Bermudagrass

Latin Name: Cynodon dactylon L. Pers and Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers x Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy

Growth Habit: Rhizomatous and Stoloniferous

Vernation: Folded

Leaf: Smooth or hairy on both surfaces

Ligule: Fringe of hairs

Auricles: Absent

Inflorescence: Panicle with 2-9 spicate branches arranged in a digitate manner at the apex of the culm

Description: Bermudagrass is a warm-season, fine-textured turfgrass that spreads laterally by rhizomes and stolons. It is an extremely drought-hardy, durable, and versatile turfgrass that can be used in many settings included golf courses, athletic fields, home lawns, and as utility turf. It is relatively quick to establish by seed or sprigs and is most notably known for its superior traffic tolerance and quick recuperative potential. These facts, combined with its tolerance to low mowing heights, make it ideal for golf course and athletic turf as well as any other areas that may be heavily trafficked.

Common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) varieties often have coarse leaf texture and light green color. However, improvements in common bermudagrass appearance have been achieved through breeding efforts, and there are many improved varieties available on the market that have finer leaf texture, darker color, and improved density. These varieties are most often planted by seed, but some improved varieties are also available as sod (Princess, for example).

In addition to seeded varieties of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., there are also hybrid bermudagrass varieties (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. x Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy) available that can only be planted as sod or sprigs. These varieties are typically crosses between common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) and African bermudagrass (Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy). The resulting inter-specific progeny of these crosses often have superior aesthetics including fine leaf texture, improved density, dark green color and are typically the preferred choice for golf courses, athletic fields, and some home lawns. However, seed of these interspecific crosses is often sterile, and therefore hybrid bermudagrass varieties must be planted vegetatively by sod or sprigs. This is also the case with the ultradwarf varieties, which are most commonly used on golf course putting greens due to their ability to tolerate extremely low mowing heights (≤0.125 inches).

Strengths: Drought tolerance, heat tolerance, deep rooting potential, durability, good recuperative potential, salinity tolerance, rapid establishment rate, and low disease potential.

Weaknesses: Shade tolerance, frequent mowing requirement and a moderate to high fertilization requirement.

Recommended Mowing Height: Home Lawns: 1-2 inches (Rotary mower); Golf and Athletic Turf: 0.75 to 1 inch (Reel mower); Dwarfs & Ultra-dwarfs: ≤ 0.15 inches (Reel mower)

Recommended Mowing Frequency: Home Lawns: Weekly using a rotary mower; Golf and Athletic Turf: Daily to weekly using a rotary or reel mower; Putting Greens: Daily using a reel mower.

Fertilization Requirements: 0.5 to 1 lb N per 1,000 ft² per month during the summer growing season; 2 to 6 total lbs N per 1,000 ft² per year. Single application rates should range from 0.5 to 1 lb of N per 1,000 ft².