This fact sheet is an update of leaflet L-441 and is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to lawn care. See additional fact sheets to supplement suggestions such as OSU Extension fact sheet HLA-6420, Lawn management in Oklahoma and others.

Note: X = Best time frame for indicated activity.
Watering — Number equals projected maximum water needed on a weekly basis. Try to reduce water amount and frequency for water savings. Watering in Dec, Jan and Feb may be needed during a winter drought to reduce winter-kill.
Mowing — Number listed is the cutting height for each mowing if using medium to low maintenance (Regime 1) and high maintenance (Regime 2) . Fertilizing (F) — letter indicates optimum timing. Adjust the amount/timing on intended results.
White grub control — P = preventive insecticides; C = curative insecticides (see notes below). Not all lawns need treatment, please determine if actually needed.

Establishment

Three to 10 bushels sprigs/1,000 sq. ft. or 2 pounds coated seed/1,000 sq. ft.

Cultivars

Sodded/sprigged cultivars: Astro, Endarra 81, IronCutter, Landrun, Latitude 36, NorthBridge, Patriot, Tahoma 31, Texoma, Tif-Sport, TifTuf, Tifway, U-3.
Seeded cultivars: Monaco, Rio, Yukon.

Dethatching

Remove thatch thicker than ½ in.

Mowing

Remove no more than ⅓ of the leaf blade at any one time. Recycle clippings using a mulching mower. Regime 1 is for a higher mowing height, Regime 2 is for shorter mowing height.

Watering

Suggested amounts are only estimates. Always adjust watering schedule based on rain. Water when footprints appear in grass after walking over lawn. Consider having a non-irrigated brown Bermuda lawn for community water savings during severe drought.

Fertilizing

• Soil test every three years; fertilize based on test results. Don’t apply phosphorus to lawns that already test adequate for this nutrient.
• Match amount applied to quality and mowing expectations.
• Quick-release program: apply up to 1 lb. of actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. three to five times a year.
• Slow release program: apply up to 1 ⅔ lbs. of actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. two to three times a year.

Consumer/Residential Weed Control (Observe all Label Directions)

Winter Weed Control in Dormant Bermudagrass Postemergent Control

In dormant Bermuda only, glyphosate (Roundup Pro and similar generic glyphosate products as per label and if labeled). The spectrum of weed control can be broadened if glyphosate is paired with a broadleaf post-emergent herbicide from the choices listed lower on this page.

Pre-Emergent Crabgrass Control: January 1 to March 5 for First Application

Follow label directions for second application information.

In addition to winter and summer annual grass pre-emergence control these products also often provide pre-emergence control of several small-seeded annual broadleaves.

• Dithiopyr (Dimension and others)
• Flumioxazin (SureGuard or FlumiGard) — on dormant, tan bermudagrass only
• Isoxaben (Portrait or Gallery) — spring use to prevent summer broadleaves. Doesn't control grasses.
• Pendamethalin Pendulum, Scott's Halts and many others)
• Oryzalin (Surflan as Specialty and others) oryzalin + benefin (Surflan XL 2G)
• Prodiamine (Barricade and others)

Pre-Emergent Grass and Broadleaf Control in Fall or Winter: September 1 to October 1

Isoxaben (Portrait) — fall use to prevent winter broadleaf weeds. Not effective for annual grass control.

Postemergent Crabgrass Control: Used in Spot Treatment

Quinclorac — (Drive or Quinclorac) for post-emergent crabgrass control. Does not kill dallisgrass or sandbur.

Quinclorac plus other herbicides — BioAdvanced "Lawn Weed & Crabgrass Killer" (Quinclorac + 2,4-D+Dicamba) or Spec-tracide "Weed Stop For Lawns" (Quinclorac + 2,4-D+Dicamba+Sulfentrazone) or Ortho Weed-B-Gon Max plus Crabgrass Control (Quinclorac +MCPP+2,4-D+Dicamba) can be used if both crabgrass and broadleaves are present.

Postemergent Broadleaf Control: Broadcast or Spot Treatments

Weed-B-Gon formulations, various Trimec formulations, Bioadvanced Lawn Weed & Crabgrass Killer, Spectracide Weed Stop for Lawns, Speedzone.

Postemergent Sedge Control

• halosulfuron-methyl (Sedgehammer) or sulfosulfuron (Certainty)
• imazaquin (Sceptor T&O) — may yellow bermuda, foliar and soil activity
• bentazon (Basagran) — yellow nutsedge only

Grass Killer for Edging — (Do Not Use These Over The Lawn)

• glyphosate — (Roundup Pro, Killzall Weed & Grass Killer, Glyfos and many more)
• glufosinate-ammonium — (Finale)
• fluazifop-P-butyl — (Fusilade II Turf & Ornamental Herbicide, Over-The-Top Grass Killer)
• sethoxydim — (Ferti-Lome Over-The-Top II Grass Killer, Monterey Grass Getter and Segment II)

White Grub Control

Preventive (P): Products containing imidacloprid (Bioadvanced Insect Killer for Soil & Turf Ready to Spray or Ready to Spread, Merit)

• clothianidin (Arena 0.25G, Arena 50WDG)
• chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn, Scotts Grubex) Apply late April to mid-May.

Curative (C): Products containing trichlorfon (Dylox, BioAdvanced 24 Hour Grub Killer), or clothianidin (Arena 0.25G, Arena 50WDG). Apply August through September when grub damage appears. Irrigate after application to activate the product.