It’s April, and spring is in full bloom! You will begin to see many changes in your Community due to warmer weather, particularly in turf areas. Each year at this time, it’s necessary to encourage summer Bermuda grass to emerge from its dormancy. We are starting to discourage winter Ryegrass that’s currently growing by closer mowing and less watering to allow Bermuda to make a healthy, vibrant start more easily!
The seasonal pruning crews have been doing the last few months is still ongoing. We have been trimming select shrubs throughout the property to lower heights, helping to keep them at a manageable size and promote healthy regrowth in the spring and summer. Crews are watching for weed growth and address areas as needed.
We also recently planted new shrubs in Desert Trail and Serenade neighborhoods. Enjoy these new additions to your landscape!
It’s Turf Transition Time
Transitioning from Ryegrass to Bermuda grass is, ideally, a gradual process that typically lasts from the beginning of April through the end of May. Subtle changes occur in turf areas throughout the transition period. DLC Water Management Experts will monitor watering times in the common areas to encourage Bermuda grass growth. We gradually lower mower heights from 2 inches down to 1-1.25 inches to suppress the Ryegrass growth.
As the Ryegrass dies off, the turf may appear off-color or yellow, and there may even be some areas that appear dry. This is a temporary condition that improves as the Bermuda grass fills in.
Prolonged physical compaction of the soil results in a hard surface that does not allow for an efficient amount of water and nutrients to be absorbed into the turf’s root system. We aerate the turf to remedy this, creating holes (3 to 6 inches deep) in the soil for nutrients to reach the root system. We also use this time to apply fertilizer while the new holes are still fresh, which allows for increased absorption and leads to a healthier and lusher turf for all residents to enjoy.
