. Dont Miss: How Do I Fill In Bare Spots In My Lawn. Thinking about installing new sod? It sports a richly green color, and features a fine to medium texture. Selecting a suitable time for planting plays a key role in creating a fuller and healthier lawn. PGF Complete is very mild and needs to . It could create water pollution and harm the surrounding habitat. For those who prefer traditional granular fertilizer applications, check outLawnifi Foundation, a granular fertilizer that can be used throughout the different seasons all year long. Be sure to follow the directions on the label. Bermuda grass thrives in soil pH between 6-6.5. If thats a surprising number, you might have confused fertilizer with plant food. Or is it just for beautification? Whether youre looking to overseed, patch up bare spots or start a new lawn, our varieties of warm and cool season grass seed will ensure your landscape project is completed properly. Look up our exact fertilizer recommendations per grass in our Lawn Maintenance Guides. Its time for you to get to work and build an evergreen, thick terrace. This video will give you a timeline of how to take care of your new sod lawn for the first couple months. This grass seed is designed to flourish in harsh situations such as blistering heat, sloping land, and dry, high-traffic locations. See the full disclosure in the privacy policy. This combination is also known to be most beneficial for cool season turf, so depending on your variety of Bermuda, this fertilizer may be more or less beneficial. In other words, the next time you fertilize you need to use regular fertilizer that is appropriate for the makeup of your soil and the size of your fertilization area. Also, be sure to carefully read the fertilizer label to learn whether you should water the lawn before or after applying the product. This also creates a seedbed for when you're placing new seed in. This can be further reduced to once every other day on day 13 and again on day 16 to 1 inch of water per week. If your lawn reaches at least 50 percent green, it is best to use a slow-release fertilizer. Fall aeration should be performed in October. Follow the directions on the label for application rates. Due to its three main functions, I find Scotts Turf Builder fertilizer is excellent for zoysia grass. This fertilizer not only acts as plant food for your Bermuda grass but also repairs the lawn and treats nutrient deficiencies. But youre probably going to want to. Fertilization is important to a new bermuda grass lawn. From our perspectives, read the instructions carefully first and then select the appropriate application based on the type of turf you have. In addition, for better performance, it is also recommended to apply some fertilizer with calcium, magnesium and sulfur. (Best Time to Aerate ), Spike VS Plug Aerator (Which is Best for You? Still, even with the guidelines on a bag of Bermuda grass fertilizer, you might find it difficult to determine when to fertilize new Bermuda grass. Heres how to do it: 1. This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. We do not specifically market to children under 13. Although not necessary, aerating your garden after fertilization can help too. When used with a hose attachment, nutrients are carried through the soil where the biggest benefit is how fast nutrients reach the roots. If the soil pH is lower than 4.5, use a fertilizer that contains sulfur. This allows enough time for root anchorage, such that the root systems would be developed enough to absorb the nutrients. With some exceptions, your lawn likely only needs to be fertilized one to three times per year. Select a starter fertilizer for your new Bermuda grassone that has a higher phosphorous content than balanced fertilizers such as a 18-24-6 or 9-12-3 component distribution. Starter fertilizers that are packed with essential nutrients like nitrogen and potassium are usually a great option. Hybrid Bermuda. During the first few weeks, particularly the first two weeks, chemicals and your sod won't mix. With a deeply-rooted turf, your lawn will likely maintain its lush appearance for a long time. The most cost-effective way to plant a bermuda grass lawn is from seed. In week 3, gradually reduce the frequency of sod watering. Make the last application of nitrogen fertilizer no later than eight weeks before the first frost. You should use the garden hose to access your lawn if you have small and midsize yards. The content on this website is tested and reviewed by our expert. However, following the general tips below will help you decide when to fertilize the lawn: Applying fertilizer outside of the period stated on the instructions as well as the guide above will run the risk of damaging your lawn so it is important to pay attention to this. In the fall, grass roots are going down into the soil and need fertilizer to stay healthy. Pull up a corner of a few pieces. However, you do not need to mow, aerate, or rake your lawn once you are done fertilizing your garden. Generally speaking, the first time you fertilize in the spring will likely be sometime between the beginning of March and the middle of April. Apply when the soil is damp and the grass is dry. A solution to your undying crabgrass. We also look at the most suitable fertilization calendar for specific turf grasses: St. Augustine grass, Bermuda grass, and Zoysia grass. If you installed your sod in the summer, you may need to transition to theFall Fertilizer Box. Water 3 to 4 times daily to keep the seed and soil surface moist. But when, how, and at what time you fertilize your lawn requires some careful consideration. Use nitrogen-based fertilizers sparingly. For both new and existing bermuda lawns, the fertilizer process is the same: Start by spreading it around the perimeter of your lawn at a steady walking pace. 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