Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) is a popular, aggressive warm-season turf renowned for its ability to withstand high heat and heavy use. Homeowners are often drawn to its durability and lush appearance, but they frequently question its tactile quality. The texture of a Bermuda lawn is not fixed; it depends heavily on the specific cultivar planted and the ongoing maintenance practices applied to the turf.
The Texture Reality of Bermuda Grass
When properly maintained, Bermuda grass has a fine texture, creating a dense, carpet-like feel underfoot. Hybrid varieties, commonly used on golf courses and sports fields, are bred specifically for this fine-bladed characteristic and thick growth habit. This high density gives a healthy Bermuda lawn its plush, springy softness.
This soft texture is quickly lost if the grass is allowed to grow too tall between cuts. Neglected Bermuda grass develops a “stemmy” or “bushy” appearance, exposing the wiry, tougher stems. This results in a prickly or coarse feel, which is the primary complaint from homeowners who do not maintain a strict mowing schedule.
Structural Factors Influencing Feel
The feel of Bermuda grass is directly tied to its biological structure. The leaf blades of hybrid cultivars are fine, often measuring between 1 and 2 millimeters in width, which contributes to the perception of softness. This narrow blade structure allows for a high density of leaves per square foot, forming a tightly woven canopy.
Bermuda grass spreads aggressively through above-ground runners (stolons) and below-ground stems (rhizomes). This dual growth system is responsible for the turf’s exceptional density and ability to recover quickly. The toughness attributed to Bermuda comes from these stolons and rhizomes, which are much harder and woodier than the fine leaf blades. They become exposed if the grass is cut too low after being allowed to grow too high.
Cultivation Practices for Maximum Softness
Achieving a soft, fine texture requires consistent cultivation practices. The most influential factor is the mowing regimen, which must be frequent and low to encourage dense, lateral growth. Hybrid Bermuda varieties feel softest when maintained between 0.5 and 1.5 inches in height, often requiring a specialized reel mower.
Even with a standard rotary mower, keeping the height between 1 and 2 inches promotes a finer texture. Waiting too long between cuts forces the removal of more than one-third of the blade height, which exposes the brown, wiry stem tissue and causes scalping. Frequent mowing prevents stem exposure and encourages the grass to produce new, fine leaf blades horizontally.
Thatch Management
Management of thatch is another important practice. Thatch is the layer of dead organic material that accumulates between the green blades and the soil surface. Excessive thatch creates a spongy, uneven feel and prevents water and nutrients from reaching the roots. Verticutting or dethatching removes this layer, forcing the grass to grow tighter and exposing the fine, soft blades at the surface.
Nutrient Balance
Proper nutrient balance, particularly the application of nitrogen, promotes the vigorous growth required for maximum softness. Nitrogen encourages lateral spread and the production of leaf tissue over coarse stem growth. Consistent, light applications of fertilizer throughout the growing season support the high metabolic rate needed to maintain a dense, fine-textured lawn at a low height.
Comparing Bermuda’s Feel to Other Common Grasses
To understand Bermuda’s texture, compare it to other common turfgrasses. Many consider Zoysia grass to have superior softness, often described as a plush, cushiony carpet. Zoysia achieves this feel through exceptional density and blades that, while sometimes slightly wider than hybrid Bermuda, are less abrasive. In contrast, St. Augustine grass is characterized by broad, coarse blades, which can measure 8 to 9 millimeters in width, giving it a rougher appearance. Its texture is coarser than common Bermuda varieties, making it unsuitable for those prioritizing softness.
Cool-season grasses like Tall Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass offer a different feel. Tall Fescue has wide, flat blades that can be coarse and spiky, while Kentucky Bluegrass features finer, softer blades. However, these cool-season grasses generally lack the dense, tightly woven, mat-like texture that a well-maintained warm-season grass like Bermuda or Zoysia provides.