The best time to fertilize bermudagrass is in summer, its most active growing season. Bermudagrass may also benefit from fertilizer in late spring and fall, however, this depends on the results of a soil test.
Each season of the year sees different fertilizer requirements for your lawn. Nitrogen is highly important for bermudagrass in summer, but less necessary in spring, and rarely recommended in fall. Instead, soil tests may recommend light nitrogen in spring, and phosphorus or potassium in fall.
The bottom line? A soil test will be your best friend when it comes to making a fertilizer schedule that suits your bermudagrass lawn’s nutritional needs.
When to Fertilize Your Bermudagrass Lawn
The best time to fertilize any grass is during its active growth period. For bermudagrass, that growth period ranges from approximately late spring to early fall, growing most actively in summer.
Bermudagrass requires two to four pounds of nitrogen throughout the growing season, which can be applied over several applications in the summertime.
As for late spring and early fall, choose your fertilizer according to the results of a soil test. A soil test will tell you what nutrients are present in your soil and in what amounts. Use a fertilizer that has more of what your lawn needs and less of what it already has.
When to Fertilize Bermudagrass in Spring
The first fertilizer application of the year for your bermudagrass lawn may come in late spring, depending on soil test results. A soil test may indicate no need for fertilizer in spring. If your soil test recommends nitrogen, it will likely be a very light amount.
Wait to fertilize until after your lawn has fully greened and recovered from winter dormancy (typically between April and May). If you fertilize too soon, in early spring for example, an unexpected frost may harm the new growth.
When to Fertilize Bermudagrass in Summer
In summer, your lawn will be experiencing the most growth, and therefore requires the most fertilizer. For a warm-season grass like bermudagrass, start your summer fertilizer regimen once local temperatures reach 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
As a general guideline, apply fertilizer to your bermudagrass lawn every four to six weeks throughout the summer. However, the exact number and frequency of your summer fertilizer applications depend on different factors in your landscape that affect your fertilizer’s effectiveness.
Here’s a simple summer fertilizer schedule to help you get started:
Early Summer: The first fertilizer application of the summer growing season will likely come in late May or June. Apply one-half to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Early in the season, phosphorus will be very important for strengthening your lawn’s root system after it comes out of dormancy. If your soil test indicates that your lawn is low in phosphorus, use a fertilizer high in it.
Mid Summer: In mid summer, from approximately late June to July, your lawn will be experiencing significant growth. Apply one-half to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Apply phosphorus and potassium only as indicated by your soil test.
Late Summer: In August, apply one-half to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Apply potassium only as indicated by your soil test. Potassium increases your lawn’s cold hardiness and disease resistance for its coming dormancy.
When to Fertilize Bermudagrass in Fall
Finally, your last fertilizer application for the year, if not in summer, would be around late fall. The most important nutrient for your bermudagrass going into winter is potassium, since it will increase your lawn’s cold hardiness for the coming dormancy.
The potassium application should come four to six weeks before the first expected frost of the year. Again, whether you need to apply potassium (and how much) is determined by a soil test.
FAQ About Fertilizer and Bermudagrass
Is Bermudagrass resistant to weeds?
Unfortunately, bermudagrass can be susceptible to weeds. If the conditions in your lawn aren’t right, your lawn can thin and weeds can start to take a foothold in your landscape.
Will fertilizer bring Bermudagrass out of dormancy?
No. Fertilizer can’t bring any grass out of dormancy alone, and fertilizing a dormant lawn is not advised. It’s best to allow your grass to come out of dormancy on its own rather than force it early.
Find Your Lawn Care Experts
Summer is the best time to fertilize most bermudagrass lawns. However, since each lawn is different, you need to pay close attention to environmental factors
If you need lawn care, contact lawn care professionals near you. They can take care of mowing and fertilizing your lawn for you so that you can enjoy your day.
Main Photo Credit: Tomasz Zajda / Adobe Stock
