Bermuda grass is the most popular warm-season lawn grass in America. It loves heat. It survives drought. It handles heavy foot traffic. If you live south of the transition zone and want a lawn that can take a beating, Bermuda is your grass.
But Bermuda grass has a dark side. It invades everything. Flower beds. Cracks in the driveway. Your neighbor’s yard. If you are not ready to contain it, do not plant it.
Here is my complete guide to growing and controlling Bermuda grass.
What Makes Bermuda Grass So Tough
Bermuda grass spreads three ways. Seeds above ground. Stolons that run across the soil surface. And rhizomes that tunnel underground. This triple threat means Bermuda fills bare spots fast. It also means it escapes everywhere.
Bermuda grass roots can go 6 feet deep in sandy soil. That is deeper than almost any other lawn grass. Deep roots find water when surface soil is dry. That is why Bermuda stays green when other grasses turn brown.
Bermuda grass thrives in heat. It grows fastest when temperatures are between 85 and 95 degrees. When cool-season grasses are suffering through summer, Bermuda is having its best days.
How to Plant Bermuda Grass
Plant Bermuda grass seed in late spring. Soil temperature must be at least 65 degrees. For most southern states, this is May through July. The warmer the soil, the faster the germination.
Seed at 1 to 2 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Bermuda seed is tiny. One pound covers a lot of ground. Mix the seed with sand to spread it evenly. The sand also helps you see where you have seeded.
Water lightly 3 to 4 times per day during germination. Bermuda sprouts in 7 to 14 days in warm soil. Do not let the seedbed dry out. Once seedlings appear, gradually reduce watering frequency.
Find Bermuda grass seed on Amazon.
Bermuda Grass Maintenance
Mowing: Bermuda grass needs short mowing. One to two inches is ideal for common Bermuda. Hybrid Bermuda can be cut even shorter at half an inch to one inch. Mow often. Bermuda grows fast in summer. You might need to mow twice per week.
Fertilizing: Bermuda grass is hungry. It needs 4 to 5 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year. That is about four feedings spread from late spring through early fall. Stop fertilizing by mid-September to let it go dormant naturally.
Watering: Bermuda needs about one inch of water per week. But its deep roots make it more drought-tolerant than most grasses. Water deeply and infrequently to encourage those deep roots.
Dethatching: Bermuda grass builds thatch faster than most grasses. Dethatch every two to three years in late spring when the grass is actively growing and can recover fast.
How to Keep Bermuda Grass Out of Flower Beds
Bermuda will invade your garden. It is not a question of if. It is a question of when. Here is how I contain it.
Install deep edging. Plastic or metal edging should go at least 4 inches deep into the soil. Bermuda stolons travel underground. Shallow edging does nothing.
Edge your beds monthly during summer. Use a sharp spade or power edger. Cut through any stolons trying to cross into the beds. This takes 15 minutes but saves hours of weeding later.
Use mulch in beds. A 3-inch layer of wood chips blocks light and stops most Bermuda from surfacing. Any shoots that pop through are easy to pull.
Bermuda Grass Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Extreme heat tolerance | Invades flower beds aggressively |
| Self-repairs quickly | Goes brown and dormant all winter |
| Handles heavy foot traffic | Needs frequent mowing in summer |
| Deep roots for drought survival | Cannot tolerate any shade |
| Grows in almost any soil | Builds thatch quickly |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bermuda grass stay green all year?
No. Bermuda grass goes dormant and turns brown when temperatures drop below 50 degrees. It greens up again in spring when soil temperatures reach 65 degrees. The brown period lasts from late fall through early spring.
Can I overseed Bermuda grass with ryegrass for winter color?
Yes. Many people overseed Bermuda with annual ryegrass in fall. The ryegrass provides green color through winter. It dies in spring as the Bermuda greens up. This is common on golf courses and nice lawns in the South.
How do I get rid of Bermuda grass in my fescue lawn?
Getting Bermuda out of a cool-season lawn is hard. There are selective herbicides like Ornamec and Fusilade that target Bermuda in fescue. You will need multiple applications over two seasons. In severe cases, you may need to kill everything and start over.
Shop Bermuda Grass Guide: Complete Care for Southern Lawns on Amazon
