Bermuda Lawn Care Schedule for Year-Round Maintenance

To maintain a lush and healthy Bermuda lawn, it's essential to follow a year-round maintenance schedule. Bermuda grass is a warm-season grass, which means it thrives in temperatures above 75°F.

In the spring, Bermuda lawns typically go dormant during the cooler winter months, but as soon as temperatures rise, they start growing rapidly. This is the perfect time to fertilize your lawn with a balanced fertilizer.

Regular mowing is crucial for Bermuda lawns, and it's recommended to mow at a height of 1-2 inches to promote healthy growth.

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As you prepare for the changing seasons, it's essential to adjust your Bermuda lawn care schedule accordingly. Location and terrain affect turf performance, so consider these factors when planning your seasonal care.

In the spring, it's crucial to aerate your lawn to improve air, water, and nutrient circulation. This will help your lawn recover from the winter months.

During the summer, regular mowing and watering are vital to maintain a lush and healthy lawn. Adjust your mowing schedule based on the age of your lawn.

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In the fall, it's essential to fertilize your lawn to promote root growth and prepare it for the next growing season. Consider the soil type and condition of your lawn when choosing a fertilizer.

Throughout the year, keep an eye on your lawn's condition and make adjustments to your care schedule as needed.

To maintain a healthy bermuda lawn, it's essential to mow regularly. Mowing encourages bermuda grass to grow laterally, resulting in improved density. This should be done weekly during the growing season, or as often as necessary to prevent scalping.

The recommended mowing height for bermuda grass home lawns is 1 to 2 inches using a rotary mower. Hybrid varieties can be mowed to less than 1 inch, but this requires multiple weekly mowings.

Mowing too low removes too much leaf tissue, causing inadequate density, root development, and a reduction in overall turfgrass health. It's also important to return clippings to the lawn, as they are a great way to recycle nutrients.

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Mowing is one of the most important cultural practices for managing turfgrasses, encouraging them to grow laterally and resulting in improved density.

Mowing too tall or infrequently can lead to a loss of density, as turfgrass leaves grow upward to compete for light with neighboring plants. This can cause inadequate density, root development, and a reduction in overall turfgrass health.

The recommended mowing height for bermudagrass home lawns is 1 to 2 inches using a rotary mower.

Hybrid varieties, like those used on golf courses and athletic fields, can be mowed to less than 1 inch, but this typically requires multiple weekly mowings using a reel mower.

The general rule when mowing turfgrass is to never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf tissue at once, referred to as the "one-third rule." For example, if the lawn is 1 inch tall, it should be mowed again as soon as it reaches a height of 1.5 inches.

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Mowing frequency can vary based on season, temperature, rainfall/irrigation, and fertility, and a reliable visual clue is to make sure the lawn does not change from green to brown after mowing.

Leaving nutrient-rich grass clippings on the lawn is a great way to recycle nutrients, unless they are unsightly or clumped, in which case they should be collected and used as mulch.

Initial mowing should be done when the lawn first turns green, using a rotary or reel mower set as low as possible without scalping the lawn, and mowing the grass before it grows taller than 2 1/2 inches.

Thatch Removal is a crucial step in maintaining a healthy lawn. If thatch is thicker than 1⁄2 inch, power rake (vertical mow) in late May.

Vertical mowing should only be done after the lawn has completely greened up, or recovery will be very slow. This is a critical timing consideration to ensure the lawn recovers quickly.

Power raking is an effective way to remove thatch, but it's essential to do it at the right time to avoid damaging the lawn.

To keep your bermuda lawn healthy and weed-free, it's essential to apply preemergence herbicides from mid-February to early March. This will prevent summer annual grassy weeds like crabgrass from germinating.

For bermudagrass lawns, choose a preemergence herbicide on a fertilizer carrier that contains only phosphorous (P) and/or potassium (K), as nitrogen can stimulate weed growth.

A dense, healthy lawn is the best defense against weeds, so focus on proper variety selection and management practices to prevent or limit weed infestations. Regular mowing at the higher end of the recommended range can also reduce infestations of weeds like crabgrass.

If pre-emergent herbicides are not used, crabgrass can be controlled with post-emergent herbicides that contain quinclorac, but be aware that this herbicide can cause temporary bermudagrass discoloration for 1 to 2 weeks after application.

Some popular pre-emergence herbicides for use in bermudagrass lawns include:

LATE WINTER / VERY EARLY SPRING is a crucial time for Bermuda lawn care, as it's when you need to apply pre-emergent to prevent crabgrass and most weeds.

Put down pre-emergent just before grass starts to green up and soil temps are still below 51 degrees. Make sure it's down well before the dates below, as 4 is the time to watch for armyworms.

EARLY SPRING is the time to start seeing lots of little green shoots of Bermuda Grass, but don't make the mistake of pushing your lawn too early. There are always late frosts, so wait for the lawn to show green all over before scalping.

During SUMMER, your lawn likes to have at least 1" of water per week, and during high heat and drought conditions, water more often. Watering early in the morning is key to preventing fungus issues.

September Through November is a time to continue mowing using the March to May guidelines until several weeks before the first expected frost.

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Late Winter/Early Spring is a critical time for your Bermuda lawn. This is when you need to use your judgment and research to determine the best course of action for your specific area.

Pre-emergent should be applied just before your grass starts to green up and soil temps are still below 51 degrees. This will help control crabgrass and most weeds.

Make sure to apply pre-emergent well before the soil temps reach 51 degrees, as indicated on a good map. It's essential to be proactive and get a head start on weed control.

Armyworms can start to appear around this time, so keep an eye out for them. It's better to be prepared and take action early on to prevent any damage.

As your Bermuda grass starts to green up, it's essential to avoid applying granulars, as they can be washed away or picked up during mowing. Instead, opt for sprays whenever possible.

This is also a great time to do soil testing, focusing on pH levels. A balanced pH will help your lawn thrive and prevent any potential issues.

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June through August is a critical period for your lawn, especially if you have Bermuda grass. You'll want to mow to the desired height, which can range from 5/8 to 2 1/2 inches.

Maintaining a lower height will require more frequent mowing to prevent scalping. This is especially true if you have a reel mower and uneven ground.

Make sure to keep the soil from getting too dry, as irrigation may be necessary during this time. You can also water your lawn briefly every morning at 5am if you're experiencing drought conditions.

Inspect your lawn regularly for disease and pests, such as armyworms, which can start to appear in June or July depending on your region. Treat any issues promptly to prevent damage to your lawn.

Here's a quick rundown of what to watch out for during this time:

As we head into the fall season, it's essential to adjust our lawn care routine to ensure our grass stays healthy and thriving. Raise the mowing height to 2-3 inches in early to mid-September in the mountains, and late September to mid-October in the coastal plain.

This adjustment provides more protection from winter kill, especially if you live in the piedmont and haven't overseeded your lawn. The ideal time to do this is about mid to late September in the piedmont.

To minimize spring dead spot, apply no more than 0.5 pound N per 1,000 square feet in September, or four weeks before the first expected frost. This is a crucial step to prevent damage to your lawn.

You can use a low N, high potassium fertilizer like 5-10-30, or supplement with 1 pound of potash (K2O) per 1,000 square feet four to six weeks before expected frost. This will help promote healthy growth and prevent disease.

Here's a quick rundown of the fertilizers you can use:

As the temperature drops from the 90's to the 80's, it's time to give your Bermuda lawn a boost with a broad spectrum fertilizer. This will promote health and store nutrients for the winter.

We want to feed our lawn a balanced fertilizer that includes all N-P-K nutrients, iron, and micros. I'm using the new PGF Fertilizer and applying super juice every 3-4 weeks until the first cold temps hit.

It's also a good time to add some humic to the soil, as long as we have about 2 months left of warm temperatures. This will help our lawn prepare for the winter.

While the grass is still growing, I'm applying a granular pre-emergent to prevent weeds from taking over. If you're not having weed issues, you can hold off on this until October.

As the temperatures start to cool, let your grass grow a bit taller than usual. I'm keeping my grass at its normal length, but allowing it to grow an extra inch or so. When the first frost hits, we'll keep it at this height to give it a soft, fuzzy brown look throughout the winter.

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