[Movingshrub]

Is there any kind of guidance on applying fertilizer in hot weather?

I am planning to apply granular ammonium sulfate at one pound of nitrogen per thousand square feet and then will water it in the morning. The day time high temp for the foreseeable future is above 90F. Thanks.

 

[Redtenchu]

Nope, just don't apply while the lawn is wet.

 

[Spammage]

I don't usually put down a heavy app (1 lb of N/k) during hot weather. It will cause drought stress earlier, and I don't want to spend any more time outside than absolutely necessary when its this hot.

 

[jds912]

what kind of grass?

 

[Movingshrub]

what kind of grass?

TifTuf Bermuda.

I've been putting down one pound of N per week to drive growth/filling-in on my sprigging project. Fortunately, every time I've applied fertilizer so far, the temperature has been in the 70s or low 80s. Today was the first time I've applied in the 90s. Also, in case it matters, I'm applying fast release style fertilizer. I also water it in the next morning if it doesn't rain that day.

 

[Crimson2v]

I did not know you can put out that much, does it really help the growth? My backyard has large spots where the bermuda did not come back after last years seeding. I don't want to hijack the thread but would that be a good idea?

 

[Movingshrub]

I did not know you can put out that much, does it really help the growth? My backyard has large spots where the bermuda did not come back after last years seeding. I don't want to hijack the thread but would that be a good idea?

Regarding the amount if N:
I think 1LB of Nitrogen per 1,000 SQFT is about the max rate per week.

I got my information from https://extension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/W160-D.pdf

and there is another document from Missouri that directs 0.5LB per 1,000 SQFT per week.

http://turf.missouri.edu/stat/reports/pdf/aggbermudagrowin.pdf

Depending on the size of the area, you may be better off plugging to fill it in.

Regarding my temp question, I went ahead and put down the fertilizer today, and it ended up raining a few hours later so hopefully I am in the clear.

 

[jds912]

I imagine your cutting interval will be every other day for a few weeks. Are you applying any other nutrition in between nitrogen apps.?
I would think with that much n put down the grass is draining its carbohydrate reserves. Maybe some potassium in between? What kind of soil, acidic or alkaline?

 

[Movingshrub]

I imagine your cutting interval will be every other day for a few weeks. Are you applying any other nutrition in between nitrogen apps.?
I would think with that much n put down the grass is draining its carbohydrate reserves. Maybe some potassium in between? What kind of soil, acidic or alkaline?

I have been checking the pH and it seems to be staying around 6.5.

The documents I attached earlier involve a fertilizer schedule that also includes an all purpose fertilizer. I am applying 15-15-15 at one pound of N per thousand square feet every forth week.

Also, I put down a slow release starter fert at the time of planting.

 

[jds912]

i dont think the temp will have much to do with salt burn from fertilizer. i would tend to think you may lose some to evaporation before the grass can utilize the n. i imagine its filling in nicely with all the fertilizer? have you applied primo to the area?

 

[slomo]

You can fert all you want if you have Bermuda or its cousin Tif. It loves all the N you can afford to spend.

slomo

 

[Movingshrub]

i dont think the temp will have much to do with salt burn from fertilizer. i would tend to think you may lose some to evaporation before the grass can utilize the n. i imagine its filling in nicely with all the fertilizer? have you applied primo to the area?

I haven't applied primo. I was doing one pound of Nitrogen per thousand square feet every 3-4 days for the first three weeks, then switched to applying once a week. No one is using the space so I really have this entire growing season for it to get established.

 

[Redtenchu]

You can fert all you want if you have Bermuda or its cousin Tif. It loves all the N you can afford to spend.

slomo

Tif is Bermuda, not a cousin.

Over application of Nitrogen is not only wasteful, but can be harmful to Bermuda due to excessive top growth.

The nicest Bermuda lawns on this forum are at a rate of 1lb/1k per month or less.

 

[Movingshrub]

You can fert all you want if you have Bermuda or its cousin Tif. It loves all the N you can afford to spend.

slomo

Tif is Bermuda, not a cousin.

Over application of Nitrogen is not only wasteful, but can be harmful to Bermuda due to excessive top growth.

The nicest Bermuda lawns on this forum are at a rate of 1lb/1k per month or less.

Concur with normal application rate for an established lawn. I used the Univ of TN turfgrass guidance on amount of N for sprigging fill-in and also guidance from golf course superintendent. Once grass is established, the amount of nitrogen will go to a normal rate.

 

[J_nick]

+1 Movingshrub, for sprigging 1-2# N a week is what I researched too. For an established lawn 1# N every 4-6 weeks.

 

[Movingshrub]

+1 Movingshrub, for sprigging 1-2# N a week is what I researched too. For an established lawn 1# N every 4-6 weeks.

I hadn't seen anything suggesting 2LB a week. If I had know that imagine the full rate I could have been pushing. My understanding is that I was actually limited by sunlight, this time of year, vs the amount of nitrogen.

 

[slomo]

Talking about fill-in areas, dead spots and such. More N you spread the more grass and mowing. Faster way to fill in areas in need.

slomo

 

[Movingshrub]

Talking about fill-in areas, dead spots and such. More N you spread the more grass and mowing. Faster way to fill in areas in need.

slomo

In my case, I had planted by way of sprigging; my entire yard was the fill-in area. If it was one spot, that would be a different story potentially.

 

[Movingshrub]

+1 Movingshrub, for sprigging 1-2# N a week is what I researched too. For an established lawn 1# N every 4-6 weeks.

Have you ever seen any documentation to the max amount of nitrogen that can be fed to Bermuda? My theory is that the answer may be related to the amount of sunlight being received at the time of year/length of day.

 

[J_nick]

+1 Movingshrub, for sprigging 1-2# N a week is what I researched too. For an established lawn 1# N every 4-6 weeks.

Have you ever seen any documentation to the max amount of nitrogen that can be fed to Bermuda? My theory is that the answer may be related to the amount of sunlight being received at the time of year/length of day.

Not that I can remember.

This is just my opinion but I don't even think the Bermuda can use all the 1-2#s a week. With as frequently you have to water with sprigging I would think some would leach away or volatilize before being takin up by the plant especially at the higher end.