Some Thoughts About Grass

Bias For Action is on an email list from the Town of Gilbert's Water Conservation Specialist, Cathy Rymer. She recently sent him a note about Bermuda which reads, in part:

Temperatures are hot and humidity is on the rise which means Bermuda grass is in its glory. Bermuda grass is the best choice for turf in areas of the southwest deserts. It tolerates our alkaline soils and water and has excellent resistance to heat and drought or injury from foot traffic. Common Bermuda produces flower stalks, pollen (which can offend allergy sufferers) and seeds while the hybrids are sterile and produce no pollen/seeds. Hybrid Bermudas such as Tifgreen, BobSod, Tifway and Midiron (E-Z Turf ™) are fine leaved Bermuda grass varieties that are popular for large turf areas as well as small yards. The hybrid Bermudas are also less likely to invade flower beds and tree wells and are typically greener and denser.

She attaches an article with tips about watering and mowing and such; you can look at all of the suggestions at the Town's website here.

So I noticed that our front lawn was looking a little stressed, and mentioned it to The Mister, who agreed that we need a little more water to green up the Bermuda. I also mentioned that parts of the parkway in Higely Groves West looks a little peaked, and he explained to me that our Bermuda isn't as strong and vibrant as it might be if we turned it from the rye grass a little bit earlier. We choose to keep the soft luscious rye longer, and so when it's the Bermuda's turn to face the heat, it isn't quite as thick. That's a fair tradeoff, to me, since I love the rye grass.

Oh yes; as for the elusive sod for the parkway on Highland Groves? It's been ordered, and barring those pesky circumstances that seem to come up and hinder our plans, should start to be planted on July 25.