My bermudagrass lawn is ten years old, don't know if this matters. I have, this year only, brown patches all over xcept in the St. Augustine grass that has crept over from my neghbors yard. This is the first time I hve noticed his condition. I mow weekly with a mower setting at 1 1/2. I have attached an image, hopefully you can see my concern. I water twice a week at 0600 for 15 minutes for in each area. Is it desease or how I am caring for my lawn?

Unless you have a very high flow watering system, then 15 minutes is not enough. You should be watering a full inch all at one time. You can measure that by setting out tuna or cat food cans and turning on the sprinklers. Be sure to set cans in each of your brown spots. Water until all the cans are full. The time it takes to fill all the cans is the time you should be watering. For my oscillator sprinkler on full sweep, with my hose and water pressure, the time is 8 hours. I have heard of high flow sprinklers that can put out an inch in 20 minutes, but never 15 minutes. Yours might be an exception. The point is that you need to do this test for yourself with your own resources.

You did not mention fertilizer. Bermuda can take very strong N type fertilizer once a month. If you can find corn gluten meal in your area, the application rate is 15 to 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Soybean meal is a good second choice. Alfalfa pellets (rabbit chow) or meal is a good third choice. Alfalfa is my first choice in San Antonio, because the others are not always available.

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David Hall
Lawn Care Forum Moderator