Last Updated on December 15, 2021 by Grow with Bovees
Bermuda grass can be a gardener’s worst nightmare if they do not want to grow this specific grass, as this grass can grow in basically any condition and is extremely challenging to get rid of.
But to some other gardeners, this grass is lovely and is the best grass to have as a lawn.
So, is Bermuda grass good or bad?
Bermuda grass can be considered an invasive plant species when it grows where it is not wanted, but if the grass is wanted and correctly maintained, it can be a really lovely grass to have as a lawn. So, this grass is neither good nor bad; it just depends on how you take care of it.
Read on to find out the pros and cons of Bermuda grass that you should know before you decide on growing this grass as your lawn.
We will also go over how to maintain this grass and what to do if it starts getting out of hand.
Is Bermuda Grass Good Or Bad?
Bermuda grass is neither bad grass nor good grass; how the grass looks and behaves will depend on how you look after it.
Bermuda grass was said to be bad grass as it was believed to take a lot of water to keep this grass green. But
Bermuda grass is drought-tolerant, and it can withstand not getting water for longer than other grass types.
Bermuda grass was also considered “bad” as it was seen as invasive grass due to its fast growth, but this grass can be great if you keep on top of it.
Bermuda grass can become quite the handful if you do not maintain it correctly, but this grass can be a lovely grass to use as your lawn.
To understand this grass better and see what the good and the bad are, we need to look at and go through all the pros and cons of Bermuda grass.
Pros Of Bermuda Grass
Some pros come with Bermuda grass that makes this type of grass desirable to grow in many different spaces. The pros of growing this grass include the overall toughness of this grass.
This grass is highly durable to foot traffic and is extremely heat tolerant, meaning Bermuda grass can withstand extremely high temperatures longer and better than other grass types.
Bermuda grass also has a high resistance to many common diseases that may plague other grass types. Bermuda grass is not 100% impervious to all diseases, but it is rare for this grass to fall prey to them.
If it contracts a disease, it will only get a severe disease that will affect its leaves and roots.
But if you take care of your Bermuda grass, it will be easy to keep it disease-free.
Another benefit to growing Bermuda grass is that it roots deep, securing the grass into the soil, so it is established well and will not be pulled out easily.
Bermuda grass is tolerant of salinity; this means that this grass can be planted on properties near the sea. Bermuda grass grows extremely thick and competes well with other plants, making it weed resistant, so you can put away your lightweight weed eater.
Even though Bermuda grass has all these benefits, there are some cons that you should consider with this grass.
Cons Of Bermuda Grass
Some cons of Bermuda grass are that this grass type is exceptionally fast-growing, and you will need to mow the Bermuda grass frequently to keep the grass at a manageable length.
So, you need to create a mowing schedule, and you need to stick to it; otherwise, the grass can overrun your garden and become unmanageable, especially over the growing season.
Bermuda grass needs to be fertilized regularly, as it is a fast-growing grass; it will go through a lot of nutrients every day that need to be replenished to keep the grass healthy.
It is recommended that you fertilize your Bermuda grass once a month, and this can get expensive.
Bermuda grass has a very low shade tolerance when compared to most other grass types, meaning that if you plant Bermuda grass in an area that is not full sun, then the grass may die quite quickly.
If you want to plant this grass, you cannot plant it anywhere near buildings or trees that may cause shade.
Growing Bermuda grass requires a lot more maintenance than other grass types.
The reason for this is that the grass grows very fast and can quickly take over different areas of your garden where you do not want it to grow, like your flower beds.
And as this grass is highly competitive with other plants, if it gets into your flower beds, then your other plants may die.
How To Manage Bermuda Grass
To help ensure you can manage your Bermuda grass, you need to do regular maintenance in your garden where the grass grows.
This regular maintenance will need to include mechanical and chemical edging, especially during the growing season of this grass, as this is when the grass will creep out of bounds both below and above the ground.
An easy way to do this that many landscapers and homeowners are using is to use a lawn edger to create crisp edges on the borders of the lawn and driveways.
They usually follow this with a glyphosate weed killer to help stop Bermuda grass shoots from popping up in mulched flower beds and other non-lawn areas like cracked pavements.
After the edging is sorted, the grass needs to be fertilized to help the Bermuda grass stay healthy.
And then, the grass needs to be left for at least three days to let the fertilizer settle; once this time is up, you can mow the grass.
If your neighbors are struggling with your Bermuda grass creeping into their garden, and they do not want Bermuda grass, then they will have a challenge on their hands.
All types of organic and conventional chemical control solutions that have a chance against Bermuda grass will also kill other types of lawn grass.
The task of preventing Bermuda grass from growing in their lawns will never finish.
Is Bermuda Grass Good As A Lawn?
Even though Bermuda grass is a fast-growing and spreading grass that can be aggressive and steal nutrients away from other plants, this grass is commonly used as grass for golf courses, recreation spaces, and even lawns.
Bermuda grass does require a lot of maintenance, and you need to be sure that it is the grass you want for your lawn as it is challenging to get rid of, and you may need to employ a lawn care professional, but this grass grows into lovely, luscious grass that will be difficult to resist walking barefoot on.
Conclusion
Bermuda grass is a hardy but high-maintenance grass to have in your garden. This grass does not have a huge impact on the environment if you look after it correctly and stop it from spreading to other areas that the grass should not grow in. Taking on Bermuda grass as your lawn can be difficult, but it can be rewarding too. You may want to consider using Zoysia grass instead, you will certainly avoid a lot of headaches!
