[Rockinar]

A couple years ago I was hoping for a better looking lawn on the "other" forum I had soil tests done and followed the forum guru guys recommendation. I did it for two seasons. It did not seem to do anything except make my oak tree in the front yard grow like it was on steroids. The grass, not so much. Grew fast and tall, but still looked like stringy wet carpet no matter how low I cut it. It grew fast, but did not really thicken up or anything.

I'm wondering if a reel mower is the key to a great looking lawn. Even the guys on Youtube using a crummy $140 Scotts push reel mower have a better looking lawn than I have ever got with my rotary.

I'm wondering if a reel is half the battle? A rotary seems to get me nowhere, and I hate the wheel lines the rotary leaves.

Wonder if I should bite the bullet?

 

[Ware]

My experience has been cutting bermuda frequently with a reel mower and making sure it gets adequate water, Nitrogen and sunlight is the ticket. I wouldn't say chasing numbers on a soil report is a complete waste of time, but unless there is something terribly wrong with your soil it should come secondary to the four things mentioned above. Bermuda will grow in less than optimal soil conditions - I think mine would grow across my sidewalk if I let it. :thumbup:

 

[raldridge2315]

"It did not seem to do anything except make my oak tree in the front yard grow like it was on steroids."

Bermuda grass under an oak tree will be thin, period. You can try cutting it taller to compensate for the reduced sunlight, but it will never get thick. I tried for years to grow bermuda under two large oak trees. I had the limbs trimmed up eighteen feet from the ground trying to get more sunlight. It survived, but was always thin. After I removed the trees, it took off. Not only will the trees block the sunlight, they rob the moisture. Just as @Ware said, nitrogen and sunlight is the answer. I'll add water to the list.

 

[Mightyquinn]

How often were/are you mowing? Before I got a reel mower I was using a rotary and my lawn still looked good and was nice and thick. I was mowing twice a week though. I will say that with a rotary mower, bermuda will be a little "leggy" no matter what you do when compared to a reel mower.