Bermuda Grass
Bermuda grass is not native to Bermuda, it actually hails from Africa and the middle East. It thrived in Bermuda as an invasive species before coming to the United States, hence the name.
Bermuda grass is a common lawn grass that has a gray-green color and dense spaced blades. The blades are short, usually <1 to 6 inches long with rough edges that form a mat. It’s stems are slightly flattened and often slightly purple in colour. The seeds are arranged in clusters 2-6 spikes together at the top of the stem. Bermuda grass reproduces by seed and with above the surface runners called Solon's. Below the surface, Bermuda has underground nodes called rhizomes which act as subsurface runners.
Bermuda grass is an aggressive grass that crowds out most other grass, and invades other habitats. Due to its weedy nature and difficulty to control in flower beds, some gardeners nickname it “devil's grass.” It is very resilient meaning it recovers well when damaged and grows quickly. Therefore, it is used for sport fields, golf courses, and tennis courts. Bermudagrass is slightly salt resistant making it a suitable choice for coastal regions. It is also drought tolerant. In drought situations roots are able to penetrate soil up to 6.6 feet. Although, normally most of the root system depth is less than 2 feet under the surface. However, it is not very shade tolerant, so it is not suggested to plant under tree umbrella or building overhang. Bermudagrass becomes dormant in temperatures below 59 degrees turning brown or yellow and growth dramatically decreases. The optimal growing temperature range is between 75-99 degrees, making it a great choice for the Houston area.
Maintenance and watering Bermuda grass is straightforward. Watering lawn turf is needed to keep lawns the green color homeowners desire. Bermudagrass will survive without watering, but it will look dead, and your homeowners association may send you a letter. So the dilemma is between water conservation and an attractive landscape. Water conservation through a well maintenanced system and use of a smart controller or rain sensor is a great way to save water for future generations while still maintaining a great landscape. Knowledge is power and knowing the amount of water needed to support your landscape is the first step in setting an efficient schedule. Bermudagrass can survive on 20 inches of water per year and this is more likely satisfied by rainfall living in a subtropical humid climate. 30 inches per year will insure acceptable color and 40 inches per year will provide hydration for adequate color and growth. Basically your irrigation system should make up the difference in water from what naturally occurs from rain and required adequate water levels.
It is suggested to mow Bermuda grass with a reel mower, ya like from the 60's or the Flintstones cartoon. If a reel mower is not an option use a rotary mower with blades that are sharpened on a regular basis. You should not cut the blades more than ⅓ the length to avoid shedding and burning the grass. Due to Bermudagrass’ fast growth rate it may be necessary to cut twice weekly during the highest growing periods.
Bermuda grass is a common lawn grass that has a gray-green color and dense spaced blades. The blades are short, usually <1 to 6 inches long with rough edges that form a mat. It’s stems are slightly flattened and often slightly purple in colour. The seeds are arranged in clusters 2-6 spikes together at the top of the stem. Bermuda grass reproduces by seed and with above the surface runners called Solon's. Below the surface, Bermuda has underground nodes called rhizomes which act as subsurface runners.
Bermuda grass is an aggressive grass that crowds out most other grass, and invades other habitats. Due to its weedy nature and difficulty to control in flower beds, some gardeners nickname it “devil's grass.” It is very resilient meaning it recovers well when damaged and grows quickly. Therefore, it is used for sport fields, golf courses, and tennis courts. Bermudagrass is slightly salt resistant making it a suitable choice for coastal regions. It is also drought tolerant. In drought situations roots are able to penetrate soil up to 6.6 feet. Although, normally most of the root system depth is less than 2 feet under the surface. However, it is not very shade tolerant, so it is not suggested to plant under tree umbrella or building overhang. Bermudagrass becomes dormant in temperatures below 59 degrees turning brown or yellow and growth dramatically decreases. The optimal growing temperature range is between 75-99 degrees, making it a great choice for the Houston area.
Maintenance and watering Bermuda grass is straightforward. Watering lawn turf is needed to keep lawns the green color homeowners desire. Bermudagrass will survive without watering, but it will look dead, and your homeowners association may send you a letter. So the dilemma is between water conservation and an attractive landscape. Water conservation through a well maintenanced system and use of a smart controller or rain sensor is a great way to save water for future generations while still maintaining a great landscape. Knowledge is power and knowing the amount of water needed to support your landscape is the first step in setting an efficient schedule. Bermudagrass can survive on 20 inches of water per year and this is more likely satisfied by rainfall living in a subtropical humid climate. 30 inches per year will insure acceptable color and 40 inches per year will provide hydration for adequate color and growth. Basically your irrigation system should make up the difference in water from what naturally occurs from rain and required adequate water levels.
It is suggested to mow Bermuda grass with a reel mower, ya like from the 60's or the Flintstones cartoon. If a reel mower is not an option use a rotary mower with blades that are sharpened on a regular basis. You should not cut the blades more than ⅓ the length to avoid shedding and burning the grass. Due to Bermudagrass’ fast growth rate it may be necessary to cut twice weekly during the highest growing periods.