Is starter fertilizer okay for bermuda sod?
Question:I had my backyard resodded about 3 1/2 months ago, and I have several patches to where the grass is really thick and high, but I also have several patches to where it is still really short. All I have is starter fertizer, would that help the short patches or should I go and buy a different fertilizer or any at all?
Answers:
With a new sod job, what you want to see is root development. It is very difficult for grass (or trees or bushes) to do alot of growing up top when they are trying to establish roots. I would not fertilize this year, but would put out something to help the roots develop. Fertilome (found at most garden centers) has a broadcast product called New Lawn Starter which is specifically designed to help new lawns establish a great root system. Scotts has a similar product also. Keep watering as usual and don't worry this year about growth. Next spring you can worry when the grass has had nearly an entire year to root itself in. Good Luck!
it's fine. it has nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, which is what all fertilizer is made from.. go for it.
It truly depends on the content of the fertilizer you have on hand! If the thin patches are in areas which are generally shaded or out of your irrigation area fertilizer will not help. Bermuda requires sunlight and is a thirsty turf.
The fert you want to have on hand, or purchase, is a basic granular 10-10-10 with minerals. Make sure it has the minerals! This stuff is cheap. You also need to evaluate your irrigation system or method. It is better to irrigate deeply every four days than a daily sprinkle of water. Your turf will need an inch of water minimum per week so set the system or whatever to provide that (adjusted with weekly rainfall).
In all areas you will want to topseed with a Certified Seed mixture of Perennial Ryegrass and Bermuda. Make sure it is a Certified (BlueLabel) mixture. A 60%Rye, 30%Bermuda, and 10% Blue would be ideal. Topseed at 2lbs/1,000 sq ft in the spring and mid-fall. Fert four times a year in six week intervals in the spring (Mid-March) and Fall (Columbus Day).
If you did not do the sodding, call the contractor! Silly as it may sound I always did a minimum of a 1lb topseed two weeks after any sodding operation. This augmented the sod effort and allowed for no apparent dieback of the turf.
When cutting new turf, particularily sod, make sure your mower height is at three inches minimum for the first year. This will promote a deeper and more perm root development and thus a healthier turf. Yours is a home lawn and not a golf course. Cutting at two inches means higher maintenance in cutting, spraying, watering, etc.
Hope it helps. I am at gjgjobs@yahoo.com.
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