Fertilizer Schedule for Bermuda & Zoysia Grass

Spring

• In late May, add ½ to 1 lb. of nitrogen fertilizer to every 1,000 square feet of Bermudagrass. Be sure to wait until the turf's dormant period has ended, and it has turned green. Take a sample of your soil to test for levels of phosphorus and potassium.

  When the last expected frost of the spring passes, apply ½ to 1 lb. of nitrogen fertilizer to every 1,000 square feet of zoysiagrass. As with Bermudagrass, this is a smart time to take a soil sample to determine nutrient requirements.

Summer

• During the summer months, apply ½ to 1 lb. of the same nitrogen fertilizer to every 1,000 square feet of Bermudagrass every four to six weeks.

  Fertilize zoysiagrass every four to eight weeks during the summer, applying ½ to 1 lb. of nitrogen fertilizer to every 1,000 square feet.

Fall

• Determine when the first frost is expected for your region and apply no more than ½ lb. of nitrogen fertilizer for every 1,000 square feet of Bermudagrass in September. Check the results of your soil test and add potassium and lime if needed. If potassium is recommended, apply a high-potassium, low-nitrogen fertilizer, such as a 10-0-40.

  Do not apply any fertilizer to zoysiagrass after the end of August. Now is the time, however, to address nutrient deficiencies such as potassium. Apply 1 lb. of potash to treat the problem.

Winter

• If Bermudagrass has not been overseeded, then do not fertilize it from December through February. If it has been overseeded, apply ½ lb. of nitrogen fertilizer to every 1,000 square feet during these months.

  As with Bermudagrass, fertilize only overseeded zoysiagrass from December through February. Use ½ lb. of nitrogen fertilizer for every 1,000 square feet.