Unruh Grasses

Water

• Both Unruh Celebration and Tif-419 are drought-tolerant turf grasses. During periods of low to no rainfall, apply 1 inch of water per week. If the grass appears to wilt during hot periods, water it to a depth of 6 inches. If you use a soaker hose it may take up to five hours to apply the appropriate amount of water. Use a screwdriver inserted into the soil to determine if you've given the lawn enough water.

Mow

• A rotary mower is ideal for cutting both Celebration and Tif-419 because it mows without scalping. Mow for the first time in the spring right after green up. Celebration should be mowed to 1/2 inch and Tif-49 to a height of 2 1/2 to 3 inches. This is significantly higher than recommended for other bermudagrass varieties but it's suggested by turf specialists at the University of Georgia. During the height of the season you may need to mow every three to seven days. During cooler weather, mow every 10 to 14 days.

Fertilize

• Both types of turf have low fertilizer requirements compared to other warm season grasses. All bermudagrass varieties have a tendency to become thin over time, due to declining phosphorus and potassium levels. Maintain a thick lawn by using 5-10-30 fertilizer, at 10 lbs. per square foot, just after green up in the spring. Re-apply the same fertilizer four weeks before the first frost. Always water after fertilizing.

Insects

• Of the two types of turf grass, Tif-491 is the more disease and pest resistant. Because it produces such a dense stand it resists weeds as well. The biggest pest problem you may have is sod webworm. These small caterpillars are most evident in spring when they leave behind dead patches of grass. They become more active and the damage becomes more severe as the weather heats up toward the middle of summer. Make sure the lawn gets plenty of water and use an insecticide, listed for use on the sod webworm, to control infestations. Unruh Turf Farms recommends permethrin-based products.