Weed Control for Bermuda Grass
Are you worried about the weed growth on your Bermuda grass? Below, you can learn the weeds commonly found in Bermuda grass and how to get rid of them.
Bermuda grass is turf grass that is a favorite among homeowners in the southern region of the United States.
Well-grown Bermuda grass will produce healthy, dense, fine-bladed turf that is appropriate for sports fields, commercial properties, and residential lawns.
Common Weeds in Bermuda Turf
There are two types of weeds you will always find growing in lawns with Bermuda grass.
Grassy Weeds: These are crabgrass, foxtail, goosegrass, barnyardgrass, nutsedge, Poa annua, and witchgrass.
Broadleaf weeds: These are pigweed, goosefoot, purslane, London rocket, and spurge.
Weed Control in Bermuda Grass
You can do some things to take care of and maintain your lawn, which will help keep the weeds from unfolding.
Here are some simple tips that are good for Bermuda grass:
- Mow at the right height: Letting Bermuda grass grow too high or scalping it too low can give birth to weed issues. In general, Bermuda grass should have a height of 1 to 2 inches for a residential lawn.
- Control shaded areas: Highly shaded areas that result in bare spots where grass will not grow are great for weeds to invade. It is mandatory to take measures to ensure that grass will thrive even in the shadiest areas to keep the weeds out.
- Fertilizer use: Using appropriate fertilizers will help your grass be healthy, strong, and it will also assist you in halting any weed growth.
- Hand-pulling: When you begin to see signs of weeds around the outline of the grass, pull them out by using your hand as the first line of defense.
Bermuda Grass Yearly Weed Maintenance Tips
January through April
As a preventive measure against summer weeds, applying a pre-emergent herbicide at the beginning of the year is recommended. It is mostly applied in mid-February in the coastal and central areas and for mountain or piedmont areas is mid-March. A second application is typically applied around 100 days after the initial application to keep the annual weeds under control.
Add post-emergent herbicides to take control of any existing winter and broadleaf weeds. This should be done while the grass is still dormant. Avoid applying post-emergent chemicals on spring when the turf is greening up.
If a weed problem occurs when the grass is starting to green up with warmer temperatures, wait until all the grass becomes fully green before applying the herbicide.
Meanwhile, mow and bag all weeds from the lawn.
Bermuda grass is quite sensitive to some herbicides like 2,4-D. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and proceed with caution when using these chemicals.
May Through August
The second application of a pre-emergent herbicide should be applied sometime in early June for those living in North Texas cities.
Weeds will grow if you do not apply the pre-emergent in time, but you can still control them with post-emergent herbicides.
You can also use selective weed control during the summer. If any annual grassy weeds occur, then pre-emergent herbicide will be an ideal choice.
For the best control and the least damage to your Bermuda grass, always add post-emergent herbicides where weeds are actively developing.
September through December
In the fall months, September-November, you can control many annual winter weeds by applying pre-emergent herbicides.
Broadleaf weed herbicides can be added to Bermuda grass to control chickweed, henbit, and other winter season broadleaf weeds.
Selective herbicides can also be applied to eliminate annual bluegrass and winter grassy weeds.
Pre-Emergent Weed Control In Bermuda Grass
A pre-emergent weed killer means that you apply it before the weeds start to pop out in your lawn. This needs to be applied before germination. Aim for 2-3 weeks before your area has its final freeze of the season. Several types of pre-emergent herbicides can be successfully used to treat different kinds of Bermuda grasses and weeds.
For example, crabgrass preventers can eliminate the common crabgrass weeds. While the crabgrass weeds will germinate, the herbicide will prevent them from growing or sprouting.
Pre-emergent is mostly applied in spring or at the start of May as the temperature starts to warm up to 55 degrees Fahrenheit and in the fall or in September when the temperatures are below 70 degrees Fahrenheit and dropping.
If you are looking for an organic alternative to pre-emergent, then you can use corn gluten. It is essential to apply this herbicide to your entire lawn and water thoroughly as weeds can invade any area of your lawn.
Post-Emergent Weed Control in Bermuda Grass
Post-emergent weed control is effective when the weed issue has already occurred, and you want to keep it under control. You can find many variations of herbicides depending on what types of weeds you want to eliminate and the variety of Bermuda grass you need to save.
The post-emergent chemicals are mostly used in early summer when the weeds are actively growing. You need to be careful when applying these herbicides and consider things such as, application rate, timing, and which specific Bermuda grass type you have.
It is essential to understand the difference between selective and non-selective herbicides when buying post-emergent chemicals.
Selective herbicides will eliminate specific weeds and that’s it. A non-selective herbicide can kill all plants that it comes in contact with, including your grass.
Final Thoughts
Bermuda grass is a great turf grass to choose for your lawn. From seed or sod, it grows swiftly into a rich, green lawn.
It is highly tolerant of drought and heat. A healthy Bermuda grass lawn will also naturally resist weeds. You just can’t go wrong with Bermuda grass.
