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Fall is finally here! With it comes changing leaves, cooler temperatures and growing excitement as holidays inch closer. As temperatures start to drop and the fall weather starts to set in, soil conditions and your bermuda grass’s needs also change.
Be sure to also check out our Homeowner Maintenance Guides for generic bermuda grass, Celebration® Bermudagrass, Latitude 36® Bermudagrass or NorthBridge® Bermudagrass.
Want us to do some fall lawn care for you?
If so, check out the Lawnifi Complete Program! The Lawnifi Complete Program is a year-round subscription for seasonal lawn care delivered to your door. Our boxes include everything your lawn needs in one lawn care subscription. Lawnifi is also introducing the Fall Complete Lawn Bundle to provide all the essentials your lawn needs for the fall season.
Jump to…
- 1. Reduce Mowing for Deeper Roots
- 2. Water Less as Temperatures Drop
- 3. Fertilize Your Lawn with the Right Nutrients
- 4. Control Weeds with Pre- or Post-Emergent Herbicide
- 5. Keep an Eye Out for Insect Invasions
- 6. Prevent Disease Outbreaks as Temperatures Change
1. Reduce Mowing for Deeper Roots
Your bermuda grass is typically mowed at a height of .5–1.5 inches. This includes various Sod Solutions cultivars like Celebration, Latitude 36 and NorthBridge.
However, during the fall, you should mow slightly higher. The idea is to encourage deeper root growth so that your grass survives during winter dormancy. The roots are what keeps the grass alive underground while the blades above ground endure harsh temperatures.
2. Water Less as Temperatures Drop
In the fall, reduce watering for your Bermuda grass as temperatures drop to prevent disease. Bermuda grass needs about 1 inch of water weekly, including rainfall, but less in the fall.
Fall is prime time for fungus, especially with overwatering or shaded areas from fallen leaves. Continue light watering to prevent drought stress and dehydration, and water in the early morning to reduce disease risk.
3. Fertilize Your Lawn with the Right Nutrients
Fertilization differs this time of the year compared to the other active growing seasons (spring and summer). As previously stated, outdoor temperatures are starting to change—so are soil conditions. Your grass is a living thing that needs specific nutrients at this time. Depending on the area you live in, your bermuda grass will likely enter a state of dormancy.
What is the best fertilizer for bermuda grass in the fall?
Sod University recommends two different fertilizer options for the fall, however, you will only need to use one of the two options for fall fertilization.
Option 1: The Fall Fertilizer Box, in particular, has three separate bottles of fertilizer in it that help your lawn recover from the hot summer temperatures it just endured as well as prepare for the colder temperatures ahead.
Option 2: Lawnifi Foundation is a slow-release granular fertilizer option that comes in a 25 pound bag and lasts for three months. With a 29-0-5 NPK formulation, Lawnifi Foundation is the perfect granular fertilizer for lawns and gardens.
The two percent iron included in Lawnifi Foundation’s mixture helps plants carry oxygen throughout the leaves, roots and other parts of the plants to promote a green, healthy lawn.
Fall Fertilizer Box
The Lawnifi Fall Fertilizer Box comes with three different bottles of liquid fertilizer designed to help your lawn recover from the hot summer months and transition into the coldest time of the year. Easy to apply: just hook it up to your garden hose, pull the tab back, and spray! Rapid absorption: uses Catalyst Technology…
4. Control Weeds with Pre- or Post-Emergent Herbicides
As temperatures cool, you can safely apply both post-emergent and pre-emergent herbicides to your Bermuda grass. Summer weeds may be dying off, but winter weeds will soon appear. Apply a pre-emergent in the fall to prevent them.
Post-emergent herbicides target existing weeds, while pre-emergent herbicides prevent new ones. Fall is the best time for pre-emergent application, especially if winter weeds have been a past issue. You can also apply it in spring around March or April.
Hi-Yield Weed & Grass Stopper with Dimension Herbicide
Read product labels before application.
5. Keep an Eye Out for Insect Infestations
Applying a preventative insecticide is more effective and likely cheaper than treating an infestation. Use a broad-spectrum insecticide to protect your Bermuda grass from harmful insects, especially grub worms.
Sod webworms, fall armyworms and mole crickets can also be issues. Treat any insect activity with a suitable insecticide, and always read labels thoroughly. For granular insecticides, water the lawn immediately after application for better absorption.
Visit our Insect Identification blog for more details.
Read product labels before application.
6. Prevent Disease Outbreaks as Temperatures Change
Apply a systemic fungicide at preventative rates around early fall to keep your grass healthy and prevent disease outbreaks. If you’ve had lawn disease before, multiple applications may be needed. For spring dead spot, especially common in Bermuda grass, apply fungicide at high rates to affected areas. Mapping these areas can help manage costs.
For granular fungicides, water the lawn immediately after application for better absorption. Always read product labels thoroughly.
Tip: Remove dead leaves regularly. Accumulated leaves create shaded, moist spots that can damage the grass. Rake weekly to prevent this damage.
Read product labels before application.
Lastly, lawn patch work and light topdressing with a sand and topsoil mix is a great way to recover any weak areas in your lawn that were caused by the summer heat. If you notice any hot spots, apply a light layer of topdressing to help it recover.