Bermudagrass Seed - Lawn, Pasture and Turf varieties of Bermudagrass Seed. Bermudagrasses (Cynodon spp.) are among the most widely used warm-season grasses. Improved, fine-textured bermudagrasses are used throughout the south on golf courses, athletic fields, and in high-profile residential and commercial landscapes where a fine-textured, dense ground cover is desired. Because of the high maintenance requirements of the improved bermudagrasses, however, they are not generally recommended for use as a home lawngrass. Common bermudagrass varieties are often found as pasture and roadside grasses; these coarse-leaved varieties do not provide the high quality nor do they require the high maintenance of the fine-textured types.Bermudagrass Advantages
Bermudagrass produces a vigorous, medium green, dense turf that is well adapted to most soils and climates found in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arizona and Southern California. Bermuda grass has excellent wear, drought, and salt tolerance. Bermuda grass establishes rapidly and is able to out-compete most weed species. It is readily available as sod or plugs, and some improved cultivars are available as seeded varieties.
Bermudagrass Disadvantages
Improved bermudagrass seed varieties require high levels of maintenance. They have poor tolerance to many insect, disease, and nematode pests, which limits their use in home lawn sites. They grow very aggressively from stolons (above-ground stems) and rhizomes (below-ground stems) and can rapidly invade flower and landscape beds. This aggressive growth also fosters thatch buildup. Bermudagrasses generally have poor to medium cold tolerance and relatively poor shade tolerance. Since bermudagrass performs best with higher levels of fertilizers and chemicals than other lawngrasses, a professional lawn care company may best handle maintenance of this
species.Lawn & Turf Bermudagrass Seed - Yukon Bermudagrass, Princess 77 Bermudagrass, Riviera Bermudagrass, LaPaloma Bermudagrass, Majestic Bermudagrass, Blackjack Bermudagrass, LaPrima Bermudagrass and Other Bermudagrass Varieties
These newer seeded varieties have a darker green color, deeper roots, more shoot density, and a less coarse leaf texture than other bermudagrass varieties. These varieties are suited for lawns, sports turf and parks where a low growing high quality turf is desired.
Forage, Pasture and Hay Type Bermuda Grass Seed - Wrangler Bermudagrass, Ranchero Frio Bermudagrass, Cheyenne II Bermudagrass, Morhay Bermudagrass, Pasto Rico Bermudagrass , Giant Bermudagrass and many other Bermudagrass Foragevarieties. Forage and Pasture varieties of Bermudagrass produce an extensive root system that provides some drought tolerance. Bermudagrasses responds well to nitrogen fertilization and produces a large quantity of dry matter for either grazing or hay production when soil moisture is not limiting. Hybrid bermudagrasses are popular for hay production because they are responsive to nitrogen fertilizer, have a high yield potential and are relatively fast drying. Bermudagrass makes good use of
Maintenance of Bermudagrass Lawns
Bermudagrass - New Seeding
Prepare the soil by tilling to a depth of 4-6 inches. Conduct a soil test to be sure
Bermudagrass: Overseeding or Re-Seeding - Before overseeding Bermuda
Grass, it is important to prepare the soil. Conduct a soil test to be sure your lawn has the proper balance of nutrients. Fertilize and lime if needed. Mow or clip the existing grass as closely as possible. Remove clippings and rake, harrow lightly, or aerate the soil where there is existing lawn. This will allow the new seed to make contact with the soil. Sow the seed and gently rake to cover. Keep the lawn moist until seedlings are established, then water as needed.Undesirable Lawns
- During any growing season, spray the established undesirable turf with a non-selective herbicide labeled for lawn use. Follow the directions on the label.
- After the lawn turns brown, continue with your seeding program as outlined above. Be sure to start with a soil test or a complete lawn fertilizer.
Mow your lawn closely, then remove leaves, dead grass, etc. Rake, harrow lightly, or aerate the bare spots to prepare the seedbed. Conduct a soil test to be sure the soil has the proper balance of nutrients. Fertilize and lime if needed.
Fertilizing Bermudagrass Lawns
It is advisable for homeowners to have soil tests done annually. Your local Cooperative Extension Service office has recommendations and bags for taking soil samples and submitting them to the Extension Soil Testing Lab for analysis. In particular, phosphorous levels are best determined by soil testing. Since many Florida soils are high in phosphorous, little or no phosphorous may be needed for satisfactory lawn growth.
Maintaining a good-quality bermudagrass turf requires a properly planned fertilization program. Fertilizer timing and amounts for bermudagrass are based largely on the turf use. Generally, bermudagrasses require higher levels of fertilizer than other warm-season grasses for acceptable growth, durability, and appearance. Bermudagrasses can be maintained at moderate maintenance levels in areas such as lawns, athletic fields, or golf course fairways.
In general, two weeks following spring regrowth, apply a complete fertilizer such as 16-4-8 at the rate of ½ (water-soluble) to 1 (slow-release) pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet. The
Fertilizer should be applied to bermudagrass in three to seven applications from spring green-up through fall. Do not apply nitrogen too early in the growing season, particularly in North Florida, or subsequent frosts may damage the grass. Likewise, don't fertilize too late in the year, as this can slow regrowth the following spring. If applying water-soluble forms at the lower application rate, it will take more applications to apply the total amount of fertilizer needed for the year than if applying a slow-release fertilizer form.
Mowing Bermudagrass Lawns
Proper mowing practices are necessary to keep any lawn healthy and attractive. Both height and frequency of cut need to be adjusted for the level of turf management and season of the year. Under low to moderate levels of management, bermudagrass should be cut at a height of ¾ to 1½ inches, which may require mowing one to three times per week. Common bermudagrass should be mowed at the highest recommended heights. This will help the grass develop a deep root system and give it a better appearance. Under higher levels of management, bermudagrass can be maintained at a height of ½ inch if the turf is mowed daily during the growing season. Mowing at this height and frequency requires more fertilizer and water to maintain an attractive and durable turf. It should be noted that low cutting heights and high maintenance levels predispose the turf to many weed and pest problems. Under low to moderate management practices, mowing frequency should be adjusted to the amount of growth. Remove no more than 1/3 of the total leaf blade with any mowing.
A reel mower is preferred for cutting bermudagrass. This gives a cleaner cut, and these mowers can also be more accurately adjusted to low heights. In a home lawn situation, a rotary mower may be used if the blades are sharp and well-adjusted to get a clean, smooth cut and if the cutting height is high enough for the mower. Grass clippings can be left on turf maintained with low to moderate fertility levels if mowed at the proper height and frequency. The clippings do not contribute to thatch, and they provide supplemental sources of nutrients. Remove the clippings only if the amount is so excessive that clumps form, or if appearance is important.
Watering Bermudagrass Lawns
An established bermudagrass turf should be watered as needed. Irrigation is needed when leaf blades begin to fold up, to actually wilt, to turn blue-gray in color, or when footprints remain visible after walking on the grass. Apply ¾ to 1 inch of water per application. This will apply water to roughly the top 8 inches of soil, where the majority of the roots are. To determine how much water a sprinkler system is providing, place several coffee cans throughout the irrigation zones to find out how long it takes to apply this amount of water. This is how long your irrigation system should run for each application. During prolonged droughts, bermudagrass may go dormant if it does not receive irrigation. The grass will turn brown and stop growing during this dormant period, but it will revive and resume growth upon irrigation with sufficient amounts of water.
Courtesy of
http://turf.ufl.edu/