Has your Brandon, Valrico, Riverview, Plant City or Tampa lawn been invaded by wild Bermuda grass? If so, welcome to the South Florida lawn care club and don’t get discouraged. There are effective ways Floridians may lower the boom on Bermuda grass. And they all start with getting know the enemy.
It is widely accepted that wild Bermuda grass has been a bane to America’s homeowners since the 1700s. Over the years it has been known by many names, including colorful ones like Devil’s grass and dog’s tooth. But no matter what you decide to call it, one thing is undeniable. This persistent perennial has a penchant for temperatures above 68 degrees Fahrenheit and basking in the full brunt of the sun’s rays.
It’s also rather easy going when it comes to putting down roots, stolons, rhizomes and seed heads. So if left unchallenged, it could easily grow to depths of more than 24-inches and heights of 18-inches. Plus, it can spread out faster than a juicy rumor let loose in a high school cafeteria at lunch time. So let’s move on and discuss a few lawn care tips designed to help get the pesky, wild weed under control.
In our experience, monthly lawn spraying is a South Florida homeowner’s first line of defense against wild Bermuda grass. Depending on the season, the situation may call for a pre-emergent or non-selective herbicide. One of the herbicides often used in the battle is sethoxydim. Although we have heard of others like Atrazine, Glyphosate and organic, clove oil based herbicides being used in the fight.
Herbicides are not the only option available to South Floridians looking to kill the wily weed. Some homeowners have had success with using thick mulch, fabric barriers, stripping, mowing and digging techniques. To learn more about these techniques and how our South Florida lawn care experts traditionally lower the boom on Bermuda grass, please contact us today.
