Bermudagrass Lawn Management Calendar

Bermudagrass Maintenance Calendar

 

Table 1A. Bermudagrass Maintenance Calendar

 

Note: X = Best time frame for indicated activity.

Watering – Number equals projected maximum water needed on a weekly basis. Try to reduce water amount and frequency for water savings.

Mowing – Number listed is the cutting height for each mowing if using medium to low maintenance (Regime 1) and high maintenance (Regime 2) .

Fertilizing (F) – letter indicates optimum timing. Adjust the amount/timing on intended results.

White grub control – P = preventive insecticides; C = curative insecticides (see notes below). Not all lawns need treatment, please determine if actually needed.

 

Establishment

Three to ten bushels sprigs/1,000 sq. ft. or 2 pounds coated seed/1,000 sq. ft.

 

Cultivars

Fine: TifSport, Tifway, Latitude 36, NorthBridge, Patriot

Medium: Astro, Riviera, Yukon, U-3, Midiron

 

Dethatching

Remove thatch thicker than ½  in.

 

Mowing

Remove no more than 1/3 of the leaf blade at any one time.  Recycle clippings using a mulching mower. Regime 1 is for a higher mowing height, Regime 2 is for shorter mowing height.

 

Watering

Suggested amounts are only estimates. Always adjust watering schedule based on rain. Water when footprints appear in grass after walking over lawn. Consider having a non-irrigated brown bermuda lawn for community water savings during severe drought.

 

Fertilizing

• Soil test every three years; fertilize based on test results. Don’t apply phosphorus to lawns that already test adequate for this nutrient.

• Match amount applied to quality and mowing expectations.

• Quick-release program: apply up to 1 lb. of actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. three to five times a year.

• Or slow release program: apply up to 1 2/3 lbs. of actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. two to three times a  year.

 

Consumer/Residential Weed Control

 

(Observe all label directions)

Dormant Bermudagrass Postemergent Control – on dormant bermuda only.

• glyphosate (ROUNDUP® and similar generics if labeled)

 

Preemergent Crabgrass Control – January 1 to March 5 for first application. Follow label directions for second application information. (pick only one, products with “**” are best)

• bensulide (BETASAN^®, SCOTT’S WEEDGRASS PREVENTER^®)
• dithiopyr** (DIMENSION^® and others)
• pendamethalin** (Pendulum, SCOTT’S HALTS^® and many others)
• oryzalin** (SURFLAN^® and others)
• oryzalin** + benefin (XL 2G^®, AMAZE^®)
• prodiamine** (BARRICADE^® and others)

 

Preemergent Broadleaf Control – January 1 to March 5 for first application. Follow label directions for second application information. (pick only one, products with “**” are best)

• bensulide (BETASAN^®, SCOTT’S WEEDGRASS PREVENTER^®)
• dithiopyr** (DIMENSION^® and others)
• pendamethalin** (Pendulum, SCOTT’S HALTS^® and many others)
• oryzalin** (SURFLAN^® and others)
• oryzalin** + benefin (XL 2G^®, AMAZE^®)
• prodiamine** (BARRICADE^® and others)

 

Preemergent Broadleaf Control – August 25 to September 15

• isoxaben (PORTRAIT^®) – fall use to prevent winter broadleaf weeds

 

Postemergent Crabgrass Control – used in spot treatment

• MSMA, DSMA, CAMA – new labeled product no longer available for residential lawn application but please use up existing stocks as per the label when daytime temperatures are above 80°F
• Quinchlorac – (Drive^® Quinchlorac) used in place of MSMA for post-emergent crabgrass control
• Bayer “Lawn Weed & Crabgrass Killer” (Quinclorac +2,4-D+Dicamba) or Spectracide “Weed Stop For Lawns” (Quinclorac+2,4-D+Dicamba+Sulfentrazone) or Ortho “Weed–B-Gone Max plus Crabgrass Control” (Quinclorac+MCPP+2,4-D+Dicamba) can be used if both crabgrass and broadleaves are present

 

Postemergent Broadleaf Control – broadcast or spot treatment

• WEED-B-GON^®, TRIMEC^®, Bayer Lawn Weed & Crabgrass Killer^®, Spectracide Weed Stop For Lawns^®, Ortho Weed–B-Gone Max plus Crabgrass Control^®, SpeedZone.

 

Postemergent Sedge Control –

• halosulfuron-methyl ( SEDGEHAMMER^®) or sulfosulfuron (Certainty^®)
• imazaquin (IMAGE^®) – may yellow bermuda, foliar and soil activity
• bentazon (BASAGRAN^®) – yellow nutsedge only

 

MSMA – many products containing MSMA can still be used for yellow nutsedge control but are no longer available for purchase. Use up MSMA as per the label. Use when daytime temps above 80°F.

 

Grass Killer for Edging – (do not use these over the lawn)

• glyphosate (ROUNDUP^®, ROUNDUP PRO^®,  KILLZALL^®, GLYFOS^® and many more)
• glufosinate-ammonium (FINALE­)
• fluazifop-P-butyl (GRASS-B-GON^®, OVER-THE-TOP GRASS KILLER^®)
• sethoxydim – (ferti-lome^® Over-The-Top II Grass Killer, Grass Getter^®,  and POAST^®)
• while cacodylic acid (LIQUID EDGER^®, PHYTAR^®) is no longer available, please use up existing product as per label directions

 

White Grub Control

Preventive (P): Products containing imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Seasonlong Grub Control^®, Merit^®), clothianidin (Arena^®, Green Light Grub Control with Arena®), chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn^®, Scott’s GrubEx^®), or halofenozide (Natural Guard Grub Control^®, Spectracide^® Grub Stop™). Apply late April to mid-May.

 

Curative (C): Products containing trichlorfon (Dylox^®, Bayer Advanced™ 24 Hour Grub Killer), or clothianidin (Arena^®, Green Light Grub Control with Arena^®).  Apply August through September when grub damage appears.  Irrigate after application to activate the product.

 

See Extension Fact Sheet HLA-6420 for more details.