Know Your Grass: Let’s Talk About Sheaths, Seed Heads, and the Power of Nitrogen
If you’ve been looking close at your lawn lately, especially Bermuda and Zoysia, you’ve probably noticed tough little stalks poking up that aren’t just regular grass blades. Let’s dig a little deeper into what you’re seeing and how to help your lawn look its best.
Parts of the Grass Plant: What’s a Sheath Anyway?
Grass plants are made up of blades and sheaths. The blade is the flat green part we like to see. The sheath wraps around the base of the blade like a protective jacket. When your lawn starts pushing out seed heads, they come right through that sheath, and they’re often stiffer and lighter in color.
This is why your lawn might feel rough underfoot or look uneven even if you just mowed. It’s not growing crazy fast it’s pushing seed stalks, which grow taller and tougher than the leaf blades.
Why the Seed Heads Show Up
Like we talked about last week, seed heads are part of the plant’s natural cycle, often triggered by:
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Warmer temps
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Stress (like drought or compacted soil)
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Not enough nitrogen
And here’s where fertilizer makes a difference.
Feeding Your Lawn Right: Let’s Talk Nitrogen
Nitrogen is the fuel your lawn needs to grow thick, green, and healthy. Without enough of it, grass gets pale, thin, and throws seed heads early.
Here are three solid options we recommend at BES-TEX:
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16-8-8 + 5% Fe: Great balanced mix. Nitrogen for top growth, phosphorus for roots, and potassium for stress tolerance. Perfect for spring and early summer feedings.
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21-7-14 + 5% Fe: Stronger nitrogen with a good kick of potassium to help the lawn handle heat and drought.
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21-0-0 with 24% sulfur: Pure nitrogen boost with sulfur to help with high pH soils, which we see a lot of around San Angelo. Helps unlock nutrients your lawn might already have, but can't use.
Apply these when your grass is actively growing, and water it in well. That sheath we talked about? With the right nutrients, your grass will focus more on growing lush blades and less on going to seed.
Dad-to-Dad Tip: Think of fertilizer like breakfast for your lawn. Skipping it won’t kill it, but it won’t grow right either. Feed it well and mow it sharp. You’ll get a lawn that makes the neighbors take notice (and maybe get a little jealous).