Bermuda fertilizer question

10 years ago

Here's my scenario. I have been following the Bermuda Bible not to the "t" but very closely and have had very good results. I just have one question regarding fertilization. I went to the Lesco store and got 46-0-0 fertilizer. It is my understanding it's fast release and not slow release. If I recall, the Bermuda Bible says to get a fertilizer that is 75% fast release and 25% slow release. Obviously I messed up there. So in an effort to kill two birds with one stone, this year I put down 46-0-0 monthly to be my fast release and Milorganite down monthly at bag rate as a slow release and iron supplement. For the most part, my results were good. My grass would grow like crazy but it wouldn't always have that lush green color. Also, it would start to show small signs of needing fertilizer right around or before the 30 day mark.

My question is what should I do next season? I had a few different ideas:

1. Keep using the 46-0-0 fertilizer for fast release and see if Lesco sells a slow release nitrogen fertilizer and use both. Texas weed had suggested Bonide as an iron suppletement and I thought about using that instead of Milorganite.
2. Keep using the 46-0-0 and put down Milorganite at half of the bag rate. Use Bonide for iron.
3. Only use 46-0-0 and Bonide. Don't worry about a slow release.
4. Give up on the 46-0-0 and go to John Deere and get a different fertilizer.

I don't know what to do partly because....well, I don't know what to do and I don't know what Lesco offers. I will say after I realized 46-0-0 was fast release, I called to see if I could exchange it and they said they would. I saw people on here suggest like a 34 or 39-0-0 fertilizer. The stores up here do not carry it. Any help would be appreciated.

This post was edited by Sherm1082 on Wed, Aug 21, 13 at 14:00

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Comments (4)

texas_weed
10 years ago
OK 46-0-0 is just straight urea and an OK product if you understand what it is. Basically just straight very fast release nitrogen and nothing else in there. It is just candy so to speak. The challenge using it is not burning the grass with it and moderation.

All it takes is 2 pounds of the product to get 1-lb of nitrogen per 1000 square feet. It is very fast release and just after a couple of rains or irrigation cycles it is gone. Another down fall is if you apply it to wet grass, the granules will stick to the grass blades and burn them up. So the trick to using it is only apply to dry grass about once a week in 1/4 of recommended application rates. Very difficult to apply only a half-pound of product per 1000 square feet. Understand the challenge?

Second point it is getting late in the season and you need to anticipate the first frost of 30 days before frost happens because you do not want to fertilize Bermuda close to a frost date. Best way to tell IMHO is watch the growth rate. When the weather starts to cool and days get shorter the Bermuda growth rate slows way down. When that happens is the time to stop fertilizing. That should be about 3 or 4 weeks before first frost.

Going forward you need to find a different product. For the first spring application you want a balanced fertilizer with iron. A ratio of 3-1-2 2%Fe (15-5-10 with 2% iron) in a slow release formula, or 4-1-2 5% Fe slow release. Then for the rest of the season with a straight slow release nitrogen formula. If not straight slow release nitrogen as close as you can get to it.
sherm1082
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks Texas Weed. I think I almost successfully used the 46-0-0 this year. I did the math with my spreader and applied it sparingly. At the rate I used it, it probably would have lasted 4 more seasons. I always applied it when it was dry, and it always either rained or got watered in within 24 hours tops. I definitely did not experience any burning. Only thing I didn't do is I applied it monthly and not weekly.

I got the spring application right with the iron and everything........

Any suggestions for a slow release fertilizer to use next spring/summer? When I went to JDL, that was the only straight nitrogen product they had. Also, how do I know if it's fast release or slow release?
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User
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>Any suggestions for a slow release fertilizer to use next spring/summer?

Lesco 39-0-0 or 44-0-0 are both 90% slow release. If your JDL doesn't carry it, have them call around to see if another JDL in your area does.
ricoahp
9 years ago
JDL states that the 39-0-0 slow release has been replaced by their 44-0-0 slow release. Just paid with tax, $52 for a 50# bag. 44-0-0 covers more area, and the slow release % is the same. Make sure you are getting 44-0-0 which is slow release, because JDL also has 46-0-0 which is fast release... I've had great success following TexasWeeds bermuda bible and have had many neighbors walk by and stop to look at the grass. In Fort Worth area, first week of March 1 put down Lesco Pre-M. April 1 use Lesco balanced 3-1-2 fertilizer. I then cut every three days at 3/4 inch during peek growing season. Water two times a week at a rate of 1.25 inches a week. Every 4 weeks, May 1, June 1, July 1, Aug 1 Sept 1 I use Lesco 44-0-0. Sept 1 is my final time fertilizing, andI do let the grass grow to a new high of 1.25-1.50 inches in prep for winter. Oct 1 I put down Lesco Pre-M again. I do not spot treat for weeds, I hand pull anything I see when mowing which is almost never. I will spend one onlya few hours in the springpulling any little things that have come up, but a very heathy bermuda lawn crowds out just about anything else makingiteasy... Now, if I could only get the rest of the community on the plan.