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Centipede to Bermuda- How Long?

Posted on 6/15/24 at 9:32 am
Posted by armytiger96
Member since Sep 2007
1661 posts
Posted on 6/15/24 at 9:32 am
I am trying to get Bermuda to overtake my centipede and was curious how long is the process? I over-seeded with LaPrima seed 4 weeks ago but haven't noticed much growth.

What deck height should I should I set my mower for optimum growth?

How long should I wait before spraying for weeds?

I know morning is optimal time to water but if that's not optimal for my schedule what is the latest I should water in afternoon and prevent fungus problems?

This post was edited on 6/15/24 at 12:22 pm
Posted by Loup
Ferriday
Member since Apr 2019
14361 posts
Posted on 6/15/24 at 2:20 pm to
My backyard was a mix of st aug and centipede. A couple of years ago I threw some common bermuda and zoysia seed out. Didn't notice anything that year. The next it was mostly zoysia and common bermuda by the end of the year. I plugged some hybrid bermuda then and now it's mostly zoysia and hybrid. Took a couple years to take over.
Posted by LEASTBAY
Member since Aug 2007
15694 posts
Posted on 6/15/24 at 3:24 pm to
I'm on year 3 and at about 70% Bermuda. Started spraying quinclorac which is helping. Some Bermuda seed takes a few weeks to germinate.
Posted by Earthquake 88
Mobile
Member since Jan 2010
3134 posts
Posted on 6/15/24 at 4:24 pm to
I’m not sure about seeded Bermuda but last spring coming out of dormancy my Centipede was half dead. The whole neighborhood was the same. When we bought the house the contractor had already put down the sod and I noticed it had about 1% Bermuda mixed in the sod. For 7 years the Centipede chocked the Bermuda out. But that 1% Bermuda didn’t die and it completely took over my entire backyard in one growing season. That Bermuda took off when it got hot.
Posted by mchias1
Member since Dec 2009
909 posts
Posted on 6/15/24 at 8:23 pm to
I'm in the midst of transitioning as well. Right now I'm mowing on the 2nd lowest notch. The Bermuda is doing good in the spots where the centipede got crushed last year. Right now my yard is a mix of surprising healthy centipede and some Bermuda. I'm just waiting for the centipede to get a disease or die so the Bermuda can do it's thing. Looking like this summer may be a good year for centipede growing.
Posted by ronk
Member since Jan 2015
6971 posts
Posted on 6/15/24 at 9:17 pm to
If you were goi g to seed you could have done it in 6 weeks. Glyphosate the centipede and seed a week later. Mow at 1 inch or less and fert heavily. Bermuda will take over.
Posted by armytiger96
Member since Sep 2007
1661 posts
Posted on 6/15/24 at 10:59 pm to
quote:

Mow at 1 inch or less and fert heavily. Bermuda will take over.


What type of fertilizer? How often is considered heavy?
Posted by LSUTIGERTAILG8ER
Chance of Rain....NEVER!!
Member since Nov 2007
1850 posts
Posted on 6/17/24 at 11:22 am to
quote:


What type of fertilizer?

Bermuda likes high nitrogen.
My local store carries 28-0-4 that I have been using.
You need to calculate your sq footage of yard and what % N is in the bag and general rule for bermuda is 1lb of N applied per month.
someone can correct me if i'm wrong, but this is what ive been doing.
I seeded common bermuda this year after aerating. fertilized with 13-13-13 at time of seed, and applied 28-0-4 at the beginning of May and June .
im using 1-3/4" cut height on my ExMark riding mower with mulch kit. so far, so good,.
This post was edited on 6/17/24 at 11:23 am
Posted by jmon
Loisiana
Member since Oct 2010
9286 posts
Posted on 6/17/24 at 11:35 am to
Any pics of conversion?
Posted by LSUTIGERTAILG8ER
Chance of Rain....NEVER!!
Member since Nov 2007
1850 posts
Posted on 6/17/24 at 11:40 am to
Posted by WITNESS23
Member since Feb 2010
13760 posts
Posted on 6/17/24 at 1:37 pm to
quote:

seeded common bermuda this year after aerating


Did you nuke the lawn or just seeded and kept it watered and let it do it's thing?
Wondering if that will work.
Posted by LSUTIGERTAILG8ER
Chance of Rain....NEVER!!
Member since Nov 2007
1850 posts
Posted on 6/17/24 at 1:53 pm to
quote:


Did you nuke the lawn or just seeded and kept it watered and let it do it's thing?


Did not nuke.
I scalped as low as my mower will allow (1.5") and then aerated and seeded/fertilized and let it do its thing.
I did not want to go back to dirt or worry about removing all the clippings, etc.
Just hoping that in time the Bermuda will take over and win. Im giving it the best chance over the centipede by mowing low, often, and nitrogen
Posted by lsugrad35
Jambalaya capital of the world
Member since Feb 2007
3289 posts
Posted on 6/17/24 at 2:47 pm to
I just did this last week for the first time. I cut it as low as I could. I have common Bermuda running everywhere. However, aside from the common Bermuda I have a lot of random weeds, the worst one seems to be a lot of dallisgrass. I think dallisgrass loves nitrogen (I read that somewhere) so I’m worried about fert. Idk where to turn at this point.
Posted by bayoubengals88
LA
Member since Sep 2007
21343 posts
Posted on 6/17/24 at 9:48 pm to
Dig it up and replace with sand or paint glyphosate on it with a small brush.
Posted by armytiger96
Member since Sep 2007
1661 posts
Posted on 6/18/24 at 3:24 pm to
quote:

Bermuda I have a lot of random weeds, the worst one seems to be a lot of dallisgrass. I think dallisgrass loves nitrogen


Dallisgrass may love nitrogen but it hates MSMA which doesn't affect Bermuda if somehow you can get some.
Posted by armytiger96
Member since Sep 2007
1661 posts
Posted on 6/18/24 at 3:29 pm to
quote:

LSUTIGERTAILG8ER


Your thread is what prompted me to try as well!

quote:

My local store carries 28-0-4 that I have been using. You need to calculate your sq footage of yard and what % N is in the bag and general rule for bermuda is 1lb of N applied per month.


I assume the 28 is an indicator of how much nitrogen is in the mixture but what is the unit of measure? I'm assuming it's a percentage so a 25lb bag of fertilizer will have 7lbs of Nitrogen.

1lb of N applied per month . . . What is the surface area for that application ratio? 1lb per 1000 ft^2?

Will this "burn" my yard now that we're entering summer high temps?

This post was edited on 6/18/24 at 3:53 pm
Posted by bayoubengals88
LA
Member since Sep 2007
21343 posts
Posted on 6/18/24 at 3:52 pm to
quote:

I assume the 28 is an indicator of how much nitrogen is in the mixture but what is the unit of measure?

Yes.

.28 lbs of N per one lb of total product.

It's fine to apply 1 lb of Nitrogen per month per thousand sq ft. during peak growing season.
Posted by LSUTIGERTAILG8ER
Chance of Rain....NEVER!!
Member since Nov 2007
1850 posts
Posted on 6/20/24 at 11:44 am to
quote:

What is the surface area for that application ratio? 1lb per 1000 ft^2?



To calculate the pounds of nitrogen in a bag of fertilizer, multiply the bag's weight by the percent nitrogen (this is the first number in the N-P-K designation on the front of the bag). This will tell you the pounds of nitrogen in the bag.

Then divide the pounds of nitrogen by the area the bag states it will cover to get the pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft.
Note: Fertilizer bags usually come in 5,000 or 10,000 sq. ft.

For example a 19 lb. bag of fertilizer with an analysis of 26-4-12 (N-P-K) covering 5,000 sq. ft.:

19 lbs. × (26 / 100) = 4.94 lbs Total nitrogen in the bag

4.94 lbs nitrogen in the bag ÷ 5,000 ft² bag = 0.98 lbs. of nitrogen / 1,000 ft²
Posted by LSUvet72
Member since Sep 2013
13092 posts
Posted on 6/20/24 at 12:10 pm to
The advantage of Centipede is it does not require frequent mowing.

By replacing it with Bermuda will increased your time cutting.
Posted by bayoubengals88
LA
Member since Sep 2007
21343 posts
Posted on 6/20/24 at 12:42 pm to
quote:

By replacing it with Bermuda will increased your time cutting.

It all depends on a combo of preference and effort.
Some people think it's worth it to drink a cup of coffee over a pristine dew covered bermuda lawn that's cut every three days at 1".
Others, not so much...

One may want a lovely lawn, but not enough to mow it 2-3 times per week.
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