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GA Bermuda Grass


Question
I have a one year old Bermuda Sod lawn.  I am looking to use organic pre-emergents and other weed/fertilizers.  What can you suggest?

Answer
First things first: Get out the Corn Gluten Meal asap and have it ready to put down first thing as soon as the Forsythia in your neighborhood begins to bloom.  CGM is a wonderful, organic pre-emergent that will wipe out every germinating annual weed in your lawn, and it will enrich the soil and fertilize your grass for the rest of the summer.  Let me know if you need to know where to buy this stuff.  It is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

CGM is the ultimate Organic treatment.

Meantime, you should get your soil tested to determine things like pH and soil content.  You never know what you'll find.  There is no point in putting down Phosphorous if your soil is packed with it already -- that would be a waste of money, and no grass is going to perform past its genetic program just because you apply extra nutrients that it doesn't need.  If I sound like I am belaboring the point, it's because I see people waste their good money on this stuff all the time.  Organics are wonderful, but there is absolutely no reason in the world to waste your money on anything you do not need.

Your Bermuda Sod lawn will probably be competing with perennial weeds this summer.  To get rid of the weeds that are already established, make absolutely sure you have a strong, disciplined mowing schedule for your lawn.  Grass mowed regularly and at the right height out-competes weeds with incredible ease.  One study had a 90 percent reduction in weeds after the 3rd year with absolutely nothing but a religious mowing program.  Rotary mowers are best if you are a perfectionist.

The CGM that you put down in the spring decomposes through the summer and contributes steady, even doses of Nitrogen to your grass with no threat of damage or burning.

If you can maintain a careful, organic mowing/CGM program this summer, I don't think there is anything else you will frankly need other than what your soil test reveals.  Have one taken and see what they tell you.  Then you can check back with me and we can go over the whole list.  In the fall, you can overseed.

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