What Kills Bermuda Grass? (4 Easy Methods to Use)

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Bermuda grass might have originally come from Africa, but you should know that it can easily grow in hardiness zones from 7 through 10 across the country.

It is a grassy weed that most people leave because it is good for their lawns. However, you should know that there are ways to kill the Bermuda grass if you want.

One of the things that you should know about Bermuda grass is that it spreads very quickly. Before you know it, the grass is going to spread everywhere.

If you want to make sure that your garden remains neat and clean and you want adequate space for growing other plants and trees, it’s important that you learn how to kill the Bermuda grass.

Thankfully, there are a number of different strategies that you can use to kill the Bermuda grass. If you are trying to get rid of the Bermuda grass in your lawn, there are several effective options available to you.

Here are just some of the best methods that you can use to get rid of Bermuda grass.

1 – Solarization

One of the least labor-intensive ways to kill the Bermuda grass in your lawn and control its spread is to use solarization. Despite requiring so little labor, you should know that solarization is incredibly effective at controlling the spread of Bermuda grass.

This method for controlling the spread of Bermuda grass will work best when the temperatures are high, so it’s suitable during the summer months.

Keep in mind that solarization is not just going to kill the grass, but it will also get rid of the underground stolons. You just have to water the Bermuda grass like you normally would, then just lay down a clear tarp made of plastic over the grass.

Make sure that the entire lawn is covered where the Bermuda grass grows.

You might want to consider using bricks or rocks to weigh down the edges of the tarp and keep it in place. The rays of the sun are going to pass through the plastic tarp, and it’s going to literally “bake” the soil underneath.

This is an effective way to not just kill the Bermuda grass, but you can also get rid of other plants or weeds that are growing in your garden too.

However, you need to understand that this procedure requires a considerable amount of patience. It is going to take around four weeks for the grass to effectively die.

Once a month has elapsed, you can take off the tarp. You can then remove all of the dead grass and the plants and put them together to decompose.

2 – Mulching

Another effective way to not just kill Bermuda grass but to also enrich the soil at the same time is to use mulching.

Mulching is a great way to not just kill the grass, but it will also help you prepare the area for replanting. The first step you need to take is to properly cover the Bermuda grass with any landscape fabric.

If you are going to use more than one layer of fabric, it is important that you overlap the edges so that there are no gaps in between.

Once you are done with the covering, you will want to lay down eight inches of bark or wood chips. Any other mulching material is also going to do the trick. It must be laid down properly over the landscaping fabric.

Once you are done, just give it a few days. A combination of the pressure, the heat, and the darkness is going to effectively kill the Bermuda grass. Once you are done, you can clean up the area and get it ready for replanting.

3 – Cultivation

You should know that Bermuda grass generally grows best when it is regularlywatered and cultivated. This type of grass is incapable of tolerating the high heat or the excessively dry conditions.

When there is a considerably prolonged period of dry weather, you might want to consider using a garden spade or a rototiller to dig up and break the garden.

You need to dig deep enough so that you are able to disrupt the roots of the Bermuda grass. Ideally, this is around six inches in depth.

Then, you should wait a couple of weeks to allow the roots and the grass to dry out completely and eventually die. Then, you must repeat the entire process of cultivation all over again.

You have to keep a close eye on the area and look for any signs of regrowth, then remove it when you notice any signs of regrowth. Ideally, you will have to repeat this process at least two or three times to completely get rid of the Bermuda grass.

4 – Herbicides

Last but not the least, you can always use herbicides to kill the Bermuda grass. Herbicides are generally not recommended because they are incredibly toxic.

However, if you are looking for an efficient and quick way to kill the Bermuda grass and get it off your property, you should know that it’s a pretty effective method.

Before you decide to spray herbicides on your grass, it is important that you wear a mask. Ideally, you should consider using an herbicide that comes with glyphosate.

These ones have a relatively low residual effect. You will want that if you are going to plant trees in your garden.

To apply the herbicides properly, you have to wait until the grass grows to a height of at least six inches.

This will free up an adequate amount of surface area that the grass needs to absorb the herbicide properly. You have to water the grass just like you normally would, and then spray the herbicide all over the area.

Make sure you go through the manufacturer’s instructions on how to administer the herbicide. These are just some of the most effective ways to kill the Bermuda grass from your lawn.

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