[OutdoorEnvy]

Hey folks, I thought it would be fun to start a thread that I will continually update with the progress of my Bermuda lawn. It might just be fun and motivation for me but maybe some useful trial and error tips will come of it for other folks. I will be using a rotary mower for now. Once it's worthy I will look to get a reel mower. I really like restoring old tools and am pretty handy with small engine stuff so I will probably get an older/used one and breath new life in it.

So to catch up on the current state I had previously cut it about 3 inches and it got unhealthy and patchy. I always bagged the grass. After research I'm now bringing it down to 2 inches cutting height. I'm using milorganite and spot spraying weeds as I see them. Clover is the main issue I battle. My plan to finish the fall out is to thicken it up a little with lateral growth before it goes dormant. I'm in Oklahoma and we still have highs in the low 90's and high 80's for a while longer so I think I can stimulate some good growth over the next 6-8 weeks.

Spring time I will do some major lawn rehab by taking it low to 3/4" the first mow and then trying my best to level the lawn so I won't have scalping. I know I have some bad spots cause I tried a few passes at 1.25" and had some. I am planning to mow the regular cut height at .75 -1.25" next year depending on how well I do at lawn leveling.

Front is a circle drive so it's kind of broken up into smaller sections. Then the bigger backyard. So here it is after the first cut at 2". Definitely had that brown look. This was about 12 days ago. It has greened up a lot as I've mowed at 2" every 4-5 days. You may notice on the top pic the left side is either St. Augustine or Centipede grass. I can't tell for sure but either way it's coming out next Spring and will seed with Bermuda so it matches. I will post some update pics soon.

thanks for looking

 

[Ware]

Great thread! You will enjoy returning to this to review your progress!

 

[high leverage]

Where abouts in Oklahoma are you? Are you near the Texas border? If you do have some St. Augustine or Centipede mixed in, that would certainly be a rarity.

 

[OutdoorEnvy]

Where abouts in Oklahoma are you? Are you near the Texas border? If you do have some St. Augustine or Centipede mixed in, that would certainly be a rarity.

I'm in OKC. It could be something else too. That was just my best guess. Only thing for certain is it's not Bermuda so its gotta go!

I'll get a close up pic next time I have the camera out. We'll see if someone knows what it is.

 

[high leverage]

If it looks like St. Augustine I would bet it's crabgrass.

 

[Spammage]

If it looks like St. Augustine I would bet it's crabgrass.

I would agree, but nothing about that pic resembles either. I'm thinking there could be some zoysia in there. Close-up pics would definitely help.

 

[high leverage]

If it looks like St. Augustine I would bet it's crabgrass.

I would agree, but nothing about that pic resembles either. I'm thinking there could be some zoysia in there. Close-up pics would definitely help.

I agree. I can't see the area he's speaking of.

 

[OutdoorEnvy]

Here's a few pics. This will be crazy if it turns out to be crabgrass!

 

[Spammage]

I'm sticking with zoysia.

 

[high leverage]

Looks like Meyers

 

[Spammage]

Looks like Meyers

If we're placing bets, I would go with El Toro.

 

[high leverage]

Looks like Meyers

If we're placing bets, I would go with El Toro.

In this great state we see 20 to 1 Meyers to El Toro. I'll take that bet.

 

[J_nick]

Looks like Meyers

If we're placing bets, I would go with El Toro.

In this great state we see 20 to 1 Meyers to El Toro. I'll take that bet.

Who do you think you are, Galen Culver?

 

[OutdoorEnvy]

Thank guys. I am glad to hear that it doesn't seem to be a giant patch of crabgrass. I would have lost sleep over that one!

 

[Spammage]

I am glad to hear that it doesn't seem to be a giant patch of crabgrass.

This may be worse. Crabgrass is easy to get rid of.

 

[OutdoorEnvy]

Two weeks later and in it's looking better. I'm hoping for another 3-4 weeks of growth or more before it goes dormant.

 

[OutdoorEnvy]

Well I missed putting down my pre-emergent by a week or two. I can't believe how quick the soil temps must have reached germination temps. I think I'm just going to put it down mid January no matter what next spring. I may put down two applications, one is January then another in March. Backyard is much worse. My front isn't bad really so I'm not worried about it right now. I spot treated the few weeds it had. But the backyard is what I was focused on today.

So today's project was to mow down a little and bag. Decided to use the Snapper Hi-vac this time.

Didn't scalp yet as I usually wait a few more weeks for that. I'm hoping these weeds will be dead by the time the Bermuda comes back to life. So here it is after spraying it down.

I'll do an update in a week or two after seeing what kind of progress it's making.

Plan for this season is to scalp at .75" and then mow and maintain it at 1.25". This will probably require some creative lawn leveling I will undertake in a few spots. I also plan to rent an aerator in about a month as my lawn is pretty compacted. I will update on that as well.

thanks for looking.

 

[Davie_Gravy]

to prevent the weeds you see right now, you'll want to apply your pre-em in early fall, right?

 

[Mightyquinn]

to prevent the weeds you see right now, you'll want to apply your pre-em in early fall, right?

Yes, you are correct and be sure your Spring PreM app coincides with your Fall app too :thumbup:

 

[OutdoorEnvy]

So if the PreM says it's for four months do you all do three applications when as it expires? Or do you let it ride in the summer when the grass is full?