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Common Bermuda question about soil compaction maybe Ronk or anyone with experience
Posted on 9/15/24 at 3:34 pm
Posted on 9/15/24 at 3:34 pm
[/url] https://i.postimg.cc/JGyHFpvt/IMG-4070.jpg[/img][/url][/img] Could soil compaction cause under the canopy to stay brown like this? I usually cut at 1.25 inches with a reel mower and it’s not filling in like I was hoping. Plan on core aerating and sand leveling in spring but trying to figure out what the issue is. Did a soil sample and all of my nutrient levels were high or very high. Would core aeration help relieve the high numbers?
Edited to add would using a PGR thicken up the lawn to where it wouldn’t be as noticeable? Plan on using it next year as well if I could figure this issue out. I spoon feed every two weeks with 46-0-0 spray. Also scalped lawn about 2 months ago down to 1 inch. Mow every two days.
This post was edited on 9/15/24 at 3:38 pm
4
Posted on 9/15/24 at 5:59 pm to shoelessjoe
No, it should be thicker regardless of how compacted it is.
Is it a shade issue?
How old is that particular stand of grass?
I wouldn’t be worried about the brown at the base. If it were thicker, you wouldn’t see it. Thats the ideal scenario.
Just my experience after a year of close observation.
Is it a shade issue?
How old is that particular stand of grass?
I wouldn’t be worried about the brown at the base. If it were thicker, you wouldn’t see it. Thats the ideal scenario.
Just my experience after a year of close observation.
This post was edited on 9/16/24 at 1:48 pm
Posted on 9/15/24 at 6:07 pm to bayoubengals88
No not shaded
Posted on 9/15/24 at 7:15 pm to shoelessjoe
quote:
I usually cut at 1.25 inches
If it is common bermuda that is too low, and may be the cause of thin growth/seeing the runners at ground level.
Posted on 9/15/24 at 7:38 pm to tiggerfan02 2021
It may but I’ve seen common Bermuda lower than that and didn’t have that
Posted on 9/15/24 at 8:51 pm to tiggerfan02 2021
quote:Common is recommended to be maintained between 1-2” by LSU ag. I’ve seen beautiful common at .5” or lower, though it’s a ton of work.
If it is common bermuda that is too low, and may be the cause of thin growth/seeing the runners at ground level
If anything, shoeless may benefit from cutting consistently at 1” or lower (next spring/summer).
Posted on 9/15/24 at 9:43 pm to bayoubengals88
quote:
If anything, shoeless may benefit from cutting consistently at 1” or lower (next spring/summer).
Will scalp in spring again and another time before I sand level. My PH is 6.89 according to LSU soil test done. They say that my ph is high but what should I do to lower it?
Posted on 9/15/24 at 10:10 pm to shoelessjoe
Maybe just ever so slightly high.
Fertilizing with Ammonium Sulfate lowers ph
Fertilizing with Ammonium Sulfate lowers ph
Posted on 9/15/24 at 10:36 pm to bayoubengals88
Ok thanks
Posted on 9/16/24 at 6:37 am to shoelessjoe
Take a screwdriver and try to jam it into the ground where you see it thin like that.
If it won’t easily make it 4-6” then yes it’s compacted.
Is the entire lawn like that or just portions?
I’ll put it like this, compaction may or may not have caused that, but core aeration and proper soil amendments have never negatively impacted a Bermuda lawn.
Without knowing watering habits, anti-fungal treatments, possible bug infestations or flooding issues from the recent storm I don’t want to pretend to be able to diagnose that issue.
If it won’t easily make it 4-6” then yes it’s compacted.
Is the entire lawn like that or just portions?
I’ll put it like this, compaction may or may not have caused that, but core aeration and proper soil amendments have never negatively impacted a Bermuda lawn.
Without knowing watering habits, anti-fungal treatments, possible bug infestations or flooding issues from the recent storm I don’t want to pretend to be able to diagnose that issue.
Posted on 9/16/24 at 7:10 am to tide06
quote:
Take a screwdriver and try to jam it into the ground where you see it thin like that. If it won’t easily make it 4-6” then yes it’s compacted.
So the only reason I didn’t say that compaction was an issue is because of me trying to manually aerate my own common lawn.
I discovered a significant portion that has a solid layer of white shells only 2-3” below the surface. But the grass is still thick above it. That may not mean anything for shoeless. But I’ve also got thick Bermuda growing on top of my gravel driveway
I really have no idea. His mowing practices are fantastic. It should be thicker.
Posted on 9/16/24 at 8:38 am to bayoubengals88
Hope you don't mind me posting a larger pic. The one I'm seeing above is hard to for me to see.
Posted on 9/16/24 at 8:48 am to shoelessjoe
This is the part of my lawn with a solid layer of white shells just below the surface. It's not great, but it's not that thin.
For this reason, I think something else might be at play. Would love to hear from Ronk about this.
-------------
I agree with the poster above in the sense that you could unknowingly have solid concrete under your grass.
So two questions:
1. Is this just one area or the whole lawn?
2. How old is this stand of grass? If you've just begun nurturing it, it may take another year to get thick.
For this reason, I think something else might be at play. Would love to hear from Ronk about this.
-------------
I agree with the poster above in the sense that you could unknowingly have solid concrete under your grass.
So two questions:
1. Is this just one area or the whole lawn?
2. How old is this stand of grass? If you've just begun nurturing it, it may take another year to get thick.
This post was edited on 9/16/24 at 9:13 am
Posted on 9/18/24 at 11:00 pm to bayoubengals88
It’s a fairly new. I just built and was using Celsius and broadleaf chemical to kill weeds. It’s in big patches throughout the front.
Posted on 9/19/24 at 8:40 am to shoelessjoe
Maybe you just dinged it a bit too much with the herbicides...
This might be a good time to experiment with things like RGS (root growth stimulator), sea kelp, potassium, and Humic DG as we head into fall. These soil amendments certainly won't hurt when you ramp it up again next spring.
Are they necessary? No. But I think my grass has enjoyed Air-8 and RGS this year.
Additionally, you can spoon feed some Ammonium Sulfate from Lowe's another time or two to try to get that ph balanced. There's plenty of heat in the growing season left for that.
This might be a good time to experiment with things like RGS (root growth stimulator), sea kelp, potassium, and Humic DG as we head into fall. These soil amendments certainly won't hurt when you ramp it up again next spring.
Are they necessary? No. But I think my grass has enjoyed Air-8 and RGS this year.
Additionally, you can spoon feed some Ammonium Sulfate from Lowe's another time or two to try to get that ph balanced. There's plenty of heat in the growing season left for that.
Posted on 9/19/24 at 10:34 am to shoelessjoe
I would definitely aerate. Only the top of bermuda is green so that is the brown you are seeing. PGR will help thicken it as it cause the bermuda to grow laterally instead of vertically.
Posted on 9/20/24 at 3:03 am to ronk
Ronk, do you think scalping in spring will take of whatever thatch is built up underneath enough to fix that or should I buy a dethatcher to do that instead? Trying to get everything level or atleast improve it from where it currently is. May take a few years but little by little I will get there.
Posted on 9/24/24 at 7:51 pm to shoelessjoe
Since no Ronk yet, it doesn’t look like you’ll need a dethatcher.
Scalping is almost always enough for Bermuda, which is less susceptible to thatch build up than the other southern turf grasses.
Thatching is most common in overly thick St. Aug lawns where clippings are not bagged. Then you end up with a solid thatch layer.
If you scalp and can then see soil between stolons, you’re good to go. Once stolons get too crowded, then verticut.
Scalping is almost always enough for Bermuda, which is less susceptible to thatch build up than the other southern turf grasses.
Thatching is most common in overly thick St. Aug lawns where clippings are not bagged. Then you end up with a solid thatch layer.
If you scalp and can then see soil between stolons, you’re good to go. Once stolons get too crowded, then verticut.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 6:58 am to shoelessjoe
Scalping works wonders for bermuda. The issue can arise when you have rain and can't mow or go on vacation. When you mow and the grass is taller than normal you can build up a thatch layer. At that point you want to scarify. You want to use a fixed blade and not a dethatching blade.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 7:51 pm to ronk
Thanks ronk. Since the hurricane, I think I unintentionally scalped my yard. Had to use the rotary mower to catch up since I couldn’t cut from the huge rains we received. Was cutting at 1.5 earlier in the year due to my yard not being level. Went down to 1.25 and never really had it dialed in. Will be going back to 1.5 for rest of year with reel mower then will scalp, core aerate and sand level and try to go to 1 inch next year. Fingers crossed that I can make it work. Will use PGR and push 46-0-0 as well. PH was borderline high at 6.89.
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