Plant Fact Sheet
BERMUDAGRASS
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.
Plant Symbol = CYDA
Contributed by: USDA NRCS Plant Materials
Program
USDA NRCS National Plant Materials Center
Beltsville, MD
Caution: This plant is considered noxious in
several states and invasive by several sources.
Please check the Noxious and Invasive portion of
PLANTS for additional information. Please
consult with your local resource specialist prior to
using.
Uses
Erosion control: Bermudagrass is used for critical
area planting (including channels and pond banks),
grassed waterways, and vegetated flumes.
Turf: This grass is suitable for lawns and public
areas, and is recommended for problem soils and
heavy traffic areas.
Livestock: Bermudagrass provides fair to good
pasture and hay with proper management. Forage
quality is dependent on soil fertility and stage of
growth.
Wildlife: Bermudagrass has forage value for deer,
geese and ducks in open, sunny areas.
Recreation: Turf types of the grass form attractive,
traffic-resistant, weed-free, and low maintenance
ground covers for areas with half to full day sun.
Status
Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State
Department of Natural Resources for this plants
current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species,
state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).
Weediness
This plant may become weedy or invasive in some
regions or habitats and may displace desirable
vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult
with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative
Extension Service office, or state natural resource or
agriculture department regarding its status and use.
Weed information is also available from the
PLANTS Web site at plants.usda.gov.
Description
Bermudagrass, is of probable Asian origin and was
documented as an important grass in the United
States by l807. It is a long-lived, warm season
perennial that spreads by rhizomes, stolons, and seed.
Stems are leafy, branched, and 4 to 6 inches tall.
Under favorable conditions, stems may be 12 to 18
inches high. Stems are short jointed. Leaves are flat
and spreading. The ligule is a circle of white hairs.
Leaves may be hairy or smooth. Seedheads are
usually in one whorl of 3 to 7 spikes, each about 1 to
2-1/2 inches long. Some robust forms may have up
to 10 spikes in 2 whorls.
Adaptation and Distribution
Although a few hardy strains of Bermudagrass persist
in areas with sub-zero winter temperatures, it has
achieved importance only in areas of relatively mild
winters. Once established on moderately deep to
deep soils, Bermudagrass maintains dense sod, nonirrigated, with 16 inches of rainfall. It can withstand
sedimentation and long periods of inundation. It
prefers full sun and can grow rapidly at air
temperatures exceeding 100F.
Bermudagrass prefers deep soils but produces well on
moderately shallow sites under irrigation and good
management. It persists on poor soils but require
high nitrogen levels for best appearance. It
withstands pH ranges from about 5.0 to 8.5 and is
boron tolerant. It tolerates saline soils with up to 18
millimhos of electrical conductivity in the soil
solution.
Plant Materials <http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/>
Plant Fact Sheet/Guide Coordination Page <http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/intranet/pfs.html>
National Plant Data Center <http://npdc.usda.gov>
Bermudagrass is distributed throughout the majority
of the United States. For a current distribution map,
please consult the Plant Profile page for this species
on the PLANTS Website.
Establishment
Stands may be established by use of seed, sprigs, or
plugs planted during mid-spring to mid-summer
followed by frequent applications of fertilizer and
water. Early planting is most important in areas of
marginal adaptability.
Beds for seeding or planting should be firm, smooth,
and free of weed seed. For turf plantings, absolute
smoothness is necessary for close mowing following
establishment. Seed, sprigs, or plugs should be
placed into moist soil.
For pasture or hay, drill 3 pounds pure live seed per
acre at 1/2 inch depth or less. For turf, use 10 pounds
of seed per acre. Higher seeding rates are advisable
if seed must be broadcast. If using sprigs, broadcast
by hand or with hydro-equipment. Punching and
irrigation, if needed, must be done immediately
following spreading to keep the sprigs from drying
out. Surface soil moisture must be kept high while
roots and shoots develop at the sprig nodes.
Bermudagrass will persist as a weed-free ground
cover on soils of moderate to high water-holding
capacity. Where desirable and permissible, midwinter controlled burning can be used to reduce
thatch. Most herbicides used at recommended rates
with reasonable care can be used to control
undesirable plants without destroying fully
established Bermudagrass. Applications of nitrogen
every 2 to 5 years will be needed to maintain
vigorous stands on most sites.
Both pasture and hay require good rainfall and heavy
fertilizer application for high yield and quality.
Thirty to forty pounds of nitrogen should be applied
in split increments for each ton of anticipated dry
forage yield. Highest yields are obtained on good
soils in areas of high average annual temperature
with ample water. Harvest or graze at 3 to 4 week
intervals for best yields of total digestible nutrient
and protein.
Pests and Potential Problems
Several white grubs are known to feed on the root
system, however they are normally not a major pest.
Fifteen bushels of sprigs per acre disk punched or
covered with 1-1/2 inches of soil followed by
irrigation as needed ordinarily gives fully established
stands in one growing season. On saline soils
planting in the side of furrows is desirable so salts
will accumulate on the ridges above grass rows.
Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and
area of origin)
Santa Ana, Tifway, Tifgreen, Tifdwarf,
Tufcote, Brazos, Quickstand, Coastal,
Coastcross-1, and Midland. All form dense, finetextured, weed-free sods and tolerate drought, close
mowing and heavy traffic, even on problem soils.
Seeds, springs, and sod are all commercially
available.
Use of sod rolls or plugs cut from sod is often a
preferred method of establishing turf-type Bermuda
on critical sites. Plugs of 3 inch diameter planted on
15 to 18 inch centers will ordinarily establish
complete cover in 1 growing season with adequate
fertilizer, moisture and half-day to full sun.
Complete sodding is preferred for very critical areas
or where immediate foot traffic is contemplated.
Care immediately following planting is less critical
on plantings of sod or plugs than turf-type sprigs.
Control
Please contact your local agricultural extension
specialist or county weed specialist to learn what
works best in your area and how to use it safely.
Always read label and safety instructions for each
control method. Trade names and control measures
appear in this document only to provide specific
information. USDA, NRCS does not guarantee or
warranty the products and control methods named,
and other products may be equally effective.
Management
High quality turf will require frequent very low
mowing, fertilizer, and water for vigorous growth.
Clippings must be removed. A sharp reel-type
mower will avoid unsightly scalping. Good to fair
quality turf can be maintained on short water and low
fertilizer schedules, thereby reducing mowing
frequency.
Prepared By & Species Coordinator:
USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program
Edited: 10Aug2000 JLK; 05jun06 jsp
For more information about this and other plants, please contact
your local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the
PLANTS Web site<http://plants.usda.gov> or the Plant Materials
Program Web site <http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov>
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