Fall Overseed of Bermuda Grass with Rye

It's that time of year again. Time to think about preparing your yard for fall over seeding with Rye grass. Bermuda Grass will stay green usually into November but as soon as the frost hits, Bermuda will go dormant until Spring. Many Arizonan's over seed their lawn with Winter Rye grass. Rye grass looks and feels very different from Bermuda Grass and will give your yard year round enjoyment, in addition to keeping the weeds at bay in your lawn. We usually over seed in early October.
1. If you plan to over seed this fall, the first thing to do is not fertilize your Bermuda Grass 4-6 weeks before over seeding. You do not want it to be actively growing when it is scalped.
2. Plan to over seed in late September through early November when night time temperatures are below 60 degrees.
3. Cut your watering schedule down by half a few weeks before overseeding.
4. Stop mowing your lawn one week before mowing.
5. The day of overseeding you will scalp your lawn to about 1/2" high and remove all clippings.
6. Spread the Rye seed according to package directions.
7. Cover seed with mulch, composted manure, or grass clipping to aid in moisture and keep the birds away.
8. Water 3-4 time daily for 5-10 min. until the seeds germinate in 5-7 days.

After the third or fourth week, you can gradually reduce your watering to every 3 to 7 days in Nov. and Dec. and every 14 days for the rest of the season, depending on rainfal, etc.

You may mow y our ryegrass after is has grown 2" tall but only mow to 1.5". Do not fertilize until after the first mowing.

For assistance on your fall ryegrass overseeding call a licensed landscape contractor. Arizona Living Landscapes operates in the east valley: Queen Creek, Mesa, Gilbert, and Chandler Arizona. 480-390-4477

Summer Gardening Tips August

Fertilize roses less often and moisten soil to a about 1 foot when watering during the extreme summer heat. Water in the morning to prevent disease so the leaves will be dry in the evening.

Mulch and water landscape plants that product ornamental berries in the fall. If you water properly no, you will have a full set of fruit by fall.

Prune your shrubby flowers such as Vinca to promote flower growth in the fall. Cut the stems back to just above where a side branch emerges from the stem. Water well and fertilize.

Walk across your lawn looking for dry areas. If you can see your foot for more then a few seconds then you need to water more. Check out our watering guide for Bermuda grass blog. http://azlandscape.blogspot.com/2008/06/watering-your-bermuda-grass-lawn.html

For Sprinkler Repairs or adjustments, call a licensed landscape contractor.

May Arizona Gardening Guide

It's spring in the Arizona low desert. The temps are near 100 if not over already. Your Bermuda grass should be in and green and the winter Rye should be gone. You need to check your watering schedule. Bermuda grass does better if it is watered deeply 8-10 inches. You can check this by putting a screwdriver or something long in the grass and it should go in 8-10" easily after you water. If it doesn't then you need to increase your watering time. If you are experiencing run-off from too much water then change your timer to water several times throughout the day to get the depth without loosing the water. If you do this, you should be able to water every 2, maybe 3 days. Check your lawn and use good judgment. If it is turning brown, increase your water, if your lawn is sopping wet and getting mushrooms, cut back your water or water less days.

Your plants, especially flowers, will benefit from some organic mulch. You can add about a 3" layer to the soil around the plants to maintain moisture, prevent weeds, and lower your soil temperature. As the mulch decomposes during the summer, it will at much needed nutrients to the soil.
Contact a licensed Landscape Contractor for your landscape maintenance

Fall Lawn Care

If you are not planning on winter overseeding your Arizona lawn, then you need to fertilize well. Your lawn needs plenty of nutrients to help it come back in the spring. Mow often and take off less to help your lawn stay green and healthy longer. You still need to water in the fall but you should be able to cut down on the water as the weather cools. In Arizona, the fall weather comes a little later than other climates so remember to keep watering during the heat but be prepared to cut it back in October/November. If you are overseeding, check out our article on fall overseeding. You can also check out http://www.landscapearizona.com/ for some great prices and the fall special.

Arizona Fall Overseeding

It is almost time to start thinking about overseeding your lawn with winter Rye grass in the Arizona desert. Overseeding is usually done in early October. We plant winter Rye grass in Arizona because our summer Bermuda grass goes dormant with the colder winter nights. If you plan to overseed, do not fertilize this fall. The idea is to let the Bermuda grass start to go dormant so we can cut it back and plant the new Rye grass. If you fertilize, then the Bermuda will continue to grow and won't take to overseeding very well. The lawn will need to be mowed very short prior to planting. The Rye grass seed needs to be put down and then covered with a mulch or seed cover. The seeds need to be kept wet in order to germinate and within a few weeks, you will have a beautiful lawn for the rest of the winter. Contact Aquatic Landscaping for fall overseeding rates. 480-390-4477.

Watering your Bermuda Grass Lawn

Signs of under-watering your Arizona lawn:

• Bermuda Grass turns bluish-grey and doesn't spring back after you step on it.
• The soil is too hard to push a screwdriver into.
• The turf still feels warm i the evening after the sun has gone down.

Signs of over-watering your Arizona Lawn:

• Water is constantly puddled in areas
• Turf has a musty odor
• Soil is extremely soft or mushy
• Moss, dichondra, or mushrooms are present

Tips for watering your lawn:

• If water runs off your yard, irrigate more often for shorter periods of time.
• Install sprinkler heads vertically and flush with the soil surface. Make sure grass is not blocking the spray.
• Adjust sprinler heads so they don't spray walls, driveways or sidewalks.
• Hand water dry areas rather than increasing overall watering time.
• Replace broken and missing sprinklers immediately.
• consult and irrigation supplier or irrigation specialist for more information about the most efficient types of sprinklers and irrigation control clocks.
• Water shaded areas about 30% less than sunny areas.
• If it has rained, reduce irrigations accordingly.

Dethatching your lawn

What is thatch? It is a mat of plant material consisting mainly of grass stems and roots. A thin layer is good, because it acts as mulch, which reduces evaporation. Too much will repel water, cause shallow roots and make the grass less resistant to draught.
Excessive thatch is usually caused by over-watering or over-fertalizing. It thatch if over 1/2", it should be removed with a vertical ower or power rake.
Dethatch during the hot summer months so bermuda grass can quickly recover. After dethatching, apply fertilizer at a rate of 1/2-3/4 lb. of nitrogen per thousand square feet, and water the grass well to speed recovery. Do not dethatch your winter lawn if you have one.

Mowing your Bermuda Grass

Believe it or not, there is a proper way to mow your bermuda grass to maintain a healthy, vibrant lawn.

• Avoid scalping your lawn. Grass that is too short uses more water.
• Common bermuda grass should be about 1.5-2" tall.
• Don't remove more than 1/3 of the grass at a time. If you can't mow frequently, incease your mowing height.
• Keep mower blades sharp.
• If you mow frequently and do not over-water or over-fertalize, you shouldn't need to bag your clippings, with the exception of some bermuda grass hybrids.
• Avoid following the same pattern each time you mow.
• Increase the mowing height by 25% in shady areas.
• Use a reel-type mower when mowing grass at a height of one inch or less

Call an experienced landscape company for the perfect yard.

Desert Lawn Care - Bermuda Grass

I love a nice green lawn and thankfully I can still have it in Arizona. The most common summer grass in Phoenix is Bermuda Grass. This is a weed everywhere else in the country but in Arizona we plant it and fertilize it to grow a beautiful desert lawn. Proper mowing is important for maintaining a healthy lawn. Do not mow it too short or scalp it in the summer. Short grass requires more water. Common Bermuda Grass should be about 1.5-2" tall. Hybrid Bermuda Grass (Tifgreen, Tifway, Midiron) should be .5 - 1" tall. Perennial Ryegrass (winter grass) should be 1.5-2" tall Fescue should be 1.5-3" tall, and St. Augustine should be 2.5-3.5" tall. Typically you will need to mow in the summer growing months once a week to keep your lawn healthy. If you let your lawn go too long, don't remove more than 1/3 of the grass at a time and keep your blades sharp. The best time to water in the hot summer months is at night or during the cool morning hours to avoid evaporation. Make sure when you water that you can push a screwdriver into the ground about 10" after watering. This deep watering with infrequent cycles are best for Bermuda Grass. In the summer you will need to water your lawn about every 3 days. Too often and you will waste water and cause algae and mushrooms in your yard. Fertilize regularly but do not over fertilize. Check the package for instructions. When in doubt consult an experienced landscape contractor.