If you are looking to spruce up your lawn this year, there are many different types of grass to choose from.
If you want lush, green grass, then the Bermuda Grass could be the right choice for you. It’s one of the most popular types of grass available. Before making your final decision, read on to learn more about if Bermuda is a good fit for your conditions.
Some Facts About Bermuda Grass
Bermuda grass is great for warm weather climates, which makes IT very popular.
Here are some ways in which
you can plant Bermuda Grass:
Sod
Seed
Grass plugs
You have probably seen this type of grass on many lawns and athletic fields.
Bermuda Grass is very durable, as it not only grows in southern areas, where the climate is always warm, but it also can handle some cold weather climates.
So, if you are looking for a tough grass that can stand up to warm weather and
high foot traffic, then Bermuda Grass is a great option. Your lawn will look its best.
Characteristics & Traits
Here are some traits and characteristics about Bermuda grass:
Bermuda Grass seed
always grows best in the
full sun. If your lawn sees
a lot of shade, this may
not be the best type for
you as spots can occur.
The tone of Bermuda
Grass is a darker in
color. This type of grass
can be found on many
football fields and golf
courses.
This type of grass is very
salt tolerant, so if your
lawn experiences a lot of
acidic activity, your
Bermuda Grass can
continue to grow and
not become damaged.
The texture of Bermuda Grass ranges from fine to medium.
Bermuda grass is very tolerant.
It can stand up well to drought and other weather conditions that tend to ruin lawns.
This grass is very easy to grow from either grass plugs or seeds.
Bermuda Grass is a fast growing grass that prospers in warmer climates.
When the temperature drops, this type of grass tends to become dormant. This means that the grass is protecting itself from dying off.
When the temperature rises above 60 degrees, the grass will then come back to life and grown lavishly.
Bermuda grass was once only known to grow from sod, but science has made it possible for IT TO NOW grow from grass seed.This is good for growers who like to use seed instead of dealing with sod, which can become very time consuming.
Bermuda Grass can be mowed very easily. If you like your lawn to be low, then you can mow this type to about a half-inch. This type of grass does grow back very quickly.
Bermuda Grass can be planted almost anywhere. You can use it to cover up dry patches or to re-do your entire lawn. Since this type of grass is so easy to deal with, it’s a popular choice for many grass needs.
Where Did It Come From & What Are The Varieties?
Here’s more information on Bermuda Grass’s wherabouts and its various species.
Bermuda grass is native To a few areas, COMING from Asia, Africa, Australia, and Southern Europe.
One may think that by its name that it came from the Bermuda area, but it is actually called that because of it’s so common in that area.
Bermuda Grass once invaded the Bermuda area and was seen as a pest. Another name for it was Devil’s Grass because of its tendency to take over lawns. Now it is considered a very popular grass because of its warm look and feel. It’s also very durable and is equipped to handle high traffic areas.
Bermuda grass goes by many other names.
Here are A Few:
-
Devil’s Grass
-
Scutch Grass
-
Couch Grass
-
Indian Doab
-
Grama
Advantages & Disadvantages
IT’s Key to understand the advantages and disadvantages of this type of grass. Before you make the decision to grow this type of grass, take a look at some of the pros and cons listed below to see if Bermuda Grass will work for you.
Advantages
- The grass is simple to maintain
- It is very attractive and looks great as a lawn or athletic field
- It tends to enrich sod
- Its durability makes it great for athletic fields
- It has a speedy recovery rate in high foot traffic areas
Disadvantages
- Needs full sunlight
- Will thin out over time if in shade for long periods of time
- Difficult to control on lawn edges, walkways, and even flower beds
- Needs to be mowed once a week
- Susceptible to nematode
damage
If the pros outweigh the cons for you, then bermuda grass could be exactly what you’re looking for.
Establishment & Maintenance
In order to have a healthy lawn, you obviously have to take care of it. Simple things such as routine maintenance will ensure its growth and productivity. For one thing, Bermuda Grass is easy to grow as it can be established easily from seed or sod.
-
Bermuda grass requires lots of sunlight. Does where you live offer this? If your existing lawn does see lots of shade, this may not be the best type of grass for you.
-
Bermuda Grass grows very quickly. It can be very hard to maintain if you are not able to mow it at least once a week. If you can handle this, then you may have the nicest lawn on the block. On the other hand, if can’t handle it, then it can become an overgrown eye sore.
-
If you live in a warmer climate like the southern region of the United States, Bermuda Grass can be planted and maintained very easily. It’s not quite as easy for those in the northern U.S. as it’s tough to get it started and can deteriorate very quickly.
-
You can always mix Bermuda Grass with another kind of grass to create variations. This can change what your lawn looks like and what it’s able to adapt to.
Here are some basic steps for you to take to start growing your new Bermuda Grass:
- Find the time of
year with the most sun. - Keep your lawn
watered daily. - Plant the Bermuda
Grass from seed or
sod. - Mow your lawn at
least once a week. - Monitor your lawn for dry
patches and insect
damage.
Remember, this type of grass is able to take a beating from heavy foot traffic. Tolerance and durability are definitely some of its top valued qualities.
Watering, Mowing & Pest Management
insect damage and disease tend to ruin most grass types, but Bermuda grass puts up quite a fight. It is able to protect itself from insect problems and also from periods of bad weather conditions like droughts.
Bermuda Grass does not have to be watered all of the time. This type of grass is able to endure warm climates and also droughts. This is most ideal for homeowners in the southern areas of the United States where they experience extended periods of heat.
Bermuda grass tends to grow very rapidly, so mowing it at least once every week is important. If you are not able to mow it on a weekly basis, this may not be the type of grass that you can manage.
Bermuda Grass can be cut very short to at about a half-inch. You have probably seen this on golf courses where mowers are required to cut different lengths all over the course. Cutting the lawn short will allow it to be much healthier and productive.
Here are some things to remember about Bermuda grass:
Bermuda Grass grows very fast and needs to be maintained throughout its growth.
Little to no watering is required for this type of grass.
Bermuda Grass is highly tolerant.
It can be blended with other seeds to make your lawn unique.
It does not see much pest damage.
Sun is good for Bermuda Grass.
When looking for a grass type that is strong and durable, Bermuda grass should be your number one choice.