Question
Hello, I live in the TN (lower/west part)My question is what are the benefits, if any from setting your entire Bermuda grass lawn on fire? I have seen this many times since moving here from WI. At first I thought it was an accident, but nope..they do it every year! And the yard looks great after it greens up....Just wondering if you knew? I am definitely going to try the sugar on my Bermuda grass this spring....when should I put it down..when it first starts to green up? Or now when its  still brown? Thanks *.* June

Answer
First, there are mixed reviews on burning as an effective tool for greening up and improving Bermudagrass, though most people seem to agree that the Bermuda certainly bounces back well from the ordeal. That said, I'm not going to recommend it for 2 reasons. 1) The risk of fire damage to non-lawn areas and 2) it is illegal in most suburbs.

Farmers who grow bermuda crops for seed will use burning as an inexpensive method of controlling weeds after harvest. They carefully monitor weather conditions, and coordinate their efforts with local fire departments. Homeowners seem to have picked up on the idea.

I also don't recommend using sugar on the lawn. It'll attract bugs and the benefits to the soil microorganisms are short lived and limited to say the least. If you've read about how it's a miracle treatment (as I have), I assure you that these people are only trying to justify their own efforts to themselves by bragging about how great it works. Don't buy into it.

Good luck June. Sorry I can't be more supportive here.

-C.J. Brown