Bermuda Grass

Free Lawn Care Book and Watering Guide

Bermuda grass, Cynodon Dactylon, is the turf grass cost widely adapted in Texas. It is a narrow-leaved, vigorous perennial, with both above ground and below ground creeping stems. It is drought tolerant and spreads rapidly. Common bermuda grass is less troubled with turf diseases than many other turf grasses. Bermuda grass as a turf grass: (1) does not grow in shade; (2) turns brown after frost in the fall and does not become green until after the last spring freeze; and (3) is more of a nuisance than other turf grasses in flower beds an gardens because of the rhizomes.

Common bermuda grass is the most practical bermuda grass for the average homeowner because seed is readily available and inexpensive. In addition too Common bermuda grass, Tiflawn, Texturf-10, U-3, Tufcote, Tifway, Tifgreen and Tifdwarf may be used for lan turf. Tiflawn is an aggressive hybrid bermuda grass developed at the Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station at Tifton, Georgia. It has about the same size leaves and stems as Common bermuda grass and forms a dense turf when properly managed. This grass generally is considered for use on heavily used areas, such as football fields. Texturf-10 bermuda grass was developed by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station as a medium-textured, dark green variety that is more wear-resistant than Common bermuda grass. Texturf-10 bermuda grass is very sensitive to chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides. U-3 is a strain of Common bermuda grass selected in Savannah, Georgia. U-3 has finer stems and leaves than Common bermuda grass. The strain is more cold tolerant, but not as wear resistant as Texturf-10 and Tifway bermuda grass. Tufcote bermuda grass is a selection released by the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station and the USDA in 1962. Tufcote is more cold tolerant than Common bermuda grass. Tifway bermuda grass was selected by The Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station for its fine texture, dark color and density. Tifway has an upright growth habit and stiff leaves and is, perhaps, the best choice of the hybrid bermuda grasses for lawn use. Tifgreen and Tifdwarf bermuda grasses are fine-textured, vigorous hybrids that make a dense, weed resistant turf when mowed closely and frequently. These are very high maintenance turf grasses and should be used only where intensive maintenance is practical. Reel-type mowers that can be adjusted to less than 1-inch mowing height are required for these grasses.