Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) is a warm-season perennial grass known for its aggressive growth. While cultivated globally for hardiness, it is considered a highly invasive weed in non-native landscapes, often outcompeting desirable plants and turf species. This grass originated in Africa, not Bermuda, and has spread throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Controlling this resilient, fast-spreading plant requires understanding its growth habits.
How Bermuda Grass Spreads Aggressively
The invasive nature of Bermuda grass stems from its dual structure. This grass spreads rapidly through both above-ground runners (stolons) and below-ground runners (rhizomes). Stolons are horizontal stems that creep along the soil surface, rooting at the nodes to form new plants. Under ideal conditions, this network can extend several inches per week during peak summer growth.
Rhizomes are subterranean stems that mirror the stolons beneath the soil. These underground runners produce new shoots, creating a deep root system that anchors the plant and stores energy. Physical removal is difficult because any small, remaining segment of a rhizome can sprout a new plant, allowing the grass to survive surface damage and drought.
While vegetative runners are the primary method of invasion, Bermuda grass also spreads through seeds. Seedheads can disperse and germinate, especially in common or unhybridized varieties. This allows the grass to rapidly colonize new areas, often forming a dense mat that chokes out competing vegetation.
Effective Strategies for Control and Removal
Eliminating an established Bermuda grass invasion requires persistent and multi-faceted intervention due to its extensive underground network. One non-chemical method is physical removal, which demands meticulous attention to detail. When digging, it is paramount to remove all stolons and every piece of rhizome, which can be buried up to 6 inches deep in the soil.
Even a small, remaining rhizome fragment can regenerate an entire new plant, making the process labor-intensive and slow. For larger areas, soil solarization can be employed, which involves covering the area with a clear plastic sheet during the hottest months of the year. This process heats the soil, but it may take at least six weeks to be effective. Solarization often only suppresses the grass, as the deepest rhizomes may survive the heat.
Chemical control is often necessary for severe infestations, typically utilizing non-selective, systemic herbicides such as glyphosate. The herbicide must be applied when the grass is actively growing to ensure the chemical is fully transported down into the rhizomes. A single application is rarely sufficient; experts recommend repeating the cycle of watering, allowing growth, and applying herbicide two to three times to exhaust the plant’s energy reserves.
Cultural practices are also important for containing spread. Installing a solid landscape barrier or edging, such as metal or concrete, between a lawn and garden beds can slow the horizontal creep of the stolons and rhizomes. Limiting the use of nitrogen fertilizer in unwanted areas can reduce its vigorous growth rate.
Contexts Where Bermuda Grass Is Desirable
Despite its reputation as a difficult weed, Bermuda grass is highly valued in specific settings. Its fast growth rate and high durability make it the preferred turf for areas that receive intense, heavy use, such as sports fields, golf course fairways, and public parks. It can quickly recover from damage that would destroy less resilient grasses.
The grass exhibits exceptional heat and drought tolerance, a major advantage in warm climates, particularly across the Southern United States. Its deep and extensive root system allows it to efficiently access moisture and survive prolonged periods without water. This makes it a sustainable choice for minimizing irrigation needs. Beyond turf, its dense growth habit is useful for erosion control, helping to stabilize soil on slopes and along coastal areas.