Preventing Crabgrass and Johnson Grass in a Bermuda Lawn

Here in the south Bermuda lawns are the most common choice. When crabgrass and Johnson grass invade, is it a good idea to use ammonia nitrate fertilizer to correct the problem?

Ammonium nitrate is a type of fertilizer. Excessive levels can “burn” (damage) both desirable and undesirable plants. Proper care, fertilizer, mowing and water will result in a healthy lawn that is more resistant to weeds.

Keep your Bermuda lawn 1 to 2 inches tall and leave the grass clippings on the lawn to add nitrogen, moisture and organic matter to the soil. Fertilize low maintenance lawns in April and high maintenance lawns in April, June and August.

You may want to use a pre-emergent crabgrass killer if the weeds are taking over the lawn. Apply a crabgrass pre-emergent between late February and mid-March to prevent crabgrass and other annual weed grass seeds from sprouting and invading the lawn. Corn gluten meal applied when the forsythia are blooming as resulted in a 91% reduction in crabgrass.

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