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New Bermuda Installed--need help

11 years ago

I just had 14000 sq. ft of GN-1 Hybrid Bermuda installed in Southern California 6 weeks ago. I live inland and of course the weekend it was installed the temps jumped to mid 90s and have been from 90-108 deg F since. I have kept it pretty wet and did not get it mowed early enough. My gardener just mowed it.....See pictures attached.....looks like he cut it too short?

soil was all new, tilled with lots of compost and was soil tested and treated appropriately. soil was levels, compacted as well.

also, I have read TW's BBible but not so sure how it applies to my SoCal weather.....I know it needs fertilizer now....

which fertilizer should I use?

appreciate any help...thanks in advance

Comments (2)

texas_weed
11 years ago
The Bible applies to any climate, only thing that changes is timing to your local weather patterns.

What I see is classic scalping and/or heat stress. You gardener waited too long and took off too much leaf. Not to worry though it is just cosmetic damage.

If it is still in the 100's there I would not go pushing fertilizer on it until it cools off to the 90's. At that point you want to use a slow release formula with nitrogen only product.

Most important thing right now is to get control of your cutting height. Either you are going to have to get your gardener to mow 2 to 3 times weekly or you will have to do it yourself. Just guessing from the looks of the cut you are using a reel mower? Kind of hard to tell from pictures. Reel is good but comes with a price of very frequent mowing when kept short.

Maintained height is going to dictate cutting frequency. If you are using a reel mower and maintain at 1/2-inch or less is going to require every other day mowing. Get up to 1-inch and you are looking at mowing every 3 or 4 days depending on climate conditions. So work that part out first.
sanchoman
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for the help. Yes, a reel mower is being used. His mower was weak and old though so that may be part of the issue too. We will see this upcoming week. I will have him cut a little higher to avoid the damage and then see what happens. THANKS AGAIN.
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