The Temperature to Fertilize Bermuda Grass

Soil Temperature

• Fertilize your Bermuda lawn when the soil has warmed up from the winter or when 50 percent of the grass has come out of dormancy. To measure your soil temperature, create a 6-inch-deep pilot hole in your soil with a screwdriver to prevent breaking the soil thermometer. Measure the soil temperature in the morning and afternoon. Take an average of both temperatures to obtain an accurate reading.

Spring Fertilizing

• Gardeners can tell when they should first apply fertilizer in the spring by looking at their lawn. Wait to fertilize when at least 50 percent of the grass looks green or is actively growing. Generally, Bermuda grass grows when air temperatures are 75 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, which occurs in the late spring depending on your region. Those living in regions that receive temperate winters may fertilize earlier in the season than those living in areas that experience frosts. Make sure that the soil temperature is warm enough before applying fertilizer.

Fertilizing Schedule

• Fertilize your Bermuda lawn every four to six weeks during the growing season. Spread fertilizer in the morning before the hot afternoon heat to reduce the chance of burning grass with nitrogen. Nitrogen consists of salts, which dehydrates grass when applied during hot temperatures or without water. Furthermore, avoid fertilizing your Bermuda lawn with more than 1 1/2 lbs. of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet to prevent burning grass blades.

When to Stop Fertilizing

• Stop fertilizing your Bermuda grass in mid-September. Gardeners tempted to fertilize their lawns after mid-September risk injuring their Bermuda grass. Bermuda must be able to enter dormancy at the end of the summer. Gardeners notice their Bermuda grass going dormant when grass turns brown. Actively growing grass becomes damaged when temperatures dip. When temperatures dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, Bermuda stops growing for the season. If nitrogen is applied to the grass before the temperatures dip, new growth is injured.