Bermuda Grass Care
Basics of Bermuda Grass Care
Bermuda grass care is fairly simple and straight-forward. Bermuda grass is a good fit for places with plenty of sun and this type of grass can thrive without too much water. It is a hardy grass for the lawn as it handles constant traffic and even withstands pet invasions. The heat and drought tolerance of the grass makes it a popular choice for gardeners in arid weather conditions. It is a low growing grass and provides comprehensive ground cover. Bermuda grass is known for its rich green color and for its relatively fine texture. There are many varieties of Bermuda grass available in the United States and gardeners can choose based on their range of priorities such as color, suitability for slightly cooler climatic conditions, mowing height and ability to withstand wear and tear.
Once you have chosen the grass that best meets your requirements there are a few things that you should know about Bermuda grass care. While the grass does well in the sun, it cannot handle shade very well. This grass also has a tendency to turn brown in winter. While the roots are fine and the grass will look fine once spring and summer arrive, you will have a period when your lawn may not show to advantage. Bermuda grass is self-propagating in that it spreads by producing seeds and through above ground shoots known as stolons and below ground sprouts called rhizomes. While this means that the Bermuda grass is rich and dense in terms of coverage, there is the real danger that the underground rhizomes can cause difficulties for other plants in the garden. Once you know these details about this type of grass, you can plan its usage in your landscaping properly.
Once you have a Bermuda grass lawn, you do not have to worry about as much watering as with some other species. However, this does not mean that you can completely forget the water needs of the lawn. While by and large this grass gets enough moisture from natural rainfall, during periods of drought you have to be attentive to signs of wilting. Slightly bowed Bermuda grass is a sign that your lawn is thirsty and needs some water. This grass is said to need watering once a week and by making sure this is thorough you will help the water seep to the roots and help it soak enough to last through the periods of drought. It is recommended that you water to a depth of 6 inches. You can make sure that you are achieving by sticking a long twig or screwdriver into the ground. If they sink in easily you know that the soil has enough water. If they go in only a couple of inches, you need to increase your watering time or volume. Be responsible while watering and make sure that there is no wasteful run off. It is ineffectual and useless to water your lawn if there is run off after a certain point and in this case you may have to cover your lawn in sections.
The other important element of Bermuda grass care is mowing. This type of grass is known to be difficult to mow but this is probably because the wrong mower is used rather often. A rotary lawn mower cannot reach the 1 to 1.5 inches that is ideal for Bermuda grass without denuding the lawn. This is called scalping and what happens is that the rotary mower slips into a small rut and makes the blade dip and literally scalp the grass. This will make your lawn look bad and it is also bad for the long-term health of the lawn. A reel mower is a better choice for Bermuda grass care because it allows for a low and even cut without scalping the grass. If you do have to use a rotary mower, you will have to raise the blade and while it may not be an optimal length for the grass at least you can avoid damaging the lawn. Lawn care professionals recommend that you can leave the lawn clippings on the grass and allow it to decompose naturally as this will benefit the lawn in the long-run by returning nitrogen to the soil.
Among the problems that you may have to worry in terms of Bermuda grass care is the possibility of dollar spots. This is a fungus that affects this type of grass and leaves the lawn with brown patches. Your lawn will be particularly vulnerable to this fungus during periods of drought. So, water as soon as you discover the problem. If you find that that does not help, you may have to consider chemical additives to help the grass fight the fungus.
In general though, Bermuda grass care is a matter of staying with the fertilizing and aeration schedule and ensuring that your lawn has plenty of sunshine and adequate water.