How to Fertilize, Cut & Care for Bermuda Grass

Walk out onto your lawn after the last frost to check the grass for growth. It is important to fertilize Bermuda grass in the spring only when the lawn has had time to green up to avoid promoting weed growth.

Pour half of the slow-release fertilizer into the rotary drop spreader. Distribute 1 lb. of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Apply the fertilizer horizontally on the grass and distribute the other half vertically across the grass in order to get an even spread. Water the grass thoroughly.

Apply 1 to 1 1/2 lbs. of nitrogen every 1,000 square feet every month during the growing season. Stop fertilizing after the grass has gone dormant in the late autumn.

Set your mower's blades at a medium height or so the Bermuda grass is left at 1/2 to 2 inches high in the spring. Keep the grass clippings on the grass to provide additional nitrogen. Avoid ever taking off more than 1/3 of the grass blade for Bermuda grass.

Set tuna cans out in the lawn to record how much water your grass is getting a week. Walk over the cans and measure the water level with a measuring stick. Bermuda grass needs 1 to 1 1/4 inches of water a week. If you notice your grass discoloring in hot weather, apply water in the early morning to allow for it to evaporate before cool nighttime temperatures.