[Suaverc118]

Does anyone have a good lawn fertilizer schedule that uses both of these during the growing season? Example: Monthly fertilizer and in between milorgonite. Is that a safe practice to laying down fertilizer every 2 weeks?
Thanks

 

[Ridgerunner]

A good "rule of thumb" is to follow seasonal turf use rates for NP&K, if you don't mind doing a little math.

 

[Ecks from Tex]

Does anyone have a good lawn fertilizer schedule that uses both of these during the growing season? Example: Monthly fertilizer and in between milorgonite. Is that a safe practice to laying down fertilizer every 2 weeks?
Thanks

It's a safe practice to lay fertilizer down every day as far as the lawn goes; environmentally that's a separate issue. It's NOT a safe practice to throw salts down every two weeks.

Applying Milorganite 1-2 times per month isn't going to hurt anything, but Milo does not dissolve with water it is actually composted into the soil due to heat/friction. So early in the growing season you will probably have a bunch of milo just sitting on the ground -- the grass will use up the organic nitrogen and iron, but the rest of its nutrients and organic nitrogen will slow release.

Apply one high N synthetic in the growing season - here's my schedule that I posted https://thelawnforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2555

 

[Mightyquinn]

Does anyone have a good lawn fertilizer schedule that uses both of these during the growing season? Example: Monthly fertilizer and in between milorgonite. Is that a safe practice to laying down fertilizer every 2 weeks?
Thanks

Apply one high N synthetic in the growing season - here's my schedule that I posted https://thelawnforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2555

He has bermuda so It's going to require more than one high N application per year if he wants a thick and green lawn. You should try to shoot for .5-1 lb of Nitrogen per K per month for bermuda.

 

[Ecks from Tex]

Does anyone have a good lawn fertilizer schedule that uses both of these during the growing season? Example: Monthly fertilizer and in between milorgonite. Is that a safe practice to laying down fertilizer every 2 weeks?
Thanks

Apply one high N synthetic in the growing season - here's my schedule that I posted https://thelawnforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2555

He has bermuda so It's going to require more than one high N application per year if he wants a thick and green lawn. You should try to shoot for .5-1 lb of Nitrogen per K per month for bermuda.

I've never been lucky enough to have Bermuda unfortunately, so I'm admittedly a little weak on its maintenance, but one application of 24-0-4 fert and four Milo apps isn't enough nitrogen to grow thick Bermuda?

 

[Mightyquinn]

I don't think applying Milo at bag rate will do it for bermuda especially during the peak Summer growing season and depending on how big your lawn is it can become cost prohibitive as down in the South here we don't get the same deals like they do in the North that are closer to the source.

 

[Ecks from Tex]

Interesting. Thanks for the info. I've always wanted Bermuda but just couldn't justify the cost of changing.

 

[Tellycoleman]

During my reno last year with seeded bermuda I applied 1 pound of nitrogen every 2 weeks. I was mowing the lawn like crazy. If your trying to get your bermuda to spread then thats the way to go. Probably not the best idea for a maintenance program but i plan on either 0.5 every 2 weeks or a little heavier in the thin areas this year.
I am not sold on the milorganite band wagon.
There are many extended release fertilizers with higher percentages of Nitrogen that wont require so much money or bags of fert.

 

[mrigney]

So if you're not going to use Milo, does it matter what brand you grab, or is NPK all that really matters? I've used Milo in the last, but now that I'm taking things more seriously (thatnks to everybody here), I'm interested in exploring other options. Are there non Milo brands that are the best?

 

[Suaverc118]

Thanks for all the info fellas. I have some very bare spots with stolons that are driving me crazy and I feel like it may need more fertilizer. Also in these pictures, trying to figure out if I need to put more top soil over that area for these stolons.

 

[Greendoc]

So if you're not going to use Milo, does it matter what brand you grab, or is NPK all that really matters? I've used Milo in the last, but now that I'm taking things more seriously (thatnks to everybody here), I'm interested in exploring other options. Are there non Milo brands that are the best?

Unless your have soil that is too acid, Ammonium Sulfate applied at 2.5-5 lb per 1000 sq ft per month is as good as it gets. As for NPK, I am partial to applying that as 20-20-20. Especially during grow it. If not applied as a grow in fertilizer, it works well applied at 1 lb per 1000 sq ft with another lb of AS. If you want or need to apply organic matter for purposes of soil correction/amendment I use one of the liquid humic. In fact, I grow grass without Milorganite or slow release nitrogen. My program is regular applications of AS, 20-20-20, micronutrients, and Humic.

 

[Greendoc]

Thanks for all the info fellas. I have some very bare spots with stolons that are driving me crazy and I feel like it may need more fertilizer. Also in these pictures, trying to figure out if I need to put more top soil over that area for these stolons.

Feed it and mow low. How much and what kind of fertilizers have you used to date? That looks like common Bermuda.

 

[Colonel K0rn]

Thanks for all the info fellas. I have some very bare spots with stolons that are driving me crazy and I feel like it may need more fertilizer. Also in these pictures, trying to figure out if I need to put more top soil over that area for these stolons.

Feed it and mow low. How much and what kind of fertilizers have you used to date? That looks like common Bermuda.

@Suaverc118 listen to @Greendoc. He knows his stuff. Also, don't go with topsoil, use sand. Do a search on his sand capping posts.

 

[Greendoc]

@Colonel K0rn Sand wins. I do not know if he is going to be mowing reel low. Mowing reel low actually helps Bermuda. Topdressing a lawn that is supposed to be reel low with topsoil makes a mess and causes more trouble than it is worth. If this is a rotary mowed lawn, then getting it granite countertop flat becomes very important to prevent biting and scalping.

 

[Suaverc118]

I have a rotary and the lowest setting is 1" which would scalp some of my yard, so the next level which I is is 1.5". I would like to mow at 1.25" if I use a hack which I believe is a washer.
I do plan on leveling with sand in the next week or 2 so I can have more eveness when mowing.

 

[Suaverc118]

Oh, I have Bermuda Tiff BTW

 

[Greendoc]

Rotary mowed Bermuda does not work very well unless it is mowed at 2" or higher. The rotating blade starts to grab the runners and yank them. That is why a reel is preferred. I know about putting washers between the rotary blade and the engine shaft to lower a rotary mower beyond factory limits. That can work on cool season grasses that do not have runners. However, if one wants to mow lower, and with Bermuda, that is highly desirable to do so, a reel of some kind is better.

 

[mrigney]

@Greendoc You say your typical regime for bermuda is "regular applications of AS, 20-20-20, and humic acid." Do you typically apply 20-20-20 throughout the growing season or only at grow-in? Humic acid monthly? Or just a spring and fall application of humic and 20-20-20 during grow-in? What other micronutrients do you apply? (apologies to all for taking this thread off topic)

 

[SCGrassMan]

I personally use a variety on my Zoysia. Milorganite in the spring and fall at a minimum, and Scott's fertilizer with iron once or twice, and then whatever else when it "looks like it could use it".

 

[Suaverc118]

Rotary mowed Bermuda does not work very well unless it is mowed at 2" or higher. The rotating blade starts to grab the runners and yank them. That is why a reel is preferred. I know about putting washers between the rotary blade and the engine shaft to lower a rotary mower beyond factory limits. That can work on cool season grasses that do not have runners. However, if one wants to mow lower, and with Bermuda, that is highly desirable to do so, a reel of some kind is better.

Wow, I dont think I was ever told that. I thought 1 reel mower was for 1" and lower... And no one's mentioned it pulls stolen at that height and have been wondering why I have stolens in certain areas, but wasn't sure in the past of it was due to soil issues and etc. I cut at 1.5". So I need to let it grow to 2" if I continue with the rotary mower? Also, I plan on leveling in the next couple of weeks.