These days a wide variety of grass and turfs are available on the market, and if you do not do your research before deciding to buy one, the task might prove to be a little daunting and overwhelming. To choose the perfect grass for your needs, you might require some expertise, which is why we are here. We have put together our knowledge of different types of grass in this article and mentioned the essential information about bermudagrass and how to care for it. So, let’s get started.
Introduction to Bermudagrass
Bermuda grass is mainly found in tropical and subtropical areas along the coastline. It is a warm-season grass with high maintenance because it requires full sun and a well-drained environment for optimum growth. It became popular in the United States during the 1800s and quickly became a well-loved grass in the southern states. The maximum growth of this grass is seen every year between late spring to the end of summer.
Bermuda grass can easily tolerate high temperatures, drought, and salt, but it is susceptible to even the slightest of cold environments. This sensitivity limits its use to only warm regions. It is mostly preferred for use in lawns and offices because of rigidity against environmental stress. This resilient nature comes from its extensive root nature. The roots of bermudagrass grow almost 6 inches under the surface, which gives it unique properties.
It is easy to start a bermudagrass lawn from seeds, making it easier to choose the right type for your needs. Bermudagrass comes in different varieties with many advantages. The different types of bermudagrass with their distinct characteristics are as follows.
- Regular Bermudagrass
This type has advanced cold tolerance and good resistance against wear and tear. It also comes with the unique property of self-repairing and self-spreading.
- Bermudagrass Blend
This type has dense and fine-bladed stolons. It also has additional self-repairing properties and the best heat, drought, and pest resistance among all types.
- Texas Bermuda
This particular type comes with strict weather requirements and can tolerate harsh high heat conditions. Their roots are deep, and they have a slow growth rate.
- One Step Complete Bermudagrass
This type is best used for spot and empty patch filling. When combined with professional-grade fertilizer, this gives amazing results and fast growth.
Identification Characteristics of Bermudagrass
The major thing that differentiates bermudagrass from other types of warm-season grasses is its rapid growth rate. It also spreads both under and over the ground in the form of rhizomes and stolons, respectively. It can have an aggressive growth pattern and timing depending on the weather conditions but is certainly not a characteristic to worry about.
Bermudagrass is an ideal choice for places that have constant heavy use, as it can tolerate and repair damage to a quick and greater extent than most grasses. Besides offices and lawns, it is an excellent choice for the athletic sports field, golf courses, and fairways throughout warm coastal regions. In no snow regions, bermudagrass sometimes tends to stay green almost all winter, and on the other hand, it turns brown quickly in most areas.
The dormancy period of bermudagrass is longer than other grasses, which is why most owners of bermudagrassoverseed it with cool-season grasses such as ryegrass. This is the best approach to maintain color and uniform growth.
Planting Bermudagrass
The best time to plant bermudagrass is during spring. After the last frost of the season, as the warmth starts to creep into the atmosphere, this is the prime time when bermudagrass comes out of dormancy and starts growing. Bermudagrass is often overseeded with other grasses, such as multiple varieties of bermudagrass; this helps with favorable growth and spread.
The pH of the soil should be from 5.8 to 7.0 for the grass to achieve maximum growth. It is necessary to do a soil test to attain the pH; this will help determine if it needs to be more acidic or neutral. Soil amendments must be made to achieve a favorable pH, for example, by using lime.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Bermudagrass
The following are some pros and cons, which will help you decide whether bermudagrass will suit your aesthetics.
- Bermudagrass can easily tolerate heat and drought. But it does require watering weekly to stay healthy and lush.
- Bermudagrass is rigid and does not face abrasion easily.
- In fairly warm seasons, bermudagrass requires less maintenance and is grown easily.
- Even slightly cold temperatures can dry out the lush grass to a straw-like appearance in days.
- If proper maintenance is not done, bermudagrass might grow outside boundaries to unwanted areas.
- Bermudagrass cannot be planted in shady areas, as it requires maximum sunlight to grow.
Caring Tips for Bermudagrass
The caring method for bermudagrass is quite different from other cold-season grasses and varies from month to month. The growth rate of bermudagrass is also very high, which makes it require more maintenance than usual. Alongside the use of fertilizers, many factors come into consideration when taking care of bermudagrass. The essential caring tips for bermudagrass are as follows:
- The recommended height of bermudagrass is 1½ to 2½ inches for home lawns and about 2 inches for athletic fields. Because of the high growth rate, it is necessary to maintain this length by mowing the grass twice a week. Also, make sure to mow the grass in spring or when it is bright green.
- Another important thing you need to take care of is that bermudagrass is not facing long periods of drought. Despite being drought-resistant, bermudagrass can easily dry out in an extended drought. Water the grass to about one or 1½ inches, along with rainfall. This will help prevent summer dormancy.
- Do not water the plant more than four times a week. One more thing you can do is submerge the grass in six inches of water every two weeks for the best results.
- The best fertilizer for bermudagrass is nitrogen fertilizer. You should use about 1½ pound of fertilizer per 1000 sq. feet of bermudagrass.
- Always move or aerate the soil before applying fertilizer. This is important for healthy-looking grass.
- In late summers, use insecticides and herbicides to protect bermudagrass from weeds and winter injury.
- The maximum amount of herbicides per year is 1 to 2 applications.
Bermudagrass – An Excellent Choice for Home and Office
Bermudagrass is a popular type of warm-season grass, which has an extraordinary tolerance to heat and drought. It is an excellent choice for both home and office use, as it can withstand heavy use and wear and tear. It also possesses the property to recoverquickly from pests on its own.
All in all, it is a challenging and resilient grass that is only limited by certain climatic changes. Depending on the place you want to plant it, bermudagrass makes a perfect option to enjoy a lush, healthy, and premium grass lawn.