Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) is a popular commercial grass found in over 100 countries throughout the world. It is a warm-season, perennial grass known for its resilience, fast growth, and ability to thrive in hot, sunny conditions. It is a top choice for both homeowners and farmers. This sod forming grass is highly variable in appearance with stolons that root at the end of the nodes. From these nodes, lateral buds develop that produce stems measuring from 5 to 40 cm in height.
Species within the genus Cynodon have characteristic leaves that give the appearance of multi-leaved nodes due to stems with long internodes that can alternate in length allowing for overlap with other stems. New shoots and roots are produced during and following the spring months.
Bermudagrass is widely cultivated in warm climates all over the world between about 30° S and 30° N latitude, and in regions that receive between 625 and 1,750 mm (24.6 and 68.9 in) of rainfall a year (or less, if irrigation is available). Cultivated Bermuda grass with "tiger striping", caused by Rayleigh-Bénard convection during the first frosts of the fall. Hundreds of cultivars have been created specifically for environmental tolerance and stakeholder requirements.
Let's delve into the origin and history of this remarkable grass.
Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon)
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Origin and Introduction
Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) is a popular commercial grass found in over 100 countries throughout the world. Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) was introduced to the United States through plantings from Bermuda. Contrary to its common name, Cynodon dactylon is not native to Bermuda but is an abundant invasive species there. The origin of Bermudagrass is lost in the fog of history, but it is not believed to be native there. Common bermudagrass was introduced into the United States from India or Africa more than 150 years ago.
Agrostis bermudiana Tussac. ex Kunth nom. Agrostis filiformis J.Koenig ex Kunth nom. Chloris cynodon Trin. nom. Cynodon barberi f. Cynodon grandispiculus Caro & E.A.Sánchez nom. Cynodon hirsutissimus (Litard. Cynodon occidentalis Willd. ex Steud. nom. Cynodon portoricensis Willd. ex Steud. nom. Cynodon repens Dulac nom. Cynodon sarmentosus Gray nom. Dactilon officinale Vill. nom. Dactylus officinalis Asch. nom. Digitaria ambigua (Lapeyr. Digitaria littoralis Salisb. nom. Digitaria stolonifera Schrad. nom. Fibichia umbellata Koeler nom.
Bermudagrass was introduced to the United States in the early 1800's as a popular grass in the South for lawns and recreational fields. In Bermuda, it has been known as crabgrass (also a name for Digitaria sanguinalis).
Bermudagrass is a popular choice for lawns in warm climates.
Characteristics and Growth Habits
The wild growth rate of bermudagrass is due to the physiology of the plant. One of the standout traits of Bermuda grass is its incredible resilience. Its deep root system makes it drought-tolerant and difficult to remove without herbicides. The blades are grey-green in color and short, usually 2-15 cm (0.79-5.91 in) long with rough edges. The erect stems can grow 1-30 cm (0.39-11.81 in) tall. Cynodon dactylon has a deep root system.
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When grown in penetrable soil under drought conditions, its roots can grow to over 2 metres (6.6 ft) deep, though most of the root mass is less than 60 centimetres (24 in) under the surface. The grass creeps along the ground with its stolons and roots wherever a node touches the ground, forming a dense mat. C. dactylon reproduces through seeds, stolons, and rhizomes. The grass starts actively growing at temperatures above 15 °C (59 °F) with ideal growth between 24 and 37 °C (75 and 99 °F); in winter or in the dry season, the grass becomes dormant and turns light brown.
Bermuda grass spreads aggressively through seeds, rhizomes, and stolons (runners). A rate of 20 (one bushel is 1.25 cubic feet) gives an acceptable rate of ground cover in southwest Missouri. Sprigs, consisting of underground rhizomes and plant crown and stolons, should be planted at a depth of 1 to 2 inches in 20- to 40-inch rows (Figures 2 and 3). Planting any deeper will delay establishment. Rolling after planting will help ensure good soil contact and enhance soil moisture retention during dry weather. For best results, buy sprigs from a reputable dealer.
Bermudagrass greens up in mid spring and grows until the first frost. Bermudagrass produces an extensive root system that provides some drought tolerance. It 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.
Bermudagrass is productive during the months of June, July and August when the quantity and quality of cool-season grasses such as tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) are poor.
Uses and Benefits
Despite its invasiveness, Bermuda grass is highly valuable in agriculture, and reliable forage crop. Smooth the soil and apply pH-neutralizing and nitrogen-rich fertilizers (around 1 lb per 1,000 sq. Bermudagrass is adapted to a wide range of soil conditions but is best suited to a well-drained site. While bermudagrass is best adapted to deep sandy loam and medium-textured soils, with appropriate management it can be grown on shallow, droughty soils. Although bermudagrass can be extremely drought tolerant, it does not produce much forage under arid conditions. Bermudagrass will not tolerate waterlogged conditions.
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Before the days of mechanized farming, Bermuda grass was considered one of the most invasive and troublesome weeds by farmers. Listed as one of the three most troublesome weeds in crops such as: surgarcane, cotton, corn and vineyards, bermudagrass is difficult to eradicate once established due to deep rhizomes and rapid reproduction rate. Massive spread is facilitated by the broad genetic variability it possess by being a tetraploid. Cynodon dactylon is the only species from this genus that can reproduce from the seed. Other species require cultivation by stolons or rhizomes.
Bermudagrass Care | DoMyOwn.com
Bermuda grass is fast-growing and tough, making it a popular choice for sports fields because it will recover quickly when damaged. It is a highly desirable turfgrass in warm temperate climates, particularly in hot and dry regions where it will survive while other grass species cannot. The combination of heat and drought tolerance makes Bermuda grass a frequent choice for golf courses in the southern and southeastern United States and South Africa. Bermuda grass is also commonly used for football and baseball fields.
- Lawns and Golf Courses: Its use in a lawn and on golf courses is more recent, beginning about 100 years ago.
- Agriculture: Despite its invasiveness, Bermuda grass is highly valuable in agriculture.
- Sports Fields: Bermuda grass is fast-growing and tough, making it a popular choice for sports fields because it will recover quickly when damaged.
Bermuda grass is a frequent choice for golf courses in warm climates due to its heat and drought tolerance.
Management and Maintenance
Soil fertility at establishment is essential to obtain a healthy and vigorous stand of bermudagrass. Weed control is important in the successful establishment of bermudagrass. Bermudagrass is very intolerant of shading and weed competition.
Maintaining a healthy Bermuda grass lawn takes proper care, including regular mowing, watering, and fertilizing. But for gardeners bermudagrass lawns can be an anathema, to maintain. If you’re in Pennsylvania and want to keep your Bermuda lawn looking its best year-round, Grasshopper Lawns can help. Our expert team provides tailored lawn care services designed to meet the unique needs of Bermuda grass, ensuring your lawn stays lush, green, and resilient through every season.
Bermudagrass Varieties
Several varieties of bermudagrass are used in Georgia, ranging from Common bermudagrass to the high-yielding, good quality hybrid bermudagrasses. Significant advancements have improved berudagrass yields and forage quality. Dr. Glenn Burton, principal geneticist at the Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton, released several hybrid bermudagrasses for use in the south. Coastal, an F1 hybrid of Tift common bermuda and a bermudagrass introduced from Asia, was released more than 55 years ago and has been established for hay and grazing on approximately 15 million acres in the southern United States. Tifton 85 bermudagrass is the latest release from the USDA program in Tifton. Tifton 85 was released in 1992 as a highly digestible hybrid cross of Tifton 68 and an introduction from South Africa. Tifton 44 bermudagrass is a winter-hardy hybrid bermudagrass released in 1978.
Here's a table summarizing some popular bermudagrass varieties:
| Variety | Characteristics | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal | F1 hybrid, good for hay and grazing | Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont areas |
| Tifton 85 | Exceptional yield, high-quality grazing and hay | Coastal Plain region |
| Tifton 44 | Winter-hardy hybrid, higher quality forage | Northern bermudagrass growing regions |
| Midland | Winter-hardy hybrid, similar to Coastal | Upper Piedmont and Mountain regions |
The journey of improving bermudagrasses continues with the current generation of turfgrass breeders. Scientists like Dr. Kevin Kenworthy, a graduate of Oklahoma State under Taliaferro, trained with the legendary breeder and joined the University of Florida to focus on breeding warm-season grasses for the state’s unique climate. Expanding bermudagrass into regions with colder winters will be a focus of future breeding efforts.
Bermudagrass as a Weed
Bermuda grass can be a highly aggressive invasive species, crowding out most other grasses and invading other habitats, and has become a hard-to-eradicate weed in some areas (it can be controlled somewhat with triclopyr, mesotrione, fluazifop-p-butyl, and glyphosate). This weedy nature leads some gardeners to give it the name of devil grass. Bermuda grass is incredibly difficult to control in flower beds, and most herbicides do not work. However, Ornamec, Ornamec 170, Turflon ester (tricyclopyr), and Imazapyr have shown some effectiveness.
In places where bermudagrass is not desired and considered a weed, grass pesticides (such as Roundup) can be utilized for removal, but may require more than one application. It is important to research other crops or grass types surrounding the bermudagrass to avoid damage. If manual removal is preferred, take care to remove the entire plant including the roots because this will allow for regeneration in that area.
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