New Bermuda Lawn - Need Advice

10 years ago

I live in Greenville, SC. I ripped out my entire lawn this year and installed 9 Pallets of Tifway 419 and 3 pallets of Celebration. So I have roughly 6000sqft of Bermuda to maintain. I have found the Bermuda Bible (thanks Texas Weed), but I wanted to put a plan together to take this lawn to the next level. I should note that my lawn is very unlevel and I am currently cutting the grass at 2_1/4inch (every 4-5 days) to avoid scalping. I use an older Honda rotary mower that has six adjustable heights between 3/4inch and 3_1/4inch. My goal is to be able to maintain the grass at 1_1/4inch without scalping or browning. Please take a look at my plan and offer any advice or changes. Thanks in advance. Some of the lawns on this forum are incredible.

MY PLAN

2013:
Sep 1st - submit soil samples
Oct 15 - apply recommended applications per soil test

2014:
Feb 15th - Apply Pre-emergent (Lesco Stonewall 20% 0-0-7)
April 1st - Apply Pre-emergent (Lesco Stonewall 20% 0-0-7)
April 15th - First Mow (scalp at 1_3/4, maintain at 2_1/4)
April 30th - Apply Fertilizer (Lesco 39-0-0)
May 30th - Apply Fertilizer (Lesco 39-0-0)
June 1st - Lawn Level (scalp 1_3/4, top dress lawn, maintain at 1_3/4)
June 30th - Apply Fertilizer (Lesco 39-0-0)
July 15th - Lawn Level (scalp 1_1/4, top dress lawn, maintain at 1_1/4)
July 30th - Apply Fertilizer (Lesco 39-0-0)
Aug 30th - Apply Fertilizer (Lesco 39-0-0)
Sep 1st - submit soil samples
Oct 15 - apply recommended applications per soil test

Sort by:Oldest

Comment (1)

dchall_san_antonio
10 years ago
Generally this is great, but you can't predict the date for preeemergent. I go by the general increase in temps out of the winter cold and then the first heavy rain after that. Find out when the "last frost" date is for your area and plan for 3 weeks before that date. That's when to watch for the rain. That rain will be the rain which sprouts the spring/summer weeds. Some of these weeds are designed to sprout/germinate, take root, and go dormant until the weather really warms up.

Also you should not have to level the lawn twice. Has your lawn ever been rototilled? If yes, then when? If it was done in the past 3 years, you might want to wait to level it. Or if you are really gung ho, go for it and let us know how it goes over the next few years. The first leveling will "take it to the next level" for you. If you want to level it again, I would give it at least 2 months in between for full recovery of the grass.

Please go to my member page and send me an email.
Related Professionals
Cary Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Glendora Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Roosevelt Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Salisbury Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Washington Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Doctor Phillips Landscape Contractors · Gaithersburg Landscape Contractors · Hayden Landscape Contractors · New Cassel Landscape Contractors · Rio Linda Landscape Contractors · The Villages Landscape Contractors · Winchester Landscape Contractors · Reisterstown Landscape Contractors · Vadnais Heights Landscape Contractors · Glenn Heights Swimming Pool Builders