How Bermudagrass Grows
Bermudagrass grows rapidly in the summer and is very heat and drought tolerant.but turns brown when temperatures remain below 50 degrees. This grass type is generally not very tolerant of shade and prefers as much sun as it can get. Bermudagrass can be established by seed, sod or sprigs/plugs, this versatility of establishment makes bermuda a great choice for many situations.
How to Identify Bermudagrass
Bermudagrass forms a thick, dense, low growing lawn. The grass blades are fine in texture, and are pale green to light green in color. This grass type has a folded vernation, with a collar covered in hairs. The grass blades are approximately 1-3 mm wide, with some small hairs on the upper side, rough edges, and a pointed leaf tip. Bermudagrass has a seed head with 3 to 5 spikes that join together at the top of the main stem.
Pros of Bermudagrass
- Drought tolerant
- Tolerant of high traffic
- Heat tolerant
- Forms a thick, low growing, attractive lawn
Cons of Growing Bermudagrass
Bermudagrass can be tough to grow in the transition zone, where there are hot summers and freezing cold winters. Bermudagrass can also be high maintenance needing to be mowed at least once per week, and have higher N requirements than other grass types. Since this grass type prefers full sun, it is not recommended to plant if you have a shady lawn.
Bermudagrass is prone to nematodes, armyworms, sod webworms, mole crickets, and white grub damage. This grass type can develop lawn diseases such as large patch, leaf spot, dollar spot, and more. It is also an aggressive weed that can take over flower and garden beds, if left unchecked.