A staple in Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia, Bermuda grass does well in warm regions because it tolerates drought, heat, traffic, and salt.
It needs less water than most common turf grasses, and it can repair itself.
The key is knowing when is the best time to plant them.
When to plant Bermuda grass? The perfect time to plant Bermuda grass is in late spring or early summer since it is warm-season grass. Generally, you should wait for at least two months from the last frost. For warmer regions, plant as early as March if the temperature allows.
Planting Bermuda Grass in Different Climates
As mentioned, Bermuda grass will thrive when planted in warm areas where days get as hot as 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Here are a few considerations when planting Bermuda grass in different climates:
Tropical Climate
Bermuda grass is a perennial species that does well in tropical and subtropical climates.
Expect your Bermuda grass to grow really well if the area has high temperatures, high rainfall, and only mild winters.
The main factor that limits Bermuda grass’ adaptability to subtropical and tropical parts of the world is temperature.
Your best bet is to wait until the ground reaches soil temperatures of about 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Also, you will want to be careful not to plant it on shady planes, as it is not shade-tolerant.
Instead, find open landscapes where it can receive full sunlight.
Dry Climate
The great thing about Bermuda grass is that it tolerates drought. As such, they will survive longer on dry soil compared to most turf grasses.
They can become semi-dormant during extreme droughts and recover once moisture becomes available.
During these times, you may need to give your Bermuda grass more irrigation.
How much water they need is dependent on what you use them for and other factors, such as temperature and humidity.
Water requirements will increase depending on the level of maintenance needed.
Temperate Climate
Bermuda grass also grows well in temperate areas, especially in areas with high temperatures and lots of sunshine.
Continental Climate
With proper care, you can try growing Bermuda grass in areas with a continental climate or those with hot summers and cold winters.
However, their growth will most likely be limited by prolonged frosts.
Polar Climate
Bermuda grass is better adapted to warmer regions, so it will have a rough time surviving in a polar climate.
Some varieties of Bermuda grass, such as the Latitude 36, may survive the arctic cold.
Choosing Bermuda Grass Variety
Bermuda grass is the safest bet when it comes to choosing the ideal grass for your garden.
That said, how do you decide on the variety of Bermuda grass to grow?
Below, we will show the different types of Bermuda grass to help you decide which one is the most appropriate for your garden.
There are around 50 different varieties of Bermuda grass worldwide, but the most common are hybrid Bermuda grass and seeded Bermuda grass.
Seeded Bermuda Grass
As its name suggests, seeded Bermuda grass is grown from seeds and has a fine and distinct leaf texture.
They are darker in color and form a very dense turf. Their thickness allows them to survive even when planted in high foot traffic.
Seeded Bermudagrass also requires less maintenance than hybrid Bermuda grass, making it ideal for public places such as parks and sports fields.
Some of the more popular types of seeded Bermuda grass are Yuma, Sahara, Blackjack, and Princess Bermuda, to name a few.
Hybrid Bermuda Grass
Hybrid Bermuda grass has been specifically created using African Bermuda and Common Bermuda.
Like seeded Bermuda, they also feature thick patches of narrow-leafed dark-green grass.
They are more resistant to disease than seeded Bermuda.
Hybrid Bermuda grass also produces seed heads, but those seed heads do not contain seeds.
Where To Plant Bermuda Grass
First and foremost, you’ll want to make sure you’re planting them in an area that meets their preferred growing conditions.
Here are a few tips when trying to figure out where to plant Bermuda grass:
Step 1: Check the climate in your area.
Bermuda grass thrives in tropical and sub-tropical climates similar to what Africa, India, South America, and the southern states of the US have.
If you happen to live in a region prone to droughts and freezing temperatures, consider trying out a different grass type instead.
However, if you really prefer Bermuda grass, there are more expensive Bermuda grass hybrids that can tolerate the cool season.
Step 2: Till the land to remove patches of grass and weeds.
To do this, you can opt to rent or purchase your tilling machine.
You will then want to roll the tilling machine all over your lawn and remove existing grass and weeds.
Doing this will allow your Bermuda grass to thrive without having to compete with other weeds in your lawn.
You can also use a manual tiller if you do not have a tilling machine.
If any baby grass reappears afterward, till the soil again to remove the sprouts.
Step 3: Use a rake to remove pulled-out weeds and dead grass.
It is ideal to start with a fresh piece of land before planting your Bermuda grass.
After tilling the soil, rake away weeds and dead grass to prevent new plants from growing.
This way, there won’t be anything stealing nutrients away from your Bermuda grass.
Step 4: Perform a soil test.
A soil pH of 5.6 to 7 is the ideal soil for Bermuda grass.
Find any facility where you can bring a sample of your soil for them to test. Usually, a local university will do the job.
Step 5: Amend the soil.
It is ideal to plant Bermuda grass in well-drained soil high in organic materials.
Clay is not suitable for Bermuda grass.
Humus, on the other hand, is one of the best soils to have when planting Bermuda grass. It is available at most local gardening stores.
Lay down at least six to seven inches of Humus before you plant your Bermuda grass seeds.
How to Plant Bermuda Grass Seeds
With enough preparation and the proper techniques, there’s no reason why your Bermudagrass seeds shouldn’t thrive.
After making sure the ground is ready for planting, follow these steps:
Step 1: Even out the dirt on the area by raking over it.
Rake over your newly-tilled yard to even out the ground. You will also want to remove hills and depressions.
You should have a flat soil surface before planting your seeds.
Step 2: Plant the Bermuda grass seeds.
You can either purchase a broadcast seeder to help you plant your seeds evenly or do it by hand.
Use one to two pounds of seeds for every 1,000 square feet of land.
When manually planting the seeds by hand, try your best to distribute the seeds evenly.
If there are large rocks left, remove them before laying your seeds down.
Step 3: Cover the seeds with soil.
Cover the seeds with about 1/4 inch of soil using a rake.
Bermuda grass, like most grass, needs to be engulfed in soil for it to grow.
Be careful when doing this, as too much soil can hinder the growth of your seeds.
Step 4: Water the Bermuda grass seeds.
After planting the seeds, water your yard thoroughly to keep the soil moist.
You will then want to water the yard daily as well.
Even though Bermuda grass is drought-tolerant, a lot of water is required initially for the seeds to germinate.
For the first three to four weeks, keep the soil moist. Then, as the turf matures, you can decrease the watering gradually.
Step 5: Apply fertilizer
You can apply turf-grade fertilizer if you have not completed a soil test to evaluate the soil.
Turf-grade fertilizer is available at most local gardening stores. Alternatively, you can buy them online.
Bermudagrass seeds take roughly a month to germinate under the best conditions.
How To Grow Bermuda Grass
Although drought- and heat-tolerant, you still need to care for your Bermuda grass properly.
This includes mowing, deep watering, fertilization, weed control, and aeration.
Step 1: Mow
For the best results, you will want to maintain a height of about two inches.
It would be best to start mowing your lawn in the spring when the grass is green. Do this frequently.
Step 2: Water
When growing Bermuda grass, remember only to water when needed.
Deeply water once a week to saturate the soil to about six inches.
Step 3: Aerate
Before applying fertilizer, you should aerate first. Ideally, you’ll want to do this in early summer.
Step 4: Weed Control
Use pre-emergent herbicides for summer and spring weeds right at the threat of winter damage.
Limit your use of herbicide to three applications per year.
Step 5: Fertilize
Correct fertilization always starts with a soil test.
Then, proper nutrients are applied based on the result of this soil test.
Fertilizers are readily available in your local home or gardening stores.
How Long Does Bermuda Grass Take to Grow?
From planting, un-hulled seeds will germinate in about a week or two.
Then, with proper care, you will have a fully grown Bermuda lawn anywhere between 60 and 90 days.
If you plant hulled seeds, you will notice faster seed germination, usually around five to 10 days.
Conclusion
The value of Bermuda grass is in its exceptional drought and heat tolerance and its capacity to survive foot traffic.
These qualities lure many lawn owners into using Bermuda grass as it is remarkably resilient.
The only downside is that Bermuda grass has very specific climate requirements.
If you happen to live in tropical and subtropical areas, Bermuda grass is the grass choice for you.
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