ay and early June is a great time to begin the transition of your winter lawn to your summer lawn. Bermuda grass becomes active when the nighttime temperatures are in the 60’s. Over the last few years we have heard many homeowners having problems with Bermuda grass growing very thin with many bare areas. This is usually attributed to the fact that homeowners let their rye grass die naturally with the heat of the summer rather than killing it off early. If you allow your rye grass to grow well into the latter half of May and June you are not allowing the Bermuda grass enough time to reach its peak performance before you over seed again in September. Doing this year after year can cause your summer lawn to become very thin, for it has to compete with the rye.

The best time to make the transition is once we have consistent 90 degree temperatures. When making the transition, it is best to mow the lawn set at the mowers’ lowest setting and turn off your sprinkler system for up to two weeks. The lawn will look rough for a few weeks but remember, it is only two to three weeks and it’s what is best to get a great looking lawn. After a couple weeks, fertilize the Bermuda with ammonium phosphate or Turf Royale then water thoroughly.

When reseeding Bermuda grass, it is important to wait until nighttime temperatures reach the mid-60’s. We carry both Blackjack Bermuda seed. If you are trying to match an existing lawn that was originally laid as sod, then Blackjack will be the best match to the color and texture. We recommend a rate of 3 pounds per 1000 square feet for both varieties.