Bermuda Grass Water Requirements

Watering New Lawns

• Newly planted lawns require frequent irrigation until the grass roots become fully established. Water the lawn twice daily for the first ten days, then reduce it to every other day for an additional week. Continue to irrigate once weekly for the first year after planting until the grass goes dormant in fall. Once established, bermuda grass can withstand longer periods of dryness.

Summer Water Needs

• Heat, drying winds and low humidity in summer impacts the water needs of the grass. Irrigate when the grass shows signs of impending drought stress, including wilting and folding grass blades. If the lawn goes too long without water, the grass color will fade to a blue-gray color then eventually turn brown as it goes dormant. Resuming irrigation greens the bermuda grass back up. Provide enough water at each irrigation to moisten the top 8 inches of soil, which requires approximately 1 inch of water per irrigation.

Soil Type and Irrigation

• Bermuda grass may require more frequent watering in some soil types. Sandy soils drain and dry out quickly. Water more often if drought stress symptoms are visible in sandy soils. Clay soils compact easily. The compaction causes the moisture to sit in the top couple inches of soil and leads to soggy conditions that can kill bermuda grass. Aerate clay soils once a year and keep all the thatch removed at soil level to aid water penetration and to help ensure proper drainage after irrigation. Clay soils may need less frequent watering, especially if the soil seems waterlogged.