Keeping Bermuda Grass Fairly Green Through the Winter (Phoenix: rental, yard)

[klotone]

We have Bermuda grass in our small front yard. When we moved in a year ago, it didn't look that great. We kept cutting it really short then by Feb. it was pretty scarce (my fault for cutting it too short!). Anyway, I got EZ Seed Patch & Repair and started applying it, then watering it afterwards... well in just a few weeks, it got really full and green. It still looks really good.

Since this is a rental property, we aren't required to do overseeding for the winter. So I'd like to do whatever is necessary to keep it looking good. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thx!

[ajonesaz]

Bermuda grass won't stay green all year. Once night time temps drop to the 40's it goes dormant. The frost would kill it if it didn't go dormant. I have kept winter grass for two years in my backyard, but this summer killed it too hot too long.

[pbenjamin]

If the newly seeded area grows more quickly than the rest of the lawn, and produces seed tops, you may have damaged the lawn by introducing Bermuda seed. A lot of the Bermuda grass in Phoenix is hybrid Bermuda, often referred to as tiff. Hybrid Bermuda is typically introduced via sod, has no seeds. If allowed to produce seed tops the common Bermuda will eventually take over the entire lawn. Hybrid Bermuda is considered more desirable as it grows much slower.

Having said all of that, your lawn, whatever kind of Bermuda it is, going to go dormant in the winter and turn brown. Your alternatives are overseeding with Rye or applying turf paint.

https://www.amazon.com/000-4EverGree...rds=turf+paint

[Reedus]

Originally Posted by ajonesaz

Bermuda grass won't stay green all year. Once night time temps drop to the 40's it goes dormant. The frost would kill it if it didn't go dormant. I have kept winter grass for two years in my backyard, but this summer killed it too hot too long.

Whhhaaattt? You have actually had luck in the past with getting rye grass to survive through the summer?

[pbenjamin]

Originally Posted by Reedus

Whhhaaattt? You have actually had luck in the past with getting rye grass to survive through the summer?

If the area has lots of shade ryegrass can last quite a while.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

I find Bermuda does best between mid April and mid October here, so Rye is used from November to March

[DougStark]

OP, first question is, what kind of seed was in the EZ seed patch and repair? If you were able to sprout it and get it growing in Feb, my guess is that the seed was tall fescue. Bermuda seed isn't likely to sprout and grow vigorously in chilly Feb, but tall fescue likes those temps.

[klotone]

Originally Posted by DougStark

OP, first question is, what kind of seed was in the EZ seed patch and repair? If you were able to sprout it and get it growing in Feb, my guess is that the seed was tall fescue. Bermuda seed isn't likely to sprout and grow vigorously in chilly Feb, but tall fescue likes those temps.

Hi DougStark, I appreciate your note.... The EZ seed has mainly mulch, some fertilizer and transcontinental Bermudagrass seed. Since I don't know anything about grass seed, would you recommend that I add some fescue seed? I'd like to keep it looking good, and right now it's beautiful and looks like a carpet.