Home › Lawns and Garden Paths › Lawns and Garden Paths: Bermuda

Lawns and Garden Paths: Bermuda

Bermuda grass may be considered a weed north of Washington as the first touch of frost causes it to turn brown leaving ugly discolored patches over the lawn in early fall. In parts of the South, however, Bermuda grass is the mainstay of many lawns.

It has already been mentioned that well-cared-for lawns will not be seriously troubled with weeds after the first 2 or 3 years provided no fresh manure is applied or low-grade seed is sown. But just as soon as the grass fails to make a vigorous growth and die out in patches weeds will soon make an appearance. Each year some seeding is usually required, this is especially necessary during the first few years and until the growth of grass becomes uniform throughout and thoroughly well established. An excellent time for this work is in early spring, just before the lawn is rolled for the first time.

FERTILIZING An annual top dressing of commercial fertilizer will be required to maintain the fertility of the soil. A good crop of grass cannot be expected from land that does not contain a reasonable supply of available plant food. During the growing season the grass is contin- [225] ually drawing nourishment out of the soil in sufficient quantities to sustain its growth and unless the fertility so used is not replaced the soil will gradually become depleted and the result will be a poor growth of turf not sufficiently vigorous to hold its own against the inroad of crab grass and other weeds.

Various fertilizers can be used with good results.

A spring top dressing of pulverized sheep manure or bone dust mixed half and half with wood ashes is very beneficial and may be sprinkled over the surface, 1/2 to 1 ton per acre. Bone meal becomes available more slowly than bone dust and is best applied in the autumn. An annual top dressing of bone meal will give excellent results as phosphates are particularly valuable for increasing the vigor of grass plants. Wood ashes will strengthen the root growth and introduce a small amount of lime into the soil which will prove of special benefit to lawns made of Kentucky blue grass because this grass thrives in lands containing lime and will not tolerate any soil acidity.

Pulverized sheep manure is especially well suited for use during the growing season as it contains a fair amount of nitrogen which becomes available quickly, it stimulates the leaf growth, and tends to freshen up the lawn giving it a healthy green appearance. If at any time the grass appears yellowish and somewhat bare in [226] patches it may be well to apply nitrate of soda for the purpose of giving an immediate stimulation. Apply 250 to 300 lbs. per acre, giving one top dressing in early spring and a later one in early July, if circumstances demand a second application. Apply only on a damp day when the grass is wet, if the day is hot and dry the nitrate will burn the foliage by extracting the water from the leaves.

Generally speaking, after a lawn is made, commercial fertilizers are preferred to dressings of animal manures because they are free from weed seeds and do not disfigure the general appearance. However, if manure must be used apply a light mulch in early winter and the following spring rake off any coarse parts that remain on the ground. In this way a double benefit is derived; the plant food is washed into the soil below and the grass roots being partially mulched are not so exposed to the heaving action of the frost. This mulch of manure is of much benefit to new lawns that are not yet firmly rooted in the ground.