This Spring I have fertilized regularly, preemergent, etc. I have watered regularly, mow it twice a week.

I do have some spots in the front and back that look like dollar spot. I have put a fungus killer on the yard (fertilome Fstop). It has been over 10 days and nothing has really changed. Any other suggestions for this?

My main question though is, should I just be trying to get through this year with new grass and expect better next year or should it be at a peek now? I feel like I do all the right upkeepings but it doesn't look how I want it, yet.

Where do you live?
Is there any shade on the grass from trees, buildings, or fences?
How often do you water and for how long?
How high/low do you mow?
What fertilizer are you using and how often?

Nah that is too broad of a statement. True for some areas, but not nationally.

The key to Bermuda grass performance is night time temps and the root zone temperature. When night time lows are consistently above 65 degrees is when Bermuda is in top shape. That means the top surface root zone is staying at 70 or higher.

Dollar Spot is usually associated with damp conditions and cool night when Bermuda growth slows down. Best treatment for Dollar Spot is good warm weather and fertilizer so the Bermuda outgrows the problem. Otherwise you need a fungicide to deal with cool nights and high moisture levels.

The OP lives in Alabama. However, it would make some difference whether he lives in the northern, central, or southern part of the state. I would still say that the month of July is the "peak" performance time for his region. Yeah, that 60 day window was a bit too broad.

"The key to Bermuda grass performance is night time temps and the root zone temperature."

There are a number of key criteria which determine bermudagrass performance. The two you listed certainly are, as well as day length. As the days get shorter, bermudagrass growth and development begins to slow down. And now is the time of year when bermudagrass starts to store carbohydrates in preparation for its winter dormancy period. That is why, here in the southeast, we start thinking about raising our height of cut at this time of year to help that process along.

In my neck of the woods, Dollar Spot is usually seen anywhere from late Winter to late Spring, and that is when we will usually see those damp, cool conditions to which you referred. I usually make it disappear quickly with a fungicide application and sprayable nitrogen.

Where do you live?
Central Alabama (Birmingham area)

Is there any shade on the grass from trees, buildings, or fences?
Some shade from a fence. Backyard only.
Morning shade on front lawn. Until about 9am.
How often do you water and for how long?
Once a week. 1 inch. Sometimes twice a week during a hot times with no rain. 1 inch to a inch and a half then.

How high/low do you mow?
Try to mow just around 1 inch. However, due to problems with my reel mower I have raised it just a little bit.

What fertilizer are you using and how often?
Fertilome fertilizer monthly. One month is a crabgrass preventer, next month fertilizer.

I appreciate all the replies and I did not make myself real clear in my intial post. My main question is, should I just being trying to survive this year with my grass (laid down last August) and expect better next year or if I am doing every thing is this is as good as it gets?

I am not too concerned about the time period of the year it will do the best but more of will my bermuda grass do better after this year and it has had time to go through and entire season?

Thanks for all the replies!!!!

I'm ok with the watering schedule, but I would like to learn more about the fertilizer and crabgrass preventer materials you are using. What exactly is the name and numbers on the bags of materials you are using? It appears that Fertilome has several products for lawn care. Which ones are you using?

I will also be interested to continue in the other topic thread related to your washboarding as to whether lifting up on the handle has any positive effect on reducing the washboarding.

And to answer your question, your bermuda should look like a grass carpet right now. Can you post any pictures here?

Lawn Food Plus Iron 24-0-4
put first weekend of April, June and August

next is crabgrass preventer plus lawn food 20-0-3
Put down first weekend of May and July

A local nursery has me on this program (however, it is no different than any other customer with bermuda).

I just went out and mower again. Still have issues with the washboarding. I paid close attention to the mowers handle and that is not the problem. You have to push way down on it to lift it at all. I made sure I was slightly elevated with it the entire time. Here are some photos I took. Let me know if you can't view them.

http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q607/BamaMatt42/photo4.jpg?t=13446 35447
This is the backyard. The spots at the bottom are dog pee spots I have filled in with sand (just figured out recently what was causing the spots. Yard has been mowed.

http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q607/BamaMatt42/photo16.jpg?t=1344 635440
Another backyard. I have mowed vertically to the reel mower.

http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q607/BamaMatt42/photo15.jpg?t=1344 635444
Another, mowed to the reel mower.

http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q607/BamaMatt42/photo32.jpg?t=1344 635443
Front yard. Mowed

http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q607/BamaMatt42/photo23.jpg?t=1344 635444
Another front yard. Mowed.

I am posting this so I don't lose it but I am going to go take more pictures of the washboarding. I realize you cannot see it in these pictures.

http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q607/BamaMatt42/photo41.jpg?t=1344 636408
backyard, viewing with my horizontal cut.

http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q607/BamaMatt42/photo33.jpg?t=1344 636408
same place, just different angle.

http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q607/BamaMatt42/photo24.jpg?t=1344 636404
view from horizontal cut (this was the 2nd passover)

http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q607/BamaMatt42/photo17.jpg?t=1344 636401
backyard, veritcal cut. The first pass through.

I really appreciate you taking the time to help with me with this. It is about to make me pull my hair out. I have decided next April/May I am going to level my yard like it showed in the other thread.

If this helps, here is my reel mower.

http://www.peoplepoweredmachines.com/american/index.htm

I do have the bag attachment. I don't like trash on the lawn.

Just to say again, I have the mower about 3 months. I have had this problem for about a month and a half now mowing 2 times a week.

http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q607/BamaMatt42/photo31.jpg?t=1344 032322

Look at the photo. This is an example of what I have all over the front and back yard. It is hard to see from the pics in the camera.

You can look from one angle and not be able see much but walk to the other end of the yard and it looks like someone drug something across the yard to make the grass stand up higher.

Here is a link....

One of the ways that golf course mechanics can tell if their reel mowers are cutting properly is by checking to see if the reel will cut newspaper across the length of the reel. If a reel will cut newspaper, it will cut grass.

It may very well be that your American reel mower is just not stout enough to properly mow through some of the thick bermudagrass. If this is the case, would you consider getting a gas-powered reel mower like rager_w showed you in the other thread? Or I guess you could always use a rotary mower, but it will not provide the 1" height of cut with a nice finished look you get with a powered reel mower.

Take a look at this link I posted on another forum. They gave some answers as well basically just saying, it's the mower and nothing you can do....

Take a look at this link I posted on another forum. They gave some answers as well basically just saying, it's the mower and nothing you can do....