Bermudagrass is a common turfgrass found throughout the southern United States and in transition zones where both cool-season and warm-season grasses thrive. Wiregrass and devil grass are just a few of the common names for it. The upgraded turf-type bermudagrass will provide a dense, fine-bladed turf suitable for sports fields, commercial sites, and high-maintenance lawns. For further information on care and cultivar selection, see HGIC 1208, Bermudagrass and different content related to Bermuda grass weed killer.

In a place with such a variable environment as South Carolina, creating a yearly maintenance calendar for reliably managing turfgrass year after year can be tough. As a result, it’s critical to keep an eye on temperatures and implement the appropriate management measures based on the year’s weather. Late winter or early spring, when the turf is emerging from dormancy, and early fall, when the first frosts are expected, are critical periods to keep an eye on the weather. From the coastal sections of South Carolina to the foothills of the Upstate, last frost dates and first frost dates can vary by several weeks to a month.

This turfgrass maintenance calendar can be utilised on turf in any part of the state; however, management procedures will need to be altered based on the climate and region where the turf is grown.

Mow the lawn at a lower height than you would in the summer. The mower should be set at a height of around 1 inch. Make sure the mower is not set too low or the lawn will be scalped. This should be done right before the lawn starts to green up, which normally happens in late April or early May. To collect clippings and eliminate any dead stuff left over from the winter dormancy, use a mower with a bagger if possible. Alternatively, to remove additional dead leaf detritus from the lawn surface, the lawn can be hand raked.

Instead of shredding the leaves, a sharp mower blade will cut the grass blades smoothly. Instead of cutting the grass blades, dull mower blades shred them. The ragged ends that resulted.

The time it takes for the turf to green up for the first time varies a lot. This usually happens in April in the coastal and southern parts of South Carolina, although it could happen as late as mid-May further inland. Due to late-season frosts, bermudagrass often greens up and burns back numerous times throughout the late winter or early spring. Do not burn off bermudagrass to eliminate excess debris because it may cause damage to the lawn and provide a fire threat. HGIC 1205, Mowing Lawns, has more information on mowing.

If a thatch layer becomes an issue, remove it with a dethatched or vertical mower. When the thatch layer on bermudagrass exceeds 12 inches, it’s time to consider dethatching. Use a dethatched with a 2- or 3-inch blade spacing and a 14-inch depth for the greatest results. If you use a power rake with a 1-inch blade spacing, you risk damaging your turf. To gather and properly dispose of the grass material picked up, use a lawn mower with a bag attached or a hand rake. See HGIC 2360, Controlling Thatch in Lawns, for further information on thatch removal.