Bermuda is one of the most common lawn grasses in Augusta, Evans and the rest of the CSRA. It handles our summer heat, recovers quickly from foot traffic and stays thick in full sun. It also grows fast, creeps into beds, thins out in shade and turns tan every winter. Bermuda looks its best when mowing, feeding and weed control are timed to the season. This guide covers what to do and when, based on University of Georgia Extension recommendations.
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Bermuda Care at a Glance
- Mowing height: 1 to 2 inches for common Bermuda; 1 to 1½ inches for hybrid Bermuda
- Mowing frequency: about weekly in summer; never cut more than one-third of the blade at a time
- Water: about 1 inch per week, rainfall included
- Fertilizer: start once the soil 4 inches down is consistently 65°F; last nitrogen in August
- Spring pre-emergent: before the soil warms to 55°F, usually mid-February to early March
- Fall pre-emergent: late summer to early fall, as the soil cools
- Aeration: while the grass is actively growing, from late spring through summer
- Sun: full sun; Bermuda thins out in shade
How to Mow Bermuda Grass
Keep common Bermuda at 1 to 2 inches and hybrid Bermuda at 1 to 1½ inches. In hot weather you can raise hybrid Bermuda by about half an inch. Follow the one-third rule: never remove more than one-third of the blade in a single mowing. In practice, that means mowing about once a week during the summer growing season.
Cutting too low at once scalps the grass and sets it back. Letting it grow tall and then cutting it hard causes the same problem. Sharp blades give a cleaner cut and a better-looking lawn. For mowing heights for other local grasses, see our Augusta lawn mowing guide.
When to Fertilize Bermuda Grass in Georgia
Start with a soil test. Your county UGA Extension office (Columbia or Richmond County) can run one. It will show your pH and what nutrients your soil needs. Bermuda does best at a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. If the test calls for lime, it can go down any time of year.
Wait for warm soil. UGA advises against nitrogen until the soil 4 inches down is consistently 65°F and rising. Feeding earlier can push the grass out of dormancy before it is ready, and a late cold snap can then injure it. In our area, that usually means waiting until the lawn has fully greened up in spring.
Split the total. UGA recommends 2 to 5 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year for Bermuda. Split that into several smaller applications through the growing season instead of one heavy feeding.
Stop in August. Make your last nitrogen application in August. Feeding in September can delay dormancy and leave the grass open to cold injury. A potassium-only product (zero nitrogen and phosphorus) is fine in fall.
Weed Control for Bermuda Lawns
Spring pre-emergent. Crabgrass and goosegrass germinate as the soil warms. Apply a pre-emergent herbicide before the soil reaches 55°F. In south and central Georgia, that usually falls from mid-February to early March. Watch the weather rather than the calendar, because an early warm spell moves it up.
Fall pre-emergent. Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and other winter weeds sprout as the soil cools in late summer and fall. A pre-emergent then, with a second application in winter if needed, keeps them from taking over a dormant lawn. Skip fall pre-emergent if you plan to overseed or lay new sod in the next few months.
Weeds that are already up. Spot-treat broadleaf weeds such as dandelion, chickweed and wild violet. Treat grassy weeds such as crabgrass and dallisgrass in the middle of the growing season. Never spray Bermuda that is drought-stressed, and always follow the product label.
Our weed control and fertilization plans handle this timing for you, with 8 applications through the year.
How Much to Water Bermuda Grass
Established Bermuda needs about 1 inch of water per week, rainfall included. Water early in the morning, and water deeply but less often. Two waterings of about half an inch each are better than a little every day. Bermuda tolerates drought well and can go semi-dormant in a long dry spell, then recovers when the rain returns. New sod is different: keep it consistently moist until it roots in.
Aeration and Thatch
The red clay common around Augusta compacts easily, especially along walkways, play areas and driveways. Core aeration pulls small soil plugs so water, air and fertilizer reach the roots. For Bermuda, aerate while it is actively growing, from late spring through summer, so it recovers quickly. See our lawn aeration service or our guide on when to aerate your lawn in Augusta.
Thatch is the layer of dead stems between the grass and the soil. UGA recommends dethatching when it is more than half an inch thick.
Bermuda Grass in Winter
Bermuda goes dormant and turns tan after the first hard frost. That is normal, and it greens up again in spring. Keep fallen leaves off the lawn, limit heavy traffic on frosty grass and don’t fertilize with nitrogen to “green it up.”
Some homeowners overseed with ryegrass for winter color. UGA lists 5 to 10 pounds of ryegrass seed per 1,000 square feet. Ryegrass can’t be combined with a fall pre-emergent, and it competes with the Bermuda as it greens up in spring.
Augusta Bermuda Grass Calendar
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January–February | Lawn is dormant. Soil test and lime if needed. Keep leaves off. |
| Mid-February–early March | Spring pre-emergent before the soil reaches 55°F. |
| April–May | Start regular mowing as it greens up. First fertilizer once the soil is consistently 65°F. |
| June–August | Mow about weekly at 1–2 inches. Fertilize, water about 1 inch per week and core aerate. Last nitrogen in August. |
| September–October | Fall pre-emergent for winter weeds. A potassium-only feeding is OK. |
| November–December | Dormant season. Spot-treat winter weeds and keep leaves off the lawn. |
Bermuda Grass FAQs
How short should Bermuda grass be cut?
Keep common Bermuda at 1 to 2 inches and hybrid Bermuda at 1 to 1½ inches. Don’t remove more than one-third of the blade at once.
When should I fertilize Bermuda grass in Georgia?
Start after spring green-up, once the soil 4 inches down is consistently 65°F. Make the last nitrogen application in August.
When should I put down pre-emergent in Augusta?
For crabgrass, before the soil reaches 55°F, usually mid-February to early March. Apply again in late summer or early fall for winter weeds.
Does Bermuda grass grow in shade?
Not well. Bermuda needs full sun and thins out under trees. For shady areas, Zoysia or St. Augustine are often better choices. Compare them in our guide to the best grass types for Augusta.
Why does my Bermuda turn brown in winter?
Bermuda is a warm-season grass that goes dormant after frost. It greens up again in spring as the soil warms.
Bermuda Lawn Care in Augusta and Evans
Green Lawn Augusta is based in Evans. We mow, fertilize and treat Bermuda lawns in Augusta, Evans, Martinez and Grovetown.
- Weekly mowing: Augusta lawn care · lawn care Evans GA
- Weeds and feeding: weed control and fertilization
- Compacted soil: lawn aeration
- Starting over: Bermuda sod installation
Sources: UGA Extension Bermudagrass Lawn Calendar; UGA Extension, Annual Bluegrass Control in Residential Turfgrass; UGA Extension Forsyth County, Fall Care for Warm-Season Lawns; UGA Extension Colquitt County, weed control timing.