Bermuda Grass
Bermuda Grass is the most widely used warm-season turfgrass in the South, valued for its aggressive growth, exceptional heat and drought tolerance, and ability to recover quickly from damage. It thrives in full sun and high temperatures but turns brown during winter dormancy.
Tolerance & Maintenance
How to Identify Bermuda Grass
- ✓Fine to medium blade (2–3 mm), grayish-green color
- ✓Spreads aggressively by both rhizomes and stolons
- ✓Flat, pointed leaf tip; short, wiry growth habit
- ✓Forms a dense, low mat that chokes out weeds
- ✓Seed heads resemble a small hand with 3–7 fingers (racemes)
Mowing
Bermuda thrives when cut short. Hybrid varieties (e.g., Tifway 419) can be mowed as low as 0.5 inch. Avoid letting it grow too tall — it becomes stemmy and hard to cut back.
Watering
Once established, Bermuda is highly drought-tolerant. Reduce irrigation in fall to harden it off before dormancy. Overwatering promotes disease and thatch.
Fertilization
Bermuda is a heavy nitrogen feeder. Stop fertilizing 6–8 weeks before first expected frost to avoid stimulating tender growth that will be damaged.
Common Problems
Winter Dormancy
Turns brown when soil temperatures drop below 50°F. This is completely normal. Overseed with perennial ryegrass for winter color if desired.
Spring Dead Spot
Circular dead areas that appear in spring as the grass breaks dormancy, caused by a soil-borne fungus. Most common in lawns receiving excessive nitrogen in fall.
Thatch Buildup
Aggressive growth creates thatch quickly. Dethatch or verticut in late spring once fully green. Heavy thatch harbors disease and reduces water penetration.
Scalping
Brown, stemmy appearance after mowing caused by cutting into the stem layer. Avoid letting the lawn grow too long between cuts.
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