Yes, the builder installed what I believe to be Tif 419. I've seen one St. Aug lawn and one Centipede lawn. Here is my current advice:
Hey y'all
I posted this last year, and that time is coming again. Lawn care season!
Most of us have Bermuda in this neighborhood. As soon as your lawn starts to "green up", scalp it. I mean take your mower and mow as low as you can down to the dirt without hitting dirt with the blades. Bag the clippings or rake all of them up if possible. All of that growth is dead and needs to be removed. Your grass will need about 1" of water per week if you want to keep it really green. I fertilize once a month during the growing season. It's hard to know what your lawn needs nutritionally without a soil sample, but my soil test from last year is probably pretty similar to everyone else's here. I was low in potassium, phosphorus, as well as Iron and some other micronutrients. I used a 15-15-15 fertilizer last year with some other goodies thrown in for other nutrients. With Bermuda it's always safe to just go with a high N fertilizer like 29-0-4, just don't put too much down at once. There is a formula to calculate N requirements based on your fertilizer if anyone is interested in that and wants to weigh their fertilizer like a mad scientist.
This is probably the most important thing: Mow low and mow often. You will have to mow as often as every other day when your grass is REALLY growing. Bermuda does best when cut at 1-2" max. 1/2" is great. This will encourage the grass to grow laterally and send out more shoots. I would go as low as you can with a rotary mower without damaging the lawn. If you are a real lawn nut, then get a reel mower, yeah the old fashioned mechanical mower that your grandpa used to use. There are also powered reel mowers which is what they use on golf courses. These will give the best cut at low heights.
