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Bermuda grass is a high-quality grass with excellent resistance to drought, salt, and abrasion common in the Southeast and South. The challenge or disadvantage of Bermuda grass is that it is a high-maintenance lawn.
This widespread grass species is ubiquitous in warm-season lawns from Florida to the middle transition zone and sometimes far north. Its fast growth rate and ability to withstand wear and tear and recover make it a popular grass for high-traffic lawns.
This guide covers Bermuda grass characteristics, Bermuda grass care and watering, Types of Bermuda grass, and more.
Types of Bermuda Grass
Common Bermuda Grass
Common Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon) is a species of Bermuda grass traditionally grown by seed. Varieties often have a thick leaf structure and a light green color.
Although Bermuda Common Grass can provide quality turf, breeding efforts have resulted in improvements to Bermuda Common Grass to achieve finer leaf structure, darker color, and improved density.
Bermuda Grass Hybrids
The most popular Bermuda grass hybrids are a breed between Bermuda grass (C.dactylon) and African Bermuda grass (C.transvaalensis).
These varieties are commonly used on athletic fields, golf courses, and high-maintenance lawns. Hybrid bermudagrass requires more care and attention than common or improved common Bermuda grasses.
Although hybrid Bermudagrass requires more maintenance, it generally produces higher-quality grasses with fewer disease problems.
Improved Bermuda Norway Grass
Improved Bermuda Norway Grass is darker green, more deeply rooted, medium-fine in texture, and moderately dense than Bermuda Norway Grass.
According to the Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center, a persistent problem with bred Bermudagrass varieties is that they may revert to their genetic parents and lose their bred traits.
Characteristics Of Bermuda Grass
Has High Salt Tolerance
Bermuda grass has a high salt tolerance, making it a smart choice for coastal and inland regions that can be occasionally hit by salt spray from hurricanes and storm surges.
Salt can affect the health of your lawn through saltwater intrusion, poor irrigation quality, or rock and mineral erosion. Grasses with a high salt tolerance are better able to withstand this stress, especially grasses that have grown in coastal areas.
It Has A High Wear Tolerance.
Bermuda grass is a great choice for active backyards where children and pets play.
This ability to withstand heavy traffic has made Bermuda grass a popular choice for athletic fields.
It has a high drought tolerance.
Bermuda grass tolerates long periods of drought. Drought will cause Bermuda grass to go dormant and brown as it does in winter, but unlike grasses with low drought tolerance, Bermuda grass has greater survivability.
It Has A High Heat Tolerance.
Bermuda grass tolerates heat better than other warm-season grasses. This also explains why Bermuda grass is widespread in some of the hottest regions of the US.
Yes, warm-season grass can experience heat stress, and although it prefers hot temperatures, Bermuda grass can withstand extreme temperatures.
Has A Low Color Tolerance
You were expecting another high tolerance feature, Bermuda grass has a low shade tolerance and should not be grown under tree canopies, building overhangs, or other sources of shade.
It Is A Warm Season Grass
As warm-season grass, Bermuda grass turns brown and goes dormant when the cold winter comes. In warmer temperatures, Bermuda grass turns green and resumes active growth.
Consider overseeding ryegrass in the fall for a green color all year round.
Care of Bermudagrass
1. Mow Frequently
Bermuda grass grows quickly and can quickly get out of control if not mowed often. You should mow low and often, keeping the grass at a height of 1 to 1.5 inches.
You may need to mow your lawn once a week during the peak growing season. Continue to mow until the grass is dormant and stops growing.
Once the ground temperature exceeds 60℉ (15℃), it is recommended to mow dormant Bermuda grass once. inches (2.5cm) long. This removes dead grass resulting in a stronger, healthier spring lawn. Preferably just before spring.
2. Watering
Water the lawn during periods of inactivity to prevent excessive drying out. Winter desiccation can be a problem during dry winters.
Irrigating to avoid drought stress can help eliminate winter lawn loss. While temperatures are above 40℉ (4℃), continue watering the dormant Bermuda grass.
Reduce the amount of watering to 0.5 inches of water once a week. This is about half an hour of watering with a standard sprinkler head.
If Bermuda grass is not irrigated during the dry winter months, drought can weaken or even kill the grass. To encourage strong roots and vibrant greenery in spring, water as above.
Subtract rainfall from your watering schedule. In some regions, your dormant Bermuda grass can survive on natural rainfall alone.
Never water dormant Bermuda grass when temperatures are below 40°F. At these temperatures, wind chill or an overnight drop in temperature can freeze water in Bermuda grass blades and seriously damage your lawn.
Also, let the morning frost melt before watering.
3. Check Soil Quality
Make sure your soil is of good quality to encourage growth and maintain the health of your lawn. If your soil is too acidic, you should add lime powder to neutralize it.
Bermuda grass grows best at a pH of 6 to 6. If a soil test shows a higher pH, sulfur can be applied to lower it.
Apply 5 pounds of pelletized sulfur per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Only apply sulfur when the air temperature is below 75°F.
Check the soil pH again after 3 months to see what change has taken place. It can take several years for a large pH change to occur.
Hinterland soils are typically acidic and do not typically require sulfur applications, but likely will benefit from lime applications. Bermuda grasses should receive 2 to 4 pounds of nitrogen per growing season per 1,000 square feet of grass.
The higher rate can be used for Bermuda grass growing in sandy soil and the lower rate for grasses growing in clay soil. Applying a soluble iron product enhances the green color without producing overgrowth.
4. Fertilize
When your Bermuda grass is now not dormant, you could fertilize your garden to inspire growth. Nitrogen fertilizers will assist your grass to develop fuller and greater inexperienced quicker.
Grass Milorganite is a sustainable, recycled fertilizer that is ideal on occasions when you find Bermuda grass dormant. Milorganite consists of nutrient-rich microbes that slowly release beneficial nitrogen into the soil and begin to turn green after a period of inactivity.
Milorganite is made by harvesting beneficial microbes from recycled wastewater and gives your garden a huge boost, reintroducing nutrients and maintaining strong, green growth.
Because Bermuda is such a fast-growing grass with a long growing season, it needs to be fertilized with a strong slow release fertilizer like milorganite. When you feed Scotts Turf Builder grass forage, you build strong roots that can withstand the rigors of activity and weather withstand stress from weeds, weather, and activity.
Second, after mowing, leave grass clippings on the lawn. This allows the grass to use the water more effectively.
Finally, water, use sprinklers from nature as much as possible. Spreading potash over dormant Bermuda grass is a great way to fertilize your lawn and improve its health.
Potassium fertilizer contains potassium, which is an essential nutrient to increase the health and fullness of Bermuda grass. By spreading potash while Bermuda grass is dormant, you give the potassium time to penetrate the soil and slowly feed the grass’s roots.
This promotes a denser lawn and helps your garden resist weeds in the spring. Bermuda grass is very salt tolerant and unlikely to experience ill effects from potash application; some landscape plants can be weakened by too much potash.
For this reason, be careful when applying potash, and make sure you apply most of the fertilizer to your lawn and less to your garden. Fertilize while watering with the Miracle-Gro Garden Feeder for fast, beautiful results – your lawn should be green in just a few days.
It is specially formulated for grasses high in nitrogen and iron chelates; It feeds on the roots and leaves of grass.
It’s safe for Bermuda – it won’t burn grass when used as directed.
5. Aeration
Turf Core Aeration is the process of drilling small holes in the turf and soil to reduce compaction and allow air to reach the root system. This helps fix problems related to poor infiltration and drainage.
When the threat of frost has passed, lawn aeration can be combined with weeding to alleviate soil compaction problems. As you know, Bermuda grass grows fast and can get dense.
This type of growth can lead to excessive thatching. This layer creates an environment that encourages pests and diseases and slows root growth.
Avoid excessive thatching by aerating the lawn. This process can be done in the spring, allowing for better air and nutrient delivery to your lawn. Ventilation can be achieved by simply removing the soil plugs.
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Final Thoughts
Once you know what you want from a lawn, you can decide which is the best lawn for you. Even a lawn with many valuable tolerances is not always the best grass type for every lawn.
If your yard has a lot of shade or you don’t have the resources for a high-end budget lawn, then a Bermuda may not be the best grass choice, but if you’re looking for a quality lawn and can afford the maintenance, then Bermuda can help make an excellent lawn.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Different Types Of Bermuda Grass?
There are several types of Bermuda grass. Some are:
Celebration Bermudagrass.
Latitude 36 Bermudagrass.
NorthBridge Bermudagrass.
Tifway 419 Bermudagrass.
TifTuf Bermudagrass.
Tahoma 31 Bermudagrass.
Bimini Bermudagrass
What Is The Best Type Of Bermuda Grass?
Tifway is now known as the best overall bermudagrass species.
What Is The Best Grass To Mix With Bermuda?
Ryegrass is the perfect grass to mix with Bermuda grass
How Does Bermuda Grass Look?
Bermudagrass has bluish green leaves and forms patches in lawns as it spreads.
How Long Does Bermuda Grass Take To Fully Grow?
It takes about 5 to 6 weeks for Bermuda grass to grow to maturity.
What Makes Bermuda Grass Grow Thicker?
Using fertilizer in the correct proportion ensures it grows thick.
Can Bermuda Grow In Shade?
There are some shade tolerant breeds of bermudagrass but common bermudagrass is the least shade tolerant of all .
Is Bermuda Grass Hard To Maintain?
Bermuda grass is not difficult to care for. Adequate sun exposure, water and fertilizer is all it needs.
What Kills Bermuda Grass?
To get rid of Bermuda triangle, use a herbicide that contains glyphosate.
