Q: I reside in Scottsdale and I was curious to find out โ realistically, how long does a Bermuda grass lawn stay nice and not overrun by weeds, dry patches, and so on before eventually needing to replace it with new sod?ย
A:ย The time it takes really depends on the care you are able and willing to give to the grass.ย Proper mowing, dethatching, fertilizing, irrigating, and pest management are the basic components of a lawn management program.ย Proper mowing means using a sharpened mower and adjusting it to the best height.ย This would be somewhere between a half inch to 1 1/2 inches depending on the variety.ย Mowing is best done on a schedule that keeps up with the growth of the grass.ย Just like other plants, you don't want to take off too much at one time (one third off the top is a good rule of thumb). Dethatching is something done as needed when the thatch, the spongy layer of plant material between the soil and the green parts of the grass, becomes thicker than half inch. You might need to rent a vertical mower or power rake to do this job. Fertilization with half pound of nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet each month during the growing season (April through September) promotes good vegetative growth.ย Make sure you water your lawn after you fertilize.ย How often you water after that depends on the weather. Typically, every three days to a depth of six to eight inches is good for the summer. This can be reduced if we have significant rain. If you keep up with all of this, the pest problems will be less because healthy grass is likely to shade out weeds and be more tolerant of insects and diseases. Overall, Bermuda grass is a tough plant that does well given the right conditions.
Peter L. Warren is the urban horticulture agent for the Pima County Cooperative Extension and the University of Arizona. ย Questions may be emailed toย tucsongardensage@gmail.com.
