[PHXCobra]

To start things off, I live in Phoenix. 300 days of sunshine a year, not much rain, and a lot of heat. My wife and I bought this house 2 years ago.

When we bought the house the backyard had a non-operational sprinkler system, native soil, and waist high weeds. (Dune buggy not included, but the shed was so that's a win)






We got the sprinkler system working properly, on a timer. Got all the weeds yanked, leveled and had some BOBSod installed from West Coast Turf. It's the same stuff that was used in Bank One Ballpark (now Chase Field) where the Arizona Diamondbacks play. I wanted something that would hold up to a decent amount of traffic and would hold up to the Arizona summers. Had some rose bushes and a tree installed and had the back yard that was the envy of the neighborhood. The nursery that put in our rose bushes and tree actually commented that my lawn was the best he'd seen that summer.


It did ok but we had a rabbit problem and a shade tree that was providing a little too much shade early and so the grass didn't like it.




I overseeded with BOBSeed in the fall. It's the same winter stuff they use to overseed at the farm so I was very happy with it. Looked amazing and I couldn't have been happier.

 

[Ware]

Awesome. For those that don't want to go look it up, it looks like BOBSod®[/sup] is a hybrid bermuda and BOBSeed[sup]® is their own blend of PRG for winter overseeding. :thumbup:

 

[PHXCobra]

Then it all took a turn for the worse.

Since then we overseeded again for the summer, which as I've learned from this board, was a mistake. I used the Pennington seed from HD, covered that with manure, and got it going. The quality was never as good as I wanted but it grew and was mostly green so I couldn't complain too much. Wife and I spent 2 weeks in Europe and it was neglected so cutting it down when we got back led to some yellow. I didn't know about the 1/3 rule then.





This winter overseeded again with Pennington Rye from HD (couldn't find BOBSeed that was in stock) and it grew well. The below pictures are after 1 week of growth cut to the same length in January of this year. Also, the blades are pretty wide on the real tall stuff and it is seemingly always wet even if I water it once, 4 days before the mow.





To prep for the upcoming transition I have cut watering back to twice a week for 6 minutes each zone (3 zones in 1800-2000 sq/ft) as opposed to three times a week for 9 minutes each zone. I mowed on Sunday 3/18 and will be mowing today 3/21/18 to try and keep the height reasonable and help the Bermuda come back. I have also lowered my mowing height to the 2 setting on My Troy-Built TB110, normally mow on 3. Will be lowering it all the way down in a couple weeks when its time for the rye to die out the rest of the way.

I will get before and after pictures today to post. The weekend of April 7th and 8th I will be renting an aerator and verti-cutter and going to work to hopefully aid the Bermuda in coming back.

 

[PHXCobra]

For fertilizer I used 20-20-20 monthly for the first season and the grass really liked it. HD no longer carried it so now I use 15-15-15 and have kinda struggled to maintain the yard I want. It has been suggested to me on this forum I get a soil sample to find out what I have and what I need to really make this thing go. Any critiques and or advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[g-man]

@PHXCobra Do you still have the dune buggy?

One thing I noticed is that in almost all the pictures you posted there is a lot of shadow. Maybe it was the time of day you took the pictures, but Bermuda needs sun, lots of sun.

 

[PHXCobra]

@g-man I don't. It didn't come with the house. IIRC it was V6 Chevrolet powered.

Time of day we do have one large shade tree and it caused some thin areas.

 

[dsotm]

Sweet another Phoenician!

 

[PHXCobra]

Todays pre and during mowing pics. If anyone has any idea how many different types of grass and what kinds that would be nice to have an idea

 

[PHXCobra]

And the finished product. The Troy-Built does a pretty good job of striping

 

[PHXCobra]

Sweet another Phoenician!

Which side of the valley do you live in?

 

[dsotm]

Sweet another Phoenician!

Which side of the valley do you live in?

Northwest, near Norterra

 

[PHXCobra]

Sweet another Phoenician!

Which side of the valley do you live in?

Northwest, near Norterra

Nice. I work at I-17 and Deer Valley. Live at Lake Pleasant and Deer Valley.

 

[MasterMech]

I was in Phoenix in early January this year, saw quite a few nice yards, many that I suspected had been overseeded for the winter. I didn't mind visiting in Jan, not so sure about July...

 

[Mightyquinn]

I think all your varieties of grass is from your BOBSod, bermuda seed and rye grass. I would recommend you spraying out the rye as soon as possible so that it quits competing with the bermuda. At what rate were you applying the 15-15-15?

 

[Tellycoleman]

Ok
I am trying to get the timeline correct
Bermuda Sod installed 2016
Over seeded with rye fall 2016
Over seeded with rye spring/summer 2017 and added manure
Over seeded with rye fall 2017

Rye is very fast growing and depending on the height of cut will compete and shade out your bermuda sod. I wouldnt overseed anymore this year. Give you bermuda grass a chance to grow.
You had a backyard that was the envy of the neighbors when you had bermuda grass. Since then you have overseeded with rye grass for a year and a half and the quality of your lawn has gone down.
In my opinion you need to get your bermuda lawn back.
edit= Get a soil test to see what your soil needs as far as fertilizer is concerned

 

[thegrassfactor]

Rye has allelopathic tendencies. You have to spray it out

 

[PHXCobra]

Ok
I am trying to get the timeline correct
Bermuda Sod installed 2016
Over seeded with rye fall 2016
Over seeded with rye spring/summer 2017 and added manure
Over seeded with rye fall 2017

Rye is very fast growing and depending on the height of cut will compete and shade out your bermuda sod. I wouldnt overseed anymore this year. Give you bermuda grass a chance to grow.
You had a backyard that was the envy of the neighbors when you had bermuda grass. Since then you have overseeded with rye grass for a year and a half and the quality of your lawn has gone down.
In my opinion you need to get your bermuda lawn back.
edit= Get a soil test to see what your soil needs as far as fertilizer is concerned

Close. Overseeded with Bermuda seed in the spring last year.

I applied the triple 15 With my Scott's spreader using the setting specified on the bag.

 

[PHXCobra]

Rye has allelopathic tendencies. You have to spray it out

I don't think that's the case in AZ or desert climates. The rye isn't going to survive the summer. Just cut back on water stress it as it heats up and it'll die out. Keep it cut short so the Bermuda gets sun and it will take over.

 

[thegrassfactor]

Rye has allelopathic tendencies. You have to spray it out

I don't think that's the case in AZ or desert climates. The rye isn't going to survive the summer. Just cut back on water stress it as it heats up and it'll die out. Keep it cut short so the Bermuda gets sun and it will take over.

Rye has allelopathic tendencies. You have to spray it out

I don't think that's the case in AZ or desert climates. The rye isn't going to survive the summer. Just cut back on water stress it as it heats up and it'll die out. Keep it cut short so the Bermuda gets sun and it will take over.

Stress response from natural death will be the production of alleles. That's why spraying it out will inhibit the enzymatic response. I'd crank up the N rates and soil "agitation"

 

[Fishnugget]

Looks great PHXCobra, it looks like your on the right path. Im sure it will look even better for you in no time. Good job.