I moved into my new house on 1 1/2 acres, 35 miles north of Houston, Tx, the first week of November of last year, 2023. I have 30,000 sq ft of Celebration Bermuda grass. I have had St Augustine grass for the last 40 years and a newbie to growing Bermuda grass. The landscape company planted the grass after we had a lot of rain. It was muddy when they were planting it. My yard is pretty bumpy because of that which causes me to create a lot of scalp spots, (high and low spots). The ditches are fairly steep in places to where I need walk behind lawnmower or weed eater to cut the grass. The rest of my grass I cut with a zero turn riding lawnmower. I never scalped the grass during the end of the winter. My grass is maintaining a 2 1/2 to 3 inch height which I know is too high. I just do not know if at this point that I should try to slowly over time cut it shorter and shorter to get it to 1 to 1 1/2 inches tall without leaving the whole yard scalped. I fertilized 4 weeks ago with a high Nitrogen fertilizer for the first time. I need suggestions on how to get my lawn somewhat short and also be a nice green lawn. Should I wait until the end of next winter to start the regular Bermuda grass schedule? HELP!
That’s a lot of Bermuda! To address the undulations, topdress the low areas to even out the surface. Mowing steep areas with smaller equipment will reduce turf injury and improves safety, so keep that up! Keep the cut height at 2.5-3” for this season. This higher height minimizes scalping and reduces injury when mowing weekly. Avoid lowering the height until late winter or early next spring, and catch clippings to prevent thatch build-up or smothering. For the best results, spread out your fertilization throughout the season, starting earlier to make the most of the growing weather as soil temps allow for green up. Follow guidelines from Texas A&M or UGA (who developed Celebration), as both are suited to your climate. Early feeding supports vigorous growth as the Bermuda breaks dormancy.
Seems another situation to bag your grass would be if you are battling a fungus? I live in western WA and coming out of extremely wet winters and spring I am always fighting red thread.
@@Naturesturfawesome that you have folks in western Washington watching. Wonder how they treat poa anna in Western Washington Grass or weed? Natures Turf does a pretty good job or keeping it out of my lawn and thanks for that!
I had to start bagging this year due to the heavy rains and my late diagnosis of brown spot (I thought I wasn't watering enough). I would prefer NOT to bag, but even mowing once per week, left GIANT clippings and I couldn't follow the 1/3 rule
I'll keep bagging just for looks alone. The clippings dont decompose completely that quick. However, i mow at 8mm, so i bag because it's just unsightly.
I now have a huge bent grass situation. Wondering if not bagging with my super recycler caused bent grass to happen? Plus does not bagging cause heavy thatch? Thanks
When mowing weekly, and at appropriate height, we are only removing leaf tissues. Leaf tissues do not contribute to thatch, and letting them fall allows them to degrade and returns nutrients to the soil profile. Hope that helps!
What about when you are battling POA or other weeds to keep the seed pods out of the yard? Thankfully y’all have my head looking great, but on occasion I have a few weeds.
Good question! Try and mow often enough so that the seed heads never come up. If that is not possible go ahead and bag to collect the seed heads, especially during POA season.
Both. But they provide a nitrogen source to more rapidly break down high carbon material like wood chips and branches. I had some stumps ground up earlier in the year and I throw my grass clippings over where they were ground up. The breakdown of roots and chips is nitrogen limited
I moved into my new house on 1 1/2 acres, 35 miles north of Houston, Tx, the first week of November of last year, 2023. I have 30,000 sq ft of Celebration Bermuda grass. I have had St Augustine grass for the last 40 years and a newbie to growing Bermuda grass. The landscape company planted the grass after we had a lot of rain. It was muddy when they were planting it. My yard is pretty bumpy because of that which causes me to create a lot of scalp spots, (high and low spots). The ditches are fairly steep in places to where I need walk behind lawnmower or weed eater to cut the grass. The rest of my grass I cut with a zero turn riding lawnmower. I never scalped the grass during the end of the winter. My grass is maintaining a 2 1/2 to 3 inch height which I know is too high. I just do not know if at this point that I should try to slowly over time cut it shorter and shorter to get it to 1 to 1 1/2 inches tall without leaving the whole yard scalped. I fertilized 4 weeks ago with a high Nitrogen fertilizer for the first time. I need suggestions on how to get my lawn somewhat short and also be a nice green lawn. Should I wait until the end of next winter to start the regular Bermuda grass schedule? HELP!
That’s a lot of Bermuda! To address the undulations, topdress the low areas to even out the surface. Mowing steep areas with smaller equipment will reduce turf injury and improves safety, so keep that up!
Keep the cut height at 2.5-3” for this season. This higher height minimizes scalping and reduces injury when mowing weekly. Avoid lowering the height until late winter or early next spring, and catch clippings to prevent thatch build-up or smothering.
For the best results, spread out your fertilization throughout the season, starting earlier to make the most of the growing weather as soil temps allow for green up. Follow guidelines from Texas A&M or UGA (who developed Celebration), as both are suited to your climate. Early feeding supports vigorous growth as the Bermuda breaks dormancy.
So If u reel mow every day do u believe not to bag still?
Mowing daily with a reel is rare for most homeowners. We would want more details on your situation, but in general you should be fine without the bag.
Seems another situation to bag your grass would be if you are battling a fungus? I live in western WA and coming out of extremely wet winters and spring I am always fighting red thread.
Great tip! Thanks for sharing
@@Naturesturfawesome that you have folks in western Washington watching. Wonder how they treat poa anna in Western Washington Grass or weed? Natures Turf does a pretty good job or keeping it out of my lawn and thanks for that!
I had to start bagging this year due to the heavy rains and my late diagnosis of brown spot (I thought I wasn't watering enough). I would prefer NOT to bag, but even mowing once per week, left GIANT clippings and I couldn't follow the 1/3 rule
Good point! If you have time we would suggest mowing every 5 days during heavy rain seasons. Thanks for the comment!
The toro super recycler seems to be good without bagging.
I'll keep bagging just for looks alone. The clippings dont decompose completely that quick.
However, i mow at 8mm, so i bag because it's just unsightly.
That's short. Good feedback! What type of mower are you using?
@@Naturesturf Toro GM800, 11 blade.
@@theunkownmr.562 😍Nice!
I now have a huge bent grass situation. Wondering if not bagging with my super recycler caused bent grass to happen? Plus does not bagging cause heavy thatch? Thanks
When mowing weekly, and at appropriate height, we are only removing leaf tissues. Leaf tissues do not contribute to thatch, and letting them fall allows them to degrade and returns nutrients to the soil profile. Hope that helps!
Yes. Thanks. Bent grass situation is awful.
@@Naturesturf
What about when you are battling POA or other weeds to keep the seed pods out of the yard? Thankfully y’all have my head looking great, but on occasion I have a few weeds.
Good question! Try and mow often enough so that the seed heads never come up. If that is not possible go ahead and bag to collect the seed heads, especially during POA season.
@@Naturesturf yupe, working for me so far, crab grass in new Bermuda renovation, I only see seeds where I dont mow
What are some good uses for the clippings other than throwing them in the woods...🤔 Mulch? Compost?
We like composting
Both. But they provide a nitrogen source to more rapidly break down high carbon material like wood chips and branches.
I had some stumps ground up earlier in the year and I throw my grass clippings over where they were ground up. The breakdown of roots and chips is nitrogen limited
Bag bag bag. Yes
clippings add 5 to 7 % to the thatch, either way can win tho