Cheyenne II bermuda

We have been planting Cheyenne II bermuda seed in our hayfield for several years. Its obvious now it is a dismal failure.

In the spring of 2009, we re-worked an area of the hayfield, had dirt brought in and seeded with Cheyenne II. We gave extra attention to the area. It was fertilized and I watered the area using our 200 gal tank to make sure it got a good start and made it through the summer. By August, it looked great.

In the spring of 2010, we re-did two more areas doing the same thing. I noticed the area we did in the spring of 2009 looked thin, but thought maybe it was just late in coming up. The two areas we did in 2010 also looked great the first growing season.

This spring, in the area we did in 2009 - this would be its 3rd growing season, it doesn't just look thin, its nearly gone. Approximately 60 to 75% of the Cheyenne II is gone.

In the areas we did last year, 2nd growing season for them, approximately 40% of those areas did not come back and what did come back doesn't look very good while the coastal around it looks great.

We spent $$$$$$ in seed, fertilizer, dirt work, herbicide, fuel and countless hours of hard work and this seed is a failure. It appears it doesn't survive the winter and our winters aren't very cold. I am particularly disgusted because we were told this seed was developed for our area.

We had prepped another area to seed this spring, but after the other areas failed, we're not going to waste our money and effort even though we already have the seed. Next year we will sprig it with coastal.

I absolutely do not recommend anyone in north Texas plant Cheyenne II bermuda. Don't waste your money, time, and effort on this seed. It doesn't survive.

It may be beneficial[perhaps] if you consulted your seed supplier with this failure, if it was developed for your area then somebody has some explaining to do.It costs nothing to express to them your thorough disappointment in their product.

Did you really get Cheyenne II seed or was it really a mix of differant kinds.

The problem with good bermuda is it produces very little seed. This is why Cheyenne was fazed out and switched over to Cheyenne II. Since these good bermuda produce very little seed it is very expensive. So seed componies will mix things like Giant; Jackpot and Mohawk in to keep the price down. Trade name Ranchero Frio is a good example of this. It is a Cheyenne, Mohawk, Giant mix.
These mixes do very well the first year but decline each year after that because the cheaper varities do not make it threw the winter.

What you are most likely seeing is the Cheyenne II is still growing but the plants from off brands in the blend are dying off.

I agree that you should have a talk with your seed supplier. Also you said that you fertilized, did you get a soil sample before? Bermuda grass, especially Cheyenne, is kind of finicky with fertilizer, it takes a lot of potash. For every ton of hay removed you need to apply 60 units of potash. My soil type also requires sulfur, check with your extension agent and they should be able to help or contact the University of Arkansas ag department. They have several on line publications that might be helpful.

http://www.uaex.edu/

Yes, we take soil samples at least twice a year.

The "K" has been way short and we have been putting out 3000lbs of 0-0-60 on a 7.5 acre hayfield (according to the advice from our ag agent) in the spring and sometimes again in the fall. We've been doing this for several years and the "K" is getting close to where it should be.

The area we did in 2009 got extra attention and it looked really good the first growing season. Healthy, thick and outgrew the rest of the field. But like I said, it seems to have winter killed. You can spot this particular area because the little bit of Cheyenne that is still there is a darker green than the rest of the field.

Generally, about early May we put out 3000lbs of 21-7-14 for the growing season.

In the fall we'll take another soil sample to tell us how much of the "K" was used up.

I always give our ag agent a call when we get the results of the soil sample and we discuss what we need for the next fertilizing.

It was not a mix. It was certified Cheyenne II from Pennington Seed. No mix. It was very, very expensive, but we wanted it done right the first time.


http://penningtonseed.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=135

That's the plan.

Disc it up and sprig Tipton 44. Good hay maker for a pasture. Had the same experience with the chey...II seed, learned my lesson. Its sprigs from now on. With sprigs, I run over it with a disc every 3yrs,to cut up runners, then fertilize. I would not recommend chey..II seed or mix. Its not a long term going grass, that I have found. HTH
mb