For some people, Bermudagrass (see top two images) makes a nice lawn. It requires little
care or maintenance so is perfect for them.
Others don’t like the invasive nature (see second image) and the fact that it is only green
during the warmest months, greening up late in the spring and going dormant “turning
brown”, early in the fall or late summer (see third image).
In Tall Fescue or Kentucky Bluegrass lawns, Bermudagrass is a tough weed that requires
persistence and a plan to eradicate and replace.
The bottom two images show Bermudagrass invading a vegetable garden and a landscape bed.
Control
Control of Bermudagrass is dependent on where it is causing a problem. Below I will
describe three different ways to address Bermudagrass depending on what you want to
do and where.
First, in the yard you have two choices– kill everything and replace that part of the yard,
or suppression and try to keep it at bay.
Killing everything so you can seed or sod the area almost guarantees you will get rid of
the Bermudagrass. You have to follow the instructions and make at least two applications
of Hi-Yield® KILLZALL®. Research has shown to start spraying 6 to 8 weeks from
when you intend to seed or sod. In Kansas this would be late July. The grass must be
actively growing for it to be effective.
Spray the area thoroughly. Wait two weeks and scalp the area, (mow as short as you
can and pick up the debris), in order for the sun to reach down into the turf to allow any
living grass to recover that you may have missed. Wait another two weeks and spray
again with Hi-Yield® KILLZALL®. Two weeks after that, you may seed or sod.
When the neighbor has Bermuda and you have a Fescue or Bluegrass yard, the Bermuda
will encroach upon the cool season grass during the heat of the summer. In this instance
you don’t want to kill it all off and re-seed. In this case you can apply Hi-Yield®
Triclopyr Ester (formerly Turflon Ester). When mixing this for Bermudagrass you
MUST add Hi-Yield® Spreader Sticker to the mix, or it will not be effective. The other
important detail is you need to make an application each month of June, July and
August.
If you do this for 2 years you will starve the grass of food and it will actually start dying
back. If you are only going to spray once and forget it, it will not work.
Finally, if Bermudagrass is invading the landscape bed or the vegetable
garden, apply either ferti•lome® Over the Top or Hi-Yield® Grass Killer. Again
you MUST add Hi-Yield® Spreader Sticker to the mix or it will not work.
On Bermudagrass it will work very slowly so be patient, occasionally two applications
maybe needed, 2 to 3 weeks apart.