Said to date in the United States during the early 1800s, Bermuda grass is valued by many due to its drought tolerance quality. Having a significant growth rate during the warm season, Bermuda is popular among plant and grass lovers. It can easily tolerate high levels of humidity, heat, and even salt.
Although you could grow Bermuda with the right care and attention, a fertilizer ensures a quicker, better growth. Mentioned in this article are my top 10 choices that I could quickly call the best fertilizers.
This turf is also known for being able to withstand heavy use and heat. Therefore, this grass is easily one of the top options for lawns, for people all around the world.
Best 10 Fertilizers for Bermuda Grass in 2022:
A top quality fertilizer should boost the growth of grass and make leaf blades thicker and greener. Here are products that could be deemed as the best fertilizers.
1. Scotts Turf Builder WinterGuard Fall Food
It is often said that fall is the optimum time to feed your lawn. With this fall fertilizer for your Bermuda, you can expect deep and strong roots for a grander lawn next spring.
This product contains all the necessary nutrients that help your lawn to recover from damage by heat, drought, or other summer-related concerns. Thus, stronger grass growth in spring is ensured.
The plant food helps to get your lawn set for the cool weather. Roots get the best preparation to face harsh weather conditions. With the help of this lawn food, the roots increase their water absorption capacity and also absorb more nutrients.
The regular feeding of this lawn food helps your Bermuda grass look better than ever. If you leave the clippings after mowing, the lawn will absorb water more efficiently. A gallon covers 5000 sq. Ft, and it can be applied to any type of grass.
- Enhances the seeding results
- Great for sod and grass plugs
- Can be used in all seasons
- Overdosing can cause burns
2. Simple Lawn Solutions 16-4-8 Balanced NPK Lawn Food (2-pack)
This product is made with the highest quality of ingredients. It can be called an all-in-one balanced plant food. The Simple Lawn Solutions product makes your pasture grow greener with time. Root support, health, and strength are dramatically increased with the usage of this supplement.
If you are looking for a well-balanced lawn food, then this is it. It provides the key macronutrients that your Bermuda requires. If a patch has nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium deficiencies, using this food will surely help it out.
2.5 gallons of this plant food will cover up to 32000 sq. Ft. Therefore, it is great for large properties and patches. This product restores your lawn’s health with pure and safe liquid nutrients. The chemicals used are safe. Hence, your kids or pets will not be harmed.
- Has a low cost
- It is safe for kids and pets
- Comes in liquid form
- Ideal for all grass types
- Improves growth rate
3. LawnStar 16-4-8 NPK Fertilizer
This product from LawnStar is the result of decades of experimenting. They achieved the perfect 3-1-2 ratio of macronutrients, and upon application, a powerful shot of vitality is injected into your patch. It contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Nitrogen ensures that your Bermuda grass goes through a rapid greening process and does not fade soon. Phosphorus ensures strong, deep root growth and development. And potassium gives the grass improved stress tolerance.
This food is packed with many biostimulants that are derived from seaweed extracts. These enhance the bioavailability of the nutrients.
This LawnStar product repairs and conditions the lawn. The bottle comes with a sprayer that assures ease of use. The 32-ounce bottle covers up to 4000sq. Ft. of the lawn while the 1-gallon version can cover up to 16000 sq. Ft.
The fertilizer is highly versatile and can be used with any type of grass. People who have Bermuda grass on their lawns believe they have made the right choice. This lawn food is made with high-quality ingredients and will provide superior results. Also, it makes your lawn grow greener, faster.
- 1-gallon version covers a large area
- Highly versatile
- Repairs and conditions the patch
4. Simple Lawn Solutions 16-4-8 Balanced NPK Lawn Food (32 oz.)
This 16-4-8 balanced solution is an all-in-one fertilizer. It offers the highest quality, class-leading natural ingredients. A great pick, this product was designed for your grass to get a beautiful green and great growth. The fertilizer provides enough energy for root support, health, and strength.
This plant food is great for Bermuda and provides the key macronutrients that it needs. This spray fertilizer works as a nutritional supplement and is designed to provide a well-developed lawn with the necessary main nutrients. If a lawn has nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium deficiencies, this product will surely help!
It comes in a 32-ounce bottle that could last you a big patch of grass. But if your lawn is suffering from a disease, insect infestation or fungus, this supplement will not be able to help much. The safe chemicals are not at all harsh and are completely safe for your pets and kids.
- Meager cost
- Comes in liquid form
- It is a bio-active organic fertilizer
- It is safe for kids and pets
- Improves the grass growth
5. Safer Brand Ringer Lawn Restore II
A healthy green lawn ensures a great ecosystem within your soil. That is why Safer Brand has released this product. It is an organic fertilizer that ensures the proper balance of natural elements to your lawn and gives you a healthier and greener lawn in just three to five days.
This food is considered to be one of the best choices in the market and has given outstanding results. It is quite economical as it covers more ground than its predecessor with the same amount of use.
The fertilizer feeds the bacteria and fungi in the soil so that they can naturally produce the nutrients. And with those nutrients, the grass in your lawn will flourish.
Instead of disrupting the soil’s natural environment and ecosystem, this product helps to boost and nourish it. It makes your soil look greener and also fuller above the ground.
Furthermore, it strengthens the root system below the ground. This supplement is an excellent choice if you are looking for a good fertilizer for your Bermuda grass. A gallon covers up to 5000 sq ft.
- Safe for kids and pets
- Septic safe
- Odorless
- You only need three applications a year
6. Simple Lawn Solutions Extreme Grass Growth Booster
This product is a liquid fertilizer that comes with a translucent bottle that can hold up to 32 ounces. The whole solution can cover up to 32000 sq. Ft. And the package comes with a nozzle that can be attached to all garden hoses.
This supplement from Simple Lawn Solutions is comparatively inexpensive. They are manufactured in the United States, and the quality is assured. Chemicals like fulvic and humic acids accelerate the growth of the patch and also its root development.
The fertilizer also contains other ingredients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash. This plant food works wonders when it comes to new seed, and also on established Bermuda grass.
The Simple Lawn Solutions product is completely non-toxic and environmentally friendly. It should be applied seven to ten days after any kind of weed-killer has been used. The wet formula should be dried first. Also, it is recommended that the use of this product should be avoided on rainy days.
This fertilizer helps in increasing vertical and horizontal growth. Since it has a natural, non-toxic formula, this supplement is considered kid and pet-friendly. The product goes through a severe quality control check that ensures superior results.
- Enriched with fulvic and humic acid
- Contains nitrogen and phosphorus
- Non-toxic
- Works on multiple grass types
7. Milorganite 0636 Organic Nitrogen Fertilizer
This product is probably one of the most popular fertilizers out there. It is primarily composed of heat-dried microbes and non-staining iron. The bag that it comes in is a thirty-six-pound one, and the lawn food has a ratio of 5-2-0 NPK formula. This plant food has been specially designed for a deep green colored lawn.
This fertilizer works well with flower trees or vegetables too. It is said to be a great partner with seed carriers, and it meets the standards of EPA’s exceptional qualities. The fertilizer has a low concentration of nutrients, so you should not expect fast greening. But with just the right amount of time, you will see commendable results.
The strength of the blades and overall hue of the Bermuda grass evolves with the use of this fertilizer. The low NPK formula does not burn your grass.
- It can be applied any time
- Not climate-dependent
- It is child and pet safe
- Can be used on golf courses
- Has a better price tag than some competitors
8. Miracle-Gro 1001834 Water Soluble 5 lbs Lawn Food
This product from Miracle-Gro is suitable for almost all types of grass, especially Bermuda. It is a type of dry fertilizer and is soluble in water. You can use this supplement indoors too. The NPK ratio of this one is 24-8-16, and it can be used in any season, at any time of the day.
This lawn food is known as an all-purpose one. The fertilizer can be used for feeding trees, veggies, shrubs, etc. It guarantees a solid foundation for you when it is regularly fed to the plants. Using this supplement, you can grow beautiful flowers too. It is said to be a fine match for your Bermuda lawn.
The fertilizer does not burn the grass and is perfectly safe for your pets and kids. When to be used to repair an existing lawn, it needs to be concentrated. Its design helps to hook it up to a house.
- It is odorless
- The results are quite prompt
- Suits all grass types including Bermuda
- Feeds through roots and blades
- Does not burn the lawn
- Safe for kids and pets
9. Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food for New Grass
This fertilizer from Scotts benefits your seedlings by offering a combination of nutrients when applied. It gives new grass and a quick start by ensuring a faster root and leaf blade development.
The ratio being 24-25-4 of NPK assures a steady development. The new grass grows up to seventy percent thicker and thirty-five percent quicker when compared to unfed grass.
This product ensures the feeding to help the newly grown grass to grow better. Whether you are planting new grass, initiating a new lawn, reseeding an existing lawn, or even planting new sod, this one is recommended to be used for any type of grass.
After you have planted the new turf, you will have to water it at least once a day to keep the moisture level of the soil up. You will have to make sure to keep feeding the lawn to achieve a green appearance. It is a good idea to wait until the grass is a little tall before mowing.
- Easy to spread
- Kills ants
- Safe to use around pets and kids
- Fights off weed effectively
- Has loads of nutrients
10. Urban Farm Fertilizers Liquid Lawn Fertilizer
This product from Urban Farm Fertilizers is comprised of calcium and iron. Some users say this is the fastest way for your lawn to get the required high-nitrogen nutrition. While its competitors offer generic formulae made from ammonia-based components of urea, this one takes lawn fertilizer to a whole new level.
Other chemicals like mycorrhizae, fulvic acids, bacteria, enzymes, and minerals are present in this product in an adequate amount. All of those make the fertilizer efficient and powerful.
This Urban Fertilizer supplement is professional, micro-brewed, and custom-blended for all lawns. Recommended for Bermuda lawns, it is the only instant fertilizer with iron and calcium.
This plant food is perfect for easy hose-end applications or even tank spraying. One gallon of this dilutes into 256 gallons of full-strength fertilizer, and this will provide a heavy foliar spray to 80000 sq. Ft. This one is also 100% soluble in water.
The fertilizer also contains kelp, bat guano, worm casts, and other enzymes that bio-activate the root zone.
- Enriched with fulvic acid, bacteria, and enzymes
- 100% soluble in water
- Ensures lush and quick growth
Factors Need to Consider While Choosing the Best Fertilizer for Bermuda Grass:
Even though the price of the fertilizer is a concern for most customers, there are a lot of factors that need to be considered before deciding whether or not you need a fertilizer:
Bermuda Grass Types
In general, these seeds are hulled, which is why fertilization normally does not take too long. However, if you have unhulled, raw seeds, germination might take longer in comparison, even with the aid of a fertilizer. There are two types of Bermuda grass, namely common Bermuda and hybrid Bermuda.
Some of the common Bermuda grasses are Yuma, Jackpot, Blackjack, Oasis Blend, and more. Some of the hybrid ones include La Prima, Mohawk, Sahara, Triangle Blend, etc.
Each kind is different and has different requirements, which is why a fertilizer will not be necessary everywhere. Also, the usage of the plant food might vary from breed to breed of this turf.
Features of Bermuda
It is one of the toughest, most resilient grasses out there. Bermuda is tolerant of droughts and can withstand heavy grazing with ease. You can easily cut and carry this type of grass from one location to another. An interesting fact about Bermuda is that it has a moderate level of nutrition to offer.
Since there are several varieties of Bermuda, and each has a set of features, each variety might have separate fertilizer requirements.
This turf can undergo rapid growth, which is probably one of the reasons why it is available throughout the year. Bermuda is also tolerant of salt and has pretty high nutrient requirements.
Climate
Bermuda has an extensive root system which helps it grow in the middle of extreme weather conditions. It does not matter if it is hot, rainy outside, or cold; this type of grass can withstand it all with ease.
However, during winter, Bermuda becomes dormant and turns brown. It can also tolerate dry weather, which tends to make the leaves turn brown. However, after a decent rainfall session, the grass goes back to being a rich green.
Drought Tolerance
During extreme drought situations or even long-term droughts, Bermuda simply becomes dormant. Bermuda grass is known to be one of the top drought-tolerant grass types out there.
Temperature Tolerance
This patch of a plant can tolerate just about any temperature, especially the heat of summer. It can tolerate the winter, too, but is known to go dormant then. Regardless of how sunny it is, Bermuda can flourish without any difficulties.
Sun Tolerance and Shade
Although Bermuda works superbly under the sun, they do not grow nicely in areas that are dimly lit. If the soil is well-drained, this type of patch will flourish under the full sun.
Wear Resistance
Some varieties of Bermuda are wearing resistant, and those have different requirements when compared to Bermuda grass that is easily ruined. Because of the wear resistance, lawns of Bermuda are used in several tricky places, such as sports pitches, golf courses, and much more.
It is a good idea to check the soil before even planting the Bermuda seeds.
Where should I plant Bermuda seeds?
It is a good idea to plant them in soil that is well-drained and fully under the sun. Any area that gets plenty of suns should be perfect for growing Bermuda. You have to make sure that the soil drains well. Of course, you will need to prepare your soil well before the entire process, and if possible, get a soil test done beforehand.
Does extremely cold weather affect Bermuda?
Yes, it certainly does. When the temperature outside goes below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, Bermuda becomes dormant. The patch goes back to being normal only during late spring or summer when the temperature gets better.
How can I tell if my fertilizer is not working correctly?
If you did not apply sufficient fertilizer, Bermuda would turn thin and yellow. However, if you apply too much fertilizer, growth increases faster than expected.
How long does it take Bermuda seeds to germinate?
If everything goes normally, germination can take up to a week. However, if the situation is not ideal, it could take up to 20-25 days.
Since it takes time and effort to maintain a gorgeous patch of Bermuda turf, a decent fertilizer should be helpful. As long as you make use of one of the fertilizers, your lawn should be perfectly flawless.