Bermuda grass is one of the most popularturf grassesavailable.
It is a go-to ground cover for athletic fields, golf courses and large lawns.
It is called by other names such as couch grass.
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It is one of the most accessible, easy to grow and versatile grass types available.
What does bermuda grass look like?
This grass can grow to a maximum of 1.5ft and is known for its short and flat leaves.
It will bear clustered spikelets at the tips of its green stems.
In warm and temperate climates, the Bermuda grass will remain green even during the cold season.
Some variants can even tolerate longer winter periods.
There is a section below that will show what Bermuda grass looks like.
What are the benefits of Bermuda grass?
For one, Bermuda is also cultivated and developed as forage and pasture grass because of its natural properties.
There are unknown benefits of Bermuda grass that goes beyond gardening.
I mean, did you know that this grass is also medicinal?
In India, the Bermuda grass is used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
These are crude protein, Vitamins A and C, potassium, phosphorus, calcium and fiber.
Bermuda grass pictures
It is called by many names such as couch grass and devils grass.
But in a nutshell, it could only boil down to two types: seeded and hybrid.
And new cultivars have developed winter hardiness.
Bermuda types with the name Tif on it are the most common varieties of hybrid Bermuda grass.
You would also find that some hybrids do not generally mean easier to grow and easier to maintain.
In way warmer temperatures like Arizona and Georgia, it could have poorer growth quality.
It is dense and has high recuperative potential.
It is fast in everything: root establishment, growth rate, and spreading.
It is one of toughest hybrid Bermuda out there.
It is more preferred for larger pasture lands because of these characteristics.
It was engineered with a gamma mutant from its cousin Midiron.
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It cannot be produced with seeds, only through vegetative propagation.
Tifway II Bermuda grass
It is a Tifway mutant known to be more frost and nematode tolerant.
It will thrive well in many soil types but it will require different watering intervals.
While it is very attractive, it is also high maintenance.
It produces a dense, dark green turf that is resistant to wear and drought.
It also has a low thatching rate.
It is also relatively low maintenance and it is cost-efficient.
It also has an improved version called the Sahara II.
Yukon Bermuda grass
This one was specifically genetically engineered by the Oklahoma State University Turfgrass Research Team.
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It was made as a turf grass for any garden theme along tree lines and fairways.
It is one of those shade tolerant Bermuda grass and can be good at cooler temperatures.
This means that it will not immediately grow dormant as soon as the winter season sets in.
More than this, it is also relatively disease and spring dead spot resistant.
It is popular as turf grass for golf courses.
It can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions.
Read also:What is hay?
With its fine texture, it could produce a glossy, thick, deep green turf in no time.
It is a warm season grass seed that is fast-growing both in coverage and in establishing roots.
It is a very stable turf grass, resembling hybrid characteristics such as pest and drought resistance.
It has fast germination and growth phase and is low-maintenance.
Its most popular blends are Maya, Transcontinental and Blackjack.
It is an excellent pasture grass and for hay production.
It does not produce many seeds but it is known for being hardy in winter.
Texas Bermuda grass
As the name implies, this improved variety is made for Texas like temperatures.
It is sought-after for its endurance, toughness when it comes to drought and wear.
It can grow in different soil types and also has high recuperative potential.
It is also known for its superior dark green color and dense turf quality.
Yuma Bermuda grass
It is one of the most dense-growing Bermuda available.
It was cultivated from good forage and pasture grasses.
It has high drought resistance ability and is tolerant with acidic and salty soils.
It is both available as sod and seed.
It requires a lot of sun and could grow dormant below 60 degrees.
Mohawk bermuda grass
This one is considered an advanced synthetic key in seeded Bermuda.
It has fine-textured, green leaves that can tolerate colder temperatures (up to low winter temperatures).
It was named for Mohawk Valley in Arizona where it was developed.
Triangle Blend Bermuda grass
It is an improved seed grass known for its not so fine texture.
It is a fast-growing Bermuda that could tolerate both cold and drought.
It is also well-adapted to various soil and climate conditions thanks to its genetic blend.
It is also a good choice because it is cheap.
Tiflawn
It is considered as a perennial sod and is a hybrid.
It is grown from seeds known for its fast growth rate and root establishment.
It has paler green leaves, not so fine texture and its relatively low growing.
It is drought and wear tolerance with very high recuperative potential.
The only downside is that it is vulnerable to Bermuda termites.
Under lower nitrogen soils, it maintains its dark green color.
It is resistant to both spring blank spots and mole crickets.
Is Bermuda a good grass?
Needless to say, Bermuda is a good grass for many reasons.
Two, it has high tolerance for many diseases.
Three, it can even grow in coastal areas and hard, sandy soils.
Four, it comes with many cultivars and varieties that you could choose from.
Most importantly, Bermuda is functional.
Aside from its beautifying component, it is also good as forage grass.
So all in all, yes, Bermuda is a good grass.
Its fast creeping, fine leaves and rhizomes roots can be sown year-round.
However, compared to hybrid Bermuda, common Bermuda is still easier and cheaper to maintain.
The bottom line is, it is attractive, functional and easy to grow.
