Bermudagrass Control

Most Effective Products

Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC)

As low as $15.63

"Bermudagrass is a very resilient weed so you may need repeated applications to get the job done. Don’t expect to spray once and lay in your hammock thinking you’ve done enough. Bermudagrass won’t give up that easy."

Bermudagrass Control: How to Get Rid of Bermudagrass

This page is a general DIY guide for controlling bermudagrass. Using the products and methods suggested you get control of bermudagrass. Follow this DIY article and use the recommended products, and we guarantee 100% control of bermudagrass.

Bermudagrass also known as Bahama grass, Couch grass, or Scutch is a perennial grass found worldwide. Native to harsh climates of Africa, bermudagrass can tolerate a wide range of stressful conditions from heat to drought.

Because of its durability, some lawn owners use bermudagrass as their primary turfgrass. A dense Bermudagrass turf tolerates compaction and recovers rapidly from wear injury. The only situation where Bermudagrass cannot thrive is in moderate to heavily shaded sites.

If your lawn has been invaded by bermudagrass, our step-by-step DIY treatment guide will show you exactly how to get rid of bermudagrass quickly and affordably.

Identification

Before proceeding with a treatment program, you will need to be certain that you are dealing with a bermudagrass infestation. Careless identification can lead you to using the wrong treatment methods which can be a waste of time and money. Below are the following characteristics to know what bermudagrass looks like.

bermudagrass up close

Bermudagrass is a rough-textured grass with short, blunt, or pointed edges. This grass spreads via above-ground roots, known as stolons or runners, that creep along the ground and form dense mats.
Grass blades can vary in color from light green to dark green. Depending on the type of bermudagrass they can be very hairy or barely have any hairs, but they generally have smooth surfaces. Leaf blades ranges between 1 - 8 inches in size long and 2 - 5 mm wide.
This grassy weed is often confused with crabgrass. The way to tell them apart is that crabgrass has a wider grass blade, brighter in color, and has a tougher texture whereas bermudagrass has more slender leaves, darker in coloration, and a softer texture. However, if bermudagrass grows for extended periods of time this soft texture can become more coarse.
As the plant matures, it will form flower stems that have 3-7 seed heads that resemble spikes with tiny pink to purplish flowers.

Use the description and image above to help you to identify whether your weed is Bermudagrass. If you are having trouble identifying the weed, contact us and we will ID the weed for you and suggest treatment options.

Inspection

Once confirmed that you are dealing with bermudagrass, you can then move on to inspection. During this phase, you will locate areas where bermudagrass is thriving and observe the conditions that are allowing it to thrive. This information will help you in knowing where to focus your herbicide application.

Bermudagrass up close for inspection

Where to Inspect

Bermudagrass are very heat, salt, and drought tolerate. As a result, this weed prefers to grows in areas with full, direct sunlight.

Common sites where this weed can be found are lawns, parks, golf courses, sports fields, and other areas that are not shaded and have proper soil drainage.

What to Look For

From late spring to summer, bermudagrass can begin to appear as low and dense turf. It will easily overtake barren or grassy areas with its aggressive stolon growth.

Treatment

Once you have inspected for bermudagrass you can move forward with treatment. When handling any pesticide be sure to wear the right personal protective equipment to cover your skin, eyes, nasal openings and mouth.

The top herbicide we recommend is Eraser 41% Glyphosate. This is a non-selective herbicide which means it will kill all foliage it comes into contact with.

Step 1: Mix and Apply

Determine how much Eraser 41% Glyphosate you need by measuring the square footage of your target area. To do this, measure the length and width in feet then multiply them together (length x width = square footage).

For spot treatments, use 2 1/2 oz. (5 Tbs) of Eraser 41% Glyphosate per gallon of water to treat an area approximately 300 sq. ft.

Mix and apply this product with a handheld pump sprayer for better control.

Once the product is well-mixed in your sprayer, apply the product to the bermudagrass using a fan nozzle setting.

Spot-treat any weed you have found during your inspection. Use a fan or cone spray pattern to ensure the leaves are fully coated, and spray the weed to the point of wet but not runoff.

Even though Eraser 41% Glyphosate is non-selective, you can protect desired plants by creating a barrier with a cardboard box when spraying.

Be sure to spray on calm days when temperatures are not too hot and when wind speeds are low to minimize drift.

Step 2: Reapply if Needed

Most treated weeds usually show initial symptoms in 2-4 days and complete kill in 1-2 weeks.

If bermudagrass is still occuring then you can make a second application when 4 weeks have passed after the first application.

Complete control may require repeated applications.

If you’re spraying bermudagrass in turf, the surrounding grass may be injured and may need to be reseeded.

Prevention

Once bermudagrass has been eliminated from your property, you will need to implement some preventative measures which will ensure that this weed does not return.

Mowing to prevent Bermudagrass

We recommend you promote the health of your turf to reduce the conducive conditions that allow weeds and disease to take hold. Mow your grass at proper intervals to maintain a thick growing density. A lawn dense with taller trimmed grass is better able to choke out weeds and other unwanted grasses and prevent them from establishing.
Reduce the shade cast on your lawn by trimming overgrown shrubbery and tree branches, rake away leaf litter and pick up any debris, and employ a proper watering schedule to provide the local grass with enough water to strengthen its roots, but not so much that will encourage weeds. Many grasses require 1 inch of water every week. Apply the water all at once in the morning so it has time to seep into the ground without evaporating in the sun.