Killing
Bermudagrass
Almost all good landscape horror stories seem to have Bermudagrass in a
starring role. It creeps in to shrub beds, grows across pavement and pathways,
it creates yellow patches in fescue lawns in the winter. It even degrades
the integrity of asphalt by growing in it and under it. So, what do you
do? Kill it!
This grass has it’s place, but it doesn’t belong in the average home lawn.
Eradication can be a lengthy process, some times taking several years to
complete. Here are some control strategies that can be considered:
-
To have your lawn in disrepair
for four to six weeks begin to kill it with grass herbicides in late July
and follow up the process biweekly until one week before seeding, A return
of the Bermudagrass next summer is almost sure, but you will have much
less of it. The process will have to be repeated.
-
In late spring, early summer
when Bermudagrass has fully broken dormancy begin the killing process with
grass herbicides, monitor and re-spray as needed. Eradication in
one season is very likely and preferable.
Regardless whether plan one or plan two is best for you, there are some
cultural practices that should be employed.
-
Since herbicides are not
effective when your target weed is in drought stress you should keep the
Bermudagrass watered during the killing process. Use good judgment about
how much to water. Don’t over irrigate, just keep it damp.
-
After the effects of the
first spray are visible, dethatch the area and remove the debris. Re-growth
(and there will be some) will be easier to see and herbicides easier to
apply. Expect to re-spray on two week intervals.
The removal of this dead
plant material will also encourage the growth of your desired fescue grass.
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