Why Bermuda Won't Stay Green - The Grass Factor 

This is what I needed to know. My (relatively new) lawn (about 18 months old) is SUPER uneven (both local dips and an overall slope). When I went to a lower mowing height, every time I mow it looks browner. As the grass grows again, it greens up, but then I recut and boom...brown underneath. There's also the scalp patches you're showing. Now I know I can go low a few times a year to cut the stems back, and fertilize/water to get that green back. THANKS!

That's why I like to learn the "why" behind "the book rules". Once you know the reasons, you can start to make a plan based on your specific lawn.

I've seen the scalping happen so many times with wide cut riding mowers. Any variation in ground height is multiplied across a wider cutting deck. My main weapon of choice is a 36" walk behind. I always pay close attention to where it's set, I paid an extra grand just to have the floating deck model. When people ask me to lower it beyond a certain setting I have to say no, or do certain spots with a 21". Great advice about resetting stem height. Thanks and I look forward to learning more!

I live in KC and mow my Bermuda lawn at 3.5” it looks great

A good heavy garden roller used across the slope when soil is moist followed by a good spiking several times a year will flatten out the high spots over time, works very well on formal/striped lawns too.

Excellent advice on scalping and raising the mower height to get the green foliage to grow on the lower part of the stem. My yard is not that steep but what I did for uneven terrain was to top dress in march and spread bermuda seed. Fertilized once a month and as of today, my yard looks amazing compared to last year. I always hated it when I skipped a week of cutting just cut off all the green on my bermuda grass.

This was actually an awesome discussion. I too have started bermuda this year and knew about this however didn't think about lower performance on spreading with no foliage. Great advice.

Loved this video. Great breakdown on how bermuda grows. Makes total sense.

Oh so glad I ran into this video!! Fricken Martin!!! The Brain!! Thanks man

Man! Thank you sooooo much 4:45 is exactly what ive been look for, i have that exact issue. Ill be trying that this week!

Great vid 👍🏼. I need to do a huge leveling project soon. This is a problem I’m having too.

I'm glad I seen I need to do this because my yard is scalping bad. Thanks

Nice advice on how to help the bermuda lawns. I have an uneven lawn, and I was thinking you were going to suggest that they topdress the entire lawn to try to get it to even out, but your explanation countered that. Thanks for the video, and looking forward to the update on your hot mess.

Thanks for the tip, i live down in the Rio grand valley McAllen tx. And we all have a mixture of st. Augustine with Bermuda and I noticed that happens quite a bit what you were talking about so I'm going to do exactly what you said Thank you again

Thanks for the info. Starting a lawn care company spring 2018

great tip! amazing will definitely help me here in Arizona.

Awesome Video!! This solves a lot of my questions. Thanks!

this is exactly what is happening to my lawn!

Nothing worse than an uneven lawn full of scalp marks. Great advice!

Very helpful! Thank you very much.

Great tip,thanks

We live in the foothills of the blue ridge mountains and still recommend topdressing to our clients. The landscape grade most builders achieve is a joke. Our maintenance crews scalp down our summer turf each year in the early Spring and then raise the height slowly throughout the year and typically end at 3" by Fall to allow it to winterize well and appear full. Where possible, I like to push topdressing when I can because of the lack of awareness the general public has towards its benefits.

Thanks

Good information, thank you!

How often should you fertilize your bermuda grass if this is your first time getting bermuda grass in your yard??

Matt what would you recommend for getting rid of lawn rust? It's perennial ryegrass and Bermuda mix

What should I do if I'm having the issues you explained but it's summer time in central Texas? Do you recommend dropping hoc during drought conditions?

I have a Dilma. I was planning on laying new sod. stupid me spot sprayed my front yard ( which is mainly dirt ) for spotty weeds with ortho ground clear . It says anything sprayed wont grow anything for a year. my question is can I just lay new top soil and put new sod in top? I was told the chemical stays in the soil so I am afraid with all the watering it will raise the chemical through the new top soil and killing the sod ??

I have bermuda/st augustine mix. What height should I mow in order to keep both?

I have an uneven tifway 419 bermuda lawn so I appreciate the tips. What do you consider fertilizing heavy? 1.5 lb N / 1k?

Will a reel mower work for those uneven lawns?

Have to get reel to avoid scalp marks when mowing low.

Great video. I live in Texas and have Bermuda grass. What does it mean when your Bermuda is brown on the bottom and super green on top. I cut at 3 inches due to my lawn being uneven

I have the same problem with my Zoysia yard at the home we just moved into in May. It was too late to scalp it before green up. Can Zoysia take this same scalping treatment mid-season? I have in-ground irrigation.

Hey Matt, My lawn is very similar to this one(bermuda with a slope).I just got back my soil test and it reads 0.39 PPM for phosphorus, very low.They suggest me to put down a 0-45-0.I watched your video on how it takes forever to sink into the soil/ roots and dont want to have run off.This slope I have is probably the reason I have no phosphorus. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

using a 28-0-0 50% slow releasebermuda. will it be to much to came back 4 weeks later with an organic

Working on ridding my front lawn of Bahaiagrass. Day 3 after spraying I can barely notice a slight yellow on some weeds. Says to repeat in 4 to 6 weeks. Kinda scary waiting to see the damage. I have Bermuda and centipede mixed. I hate dalisgrass and baaiahgrass.

What kind of Bermuda grass is it?

My problem is my grass wont grow over 1/4 to 1/2 inch in 70% of my yard(tifway 419 in NC). I dont have weeds and get regular organic fertilizer treatments but it just doesn't get the height to mow at the 1.75" height I have it at. recently got it aerated as well and that was 3 weeks ago. Hasnt done much of anything in terms of growth height. Our lawn guy doesn't believe in high nitrogen chemical expedient lawn care because he claims it messes up the ecosystem. I also have full sun so there is that. The 70% of the sod that doesn't grow was put in in nov 1st 2016(worst possible time) on garbage clay subsoil when house was done and the other 30% was done by myself in april and early june on compost tilled with clay. All that grass is doing great. My lawn guys next move is to lay down milorganite. Any ideas to help that height growth?

I wish I could send you pictures of mine so you could tell me my issue

What do you use for dallisgrass?

Damn that music is annoying!

Wrong.......wrong.......wrong.....

What kind of Bermuda grass is it?