This fertilizing plan is designed to allow the lawn to grow at a moderate rate and still have good color.

When to Fertilize

Pre-Emergence Times

Turf grasses vary in their need for water:

• Common Bermuda
• TIF Bermuda
• St. Augustine
• Tall Fescue

During the driest period of summer, our lawns usually require about 1 inch of water every 5 to 6 days. Most hose sprinkler apply 1/4 to 1/3 inch of water per hour, so they need to run approximately 4 hours in one spot. If water runs off the lawn before 1 inch is applied, turn the sprinkler off, let the water soak in for about an hour, and then continue watering.

The best time to water is early morning so less water is lost by evaporation. The worst time is in the evening because the lawn stays wet all night. This encourages disease development. Lawns watered too frequently tend to develop shallow root systems which make them more susceptible to grub damage.

The rule of thumb for mowing home lawns is not to remove more than 1/3 of the leaf surface at any one time.