How To Make Bermuda Grass Thicker - Yard And Garden Guru

You may find your lawn thinning in areas, or it isn’t growing as much as you thought it would. You may even wonder, does Bermuda grass spread, or is your lawn the best it ever will be?

Even if there are different types, Bermuda grass types don’t have too much of an impact on the thickness of your grass. Other factors determine this, and you can use these to your advantage.

By the end of our guide, you can learn how to get Bermuda grass to spread and cover your lawn area with thick green blades.

Why Is My Bermuda Grass Patchy?

There are reasons for patchy lawns with Bermuda grass. Poor topsoil is compacted, making it difficult to find the air, nutrients, and water from the grassroots

Excessive shade, insufficient fertilizer, and often the infestation of insects and diseases could make Bermudagrass small, leaving thin, patchy areas. (Find the Best Organic Fertilizer For Lawn)

If you have such a problem, here’s how to make your Bermuda grass thicker. Add sufficient fertilizer to feed the grass adequately and in the correct ratio to create thick Bermuda grass.

To foster thicker growth, mow lower than one inch to induce healthy growth, and make sure to water your lawn afterward. Always apply weed killer immediately for a healthier, greener lawn when weeds trigger thinning. (Read Does Grass Seed Expire)

What Fertilizer Is Best For Bermuda Grass?

Spring and early summer are the best times to encourage your lawn to grow thicker with a lush green appearance. This time is typically the best, especially for Bermuda grass lawns. So, feeding it with sufficient fertilizer to grow quickly is essential.

To assess low-level nutrients, conduct a soil test (you can purchase kits to do this yourself). Apply sufficient NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) using a general-purpose fertilizer with a 4: 1: 2 ratio.

Strong grass needs fertilizer using a 4:1:2 ratio, combining the three key elements. Check your soil before adding anything to your lawn. Should a low level of fertilizer be the reason your lawn looks underwhelming, then it’s time to add fertilizer.

The advantage of applying fertilizer is that it can help eliminate disease weeds and make your lawn drought-resistant. (Find the Best Liquid Lawn Fertilizer)

In drought conditions, most lawn types with Bermuda grass tend to thin out. Ensuring lawns grow thick before the season can help you avoid such issues.

How Often Should You Fertilize Bermuda Grass

Don’t forget that the fertilizer type will need watering if powder, granular, liquid, or water-soluble is applied with a hose.

Mid-Spring

When soil temps hit 60-65 degrees, Bermuda grass greens, and after the danger of frosts has passed and your lawn is at least 50 percent is the best time to apply. This ends in mid-March and mid-April. Use a complete lawn fertilizer containing slow-release nitrogen. Apply per 1.5 pounds per 1,000 square feet, lasting 2-3 months.

Mid-Summer

Approximately 2-3 months after your spring application, fertilize again in mid-summer, such as late June or early July. Use a complete lawn fertilizer comprising a type of nitrogen slow release. Apply per 1000 square feet 1.5 pounds of nitrogen.

Early-Fall

Fertilize your Bermuda grass lawn again at the end of August at the beginning of September. You may use the same full fertilizer or a fertilizer with no phosphorus yet higher potassium. Something like 12-4-14 or 12-0-12. Either way, the fertilizer should have slow-release nitrogen to add 1.5 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. (Read When Can You Walk On New Grass)

Winter

Don’t fertilize Bermuda grass in the winter.

How Do You Make Bermuda Grass Greener?

You can do a few things to offer the best lawn care to ensure grass grows its best. Follow these tips, and you can easily make Bermuda grass thicker.

Mowing

Mowing your lawn is vital when trying to grow thick lawns. Mowing makes your Bermuda grass grow and spread laterally rather than just in height. The secret is mowed lower than the usual couple of inches in height, and the recommendation is lower than one inch to no more than 2 inches in height.

Also, it would help if you increased the frequency of mowing in the growing season, as it helps promote faster growth. (Learn How to Reseed Lawn)

Here are two tips to promote thick and fast growth of Bermuda grass lawns.

• Always follow mowing grasses with watering
• Always make a check and increase the fertilizer levels

You can see this effect on golf courses as they are mowing every day or two in certain areas, and their lawn care makes their grass look well healthy and fantastic.

Aeration

You may hear about aerating your lawn enough during late spring and early summer. While this helps, for a good, healthy, thicker Bermuda grass lawn, start to aerate when your grass is beginning to turn all green, as it will enhance stronger and faster growth.

Additionally, it’s usually best to aerate after scalping when your grass is short. When you water, this can get right to the roots. When you have clay or dry, hard-packed soil, you usually start aerating early to promote improved nutrient and water penetration.

Weeds

You’ll find you have weeds sometimes, so you need to use a post-emergent herbicide to remove crabgrass and broad-leaf grassy weeds. The recommended method is using a herbicide, although don’t apply it across your lawn. Focus on affected areas to kill weeds and let your Bermuda grass to grow thick and full.

Pre-emergent weed killers are best applied close to when you are aerating your soil. You can see the signs year after year of these weeds, hence why a pre-emergent is the best option. Apply your pre-emergent early in spring to stop weeds from germinating. You can apply pre-emergent every 60 to 90 days if you think you’ll have a heavy weed infestation

Killing weeds early in the year means you don’t need to worry about the hotter parts of the year.

Tim Graham

With over 20 years of hands-on gardening and landscape design experience, Tim Graham, the founder of YardandGardenGuru.com, is dedicated to sharing expert advice and fostering a vibrant community for garden enthusiasts. His award-winning designs and sustainable practices reflect a deep-rooted passion and expertise in horticulture. Connect and cultivate your green thumb with Tim!