What is the Ideal Soil pH for Bermuda Grass?

Bermuda grass can be the perfect turfgrass for your landscape if you require a resistant lawn that can endure the intense heat and dry Southern summers. Know What is the Ideal Soil pH for Bermuda Grass. Being a warm-season turfgrass, Bermuda grass thrives in the Southern regions of the nation. This perennial grass is renowned for its capacity to withstand challenging circumstances, including salinity, heat, dryness, and foot traffic. It also bounces back from harm more quickly than other kinds of grass.

If you want to know what is soil and all about it, read here.

Bermuda grass can be sown or sodded during the warm-season growing seasons of spring and summer. It is the grass that spreads quickly and extends through runners both above and below the soil. A rich, deep green carpet of grass is produced by the wide, pointed blades with a fine to medium texture.

Table of Contents

What is the Best Soil for Bermuda Grass?

Bermuda Grass at a Glance

It is Warm-season grass
It needs good drainage and direct sunlight
It grows from coast to coast and is suitable for southern lawns
It is tolerant of salt, traffic, heat, and drought
It has high nutrition and maintenance needs

Although Bermuda grass can handle some levels of alkaline soil, it favors slightly acidic (pH 6 to 7) soil. To find out the pH of the soil, test it. Bermuda grass also requires soil that drains effectively. To know how to make soil acidic for Blueberries, know here.

Soil pH is measured on a scale of 1-14 with 7 being neutral. A soil pH below 7 is considered acidic while a soil pH above 7 is considered alkaline. Bermuda grass prefers a soil pH of 6-7. The pH of the soil is important because it affects the availability of different nutrients. Nitrogen in the soil is more available at a pH of 6 than at a pH of 5, and liming would increase the nitrogen available to the grassroots. In addition, a soil pH below 5 or above 7.5 can decrease the effectiveness of a slow-release fertilizer.

What is the Soil pH for Bermuda Grass?

The ideal pH range for Bermudagrass is between 6 and 6.5. Sulfur can be used to lower the pH of soil if a test reveals a higher pH. Pour 5 lbs. of Sulphur pellets onto every 1000 square feet of turf. Only use Sulphur when the air is cooler than 75 °F. Check the pH of the soil again after 3 months to see if anything has changed. A significant pH adjustment could take several years to take place. The Upstage’s soils are frequently acidic; therefore Sulphur applications are typically unnecessary. However, lime applications may be advantageous.

What is the Best Fertilizer ratio for Bermuda Grass?

During the growing season, Bermuda grass needs more fertilizer than other warm-season grasses. In the early summer, we advise using a fertilizer high in nitrogen. Later in the growing season, switch to a combination of nitrogen and phosphorus. On Bermuda grass, gardeners can utilize weed and Feed products to fertilize and control weeds with a single treatment.

15% Nitrogen, 0% Phosphorus, and 10% Potassium make up a late summer fertilizer mixture with the formula 15-0-10. The additional potassium aids the grass’s winter dormancy preparation. It also aids the lawn in warding off sickness and harm from the cold.

Potassium enables the roots of the grass to spread farther into the soil, improving drought resilience.

How much Nitrogen should you put in Bermuda Grass?

For every 1000 square feet of turf, Bermudagrass lawns should receive 2 to 4 pounds of actual nitrogen each growth season. Bermudagrass lawns cultivated on sandy soils can utilize a higher rate, and lawns grown on clay soils can use a lower rate.
Early May, after the lawn has fully greened up, apply 1/2 to 1 pound of real nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. The rate is affected by the kind of soil. A soil test will assist in determining whether phosphorus-containing fertilizer, which makes up the middle figure in the fertilizer analysis, is adequate for the grass. To find out how much granular fertilizer should be used, go to the section below on fertilizer calculations.
Mid-summer: Depending on the soil type, fertilize in June or July using a fertilizer that is also high in potassium, such as a 15-0-15, using 12 to 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. The soil test establishes the requirement for phosphorus.
Late Summer: Apply 12 to 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet before August 15 using a fertilizer that is also heavy in potassium, like a 15-0-15, depending on the kind of soil. It’s critical that the soil has enough potassium, particularly later in the growing season when the grass goes dormant. For disease resistance and cold weather hardiness, potassium is crucial.

What does Nitrogen do to Bermuda Grass?

Nitrogen promotes plant development and raises the forage’s crude protein content. Bermudagrass will respond to high nitrogen rates if there is enough moisture. Multiple applications of Nitrogen are more effective than one massive application, according to studies.

The amount of N and how frequently it is applied will depend on whether the crop is utilized for hay or grazing, as well as how vigorously it is handled.

The crop needs for and reactions to nitrogen fertilizations increase as bermudagrass management becomes more effective and yields rise.

The given graphs demonstrate the dramatic yield response of Bermudagrass to 400 lbs/A or more of N per year when there is adequate management and the similar effects of nitrogen on fodder quality and water usage effectiveness. To acquire the best utilization rate from the given N, nitrogen applications must be tailored to the crop’s needs and growth stage.

Conclusion

Bermuda grass requires little maintenance, especially if you visit the lawn a few times a year. You may have the most vivid, stunning lawn in the neighborhood by cutting your grass short, aerating it, watering it, and fertilizing it as necessary.

References

https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/66120900/SoilManagementAndCarbonSequestration/2004ajfJ05.pdf

https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article-abstract/os-6/1/60/2188341?redirectedFrom=fulltext