Made it through a brutal water restriction Summer

I’ve been holding steady at just under 100 degrees for the past month with no rain in sight. A cold front is finally hitting tomorrow, bringing some 80-degree weather. It’s time for a fall nitrogen blitz, applying pre-emergent, and then shutting it down for winter.

Holy shit, that is a beautiful front lawn!

Blake said:
Holy shit, that is a beautiful front lawn!

Thanks, man! I appreciate it!

Amazing lawn. It looks so good it could be fake lol!

Corey said:
Amazing lawn. It looks so good it could be fake lol!

That’s high praise, thanks!

Blakeley said:

Corey said:
Amazing lawn. It looks so good it could be fake lol!

That’s high praise, thanks!

Yeah, bro. Get your fake grass off this subreddit. It’s way too perfect. :joy:

Full sun and heat, this is the way to go. Good job with your 419 Bermuda! My guess is you have plenty of nitrogen, iron, balanced pH, a drizzle of humic acid or kelp, watering twice a week deeply, and well-draining soil thanks to something like Tournament Ready? Oh, and importantly, you’re using a reel mower, you nerd, haha. Keeping your grass and soil happy helps reduce water usage since that thick grass retains moisture.

@Storm
Lol, jeez, bro, you’re spot on. I use ammonium sulfate tank mixed with Iron feature and humic acid from Next products. I apply Tournament Ready pellets with Hydretain and use a Swardman reel mower. You really know your grass!

@Blakeley
How often do you apply this fertilizer?

Eli said:
@Blakeley
How often do you apply this fertilizer?

In spring, I apply .25lb of nitrogen from ammonium sulfate once a week. During the hot summer months, I apply .25lb of nitrogen from urea every 14-21 days with my PGR apps. In fall, it’s .25lb of nitrogen from ammonium sulfate every 14 days until it gets too cold for growth in mid to late December.

@Blakeley
That’s some putting green level care right there. I just throw down some pellets twice a year and try to keep my dog from peeing on the same spot.

@Blakeley
Any brands or specific products you recommend? Your lawn’s unreal.

@Blakeley
It’s tough keeping any lawn thriving here in this rocky/clay/limestone soil while following watering restrictions and caring about water usage. I see Lake Travis’s pathetic levels every day… Thankfully, the cool-season grass expert (nilesandstuff) gave me advice on Tournament Ready and humic acid. You need to stay diligent to keep your grass strong down here. I’ve had a good first season with my Zoysia, but boy, do we need some rain, haha.

I’ve heard great things about your spoon-feeding approach; I might follow that next year (although our first baby is due in February, so it might throw a wrench in those plans, haha).

Is that Bermuda? I was considering growing it in Virginia because it’s drought-tolerant but goes brown in the winter. Tall fescue stays green year-round but requires a ton of water during the summer.

Fraser said:
Is that Bermuda? I was considering growing it in Virginia because it’s drought-tolerant but goes brown in the winter. Tall fescue stays green year-round but requires a ton of water during the summer.

Good eye, that’s 419 Bermuda. Yeah, it’s tough living in a transition zone like Virginia. I know some folks who seed perennial rye for winter greenery, which dies off when the heat hits and Bermuda breaks dormancy.

It looks like carpet!!

What in the actual hell!?! Wow, nice grass, bud.

Looks great! Does your mower float a bit?

Val said:
Looks great! Does your mower float a bit?

Thanks! Yeah, it’s definitely due for a verticut with how thick it is, and I need to backlap or grind the blades. I also need to add some sand and level it out more.

How did you keep it alive with the restrictions?

Share your process!