5 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Bermuda Grass (Stop it From Spreading)

Bermuda grass is vigorous and more vibrant than most grass species, like fescue. It is resistant to conditions such as drought, heat, and snow, and this is why you will find Bermuda grass growing even when other grass species go into dormancy during winter.

Bermuda grass produces through seeds and a vigorous root system that has rhizomes and this makes it spread faster and wider. When allowed to grow alongside other grass species, Bermuda grass will overgrow them, and by the time you realize it, it will have overtaken the whole lawn. 

Removing Bermuda grass can be very challenging because of the widespread root system and the rhizomes. The process needs proper planning that entails killing the plant and removing the root system. 

There are several ways of getting rid of these unwanted plant species from your lawn. Such methods include burning with a heat gun, treating with chemical herbicides, scooping by hand, and solarizing, among many others. But for those of us who are conscious of the welfare of our environment, you can kill Bermuda grass naturally with these easy and simple hacks. 

How do you kill Bermuda grass naturally?

We all have a responsibility to take care of the environment, failure to which we and our descendants will live to pay the consequences. Killing Bermuda grass does not have to involve any harm to the environment. 

Besides, the use of chemical herbicides contributes to the high acidity in your lawn soils, and this makes it hard for other grass types to grow. You can kill Bermuda grass naturally by; 

1. Hand pulling 

This is the best and most recommended method of killing Bermuda grass naturally. It does not in any way interfere with the atmosphere or the soil. It works by selectively getting rid of the Bermuda grass, but only when it has not spread so much on the lawn. 

To hand pull Bermuda grass, begin by watering the lawn to loosen the soil a little. Then hold the grass plants by the stem and pull it up. At the same time, use a hand trowel to scoop the root system of the Bermuda grass. 

The removal of the root system prevents the return of the grass after its removal. Fill the bare spot of the lawn with healthy grass sod or seeds.  

2. Solarizing 

Another great natural method of killing Bermuda grass is by solarizing it. It involves the use of a plastic sheet and direct sunlight. The plastic sheet acts as a magnifying lens, making the sun rays so intense to roast the grass. The heat kills the cells in the Bermuda grass plant, and the grass starts wilting and turning brown before it eventually dies. 

The only issue with this method is that it is not selective and is only applicable when the grass has overtaken larger parts of the lawn. But when the grass is growing alongside other plants, then the method is perfect because you will just cut some holes on the sheet to allow your plants to sprout on the surface. 

After the grass has completely dried, dig it up and plant a healthy grass sod on the bare part of the lawn. 

3. Burning with heat gun

Another great method of killing Bermuda grass naturally is by burning it with the use of a heat gun. It is very selective and this means it deals with the weed directly, without interfering with the other healthy grass types. 

To effectively kill the grass, bring the flame close to the grass plant to prevent burning other grasses. The intense heat produced by the heat gun kills the cells in the plant, thus killing it. Scoop the root system of Bermuda grass by the use of a hand trowel and fill the bare spots with healthy grass seeds or sod. 

4. Smothering the base

Smothering the base of the Bermuda grass works by depriving the grass of essential nutrients, water, and sunlight. At the end of it all, the Bermuda grass weathers and eventually dies, thus encouraging the growth of other, better, and healthier grass species. 

Use old cardboard panels to smother the base of the Bermuda grass to kill it. To prevent leaving any part uncovered, ensure to overlap the cardboard. The grass should be dead within a week or two, and then you can tender to the healthy grass species you want on your lawn. This method, too, is only applicable if the Bermuda grass has spread far and wide. 

5. Choking with landscaping fabric

Although slower than solarizing, choking Bermuda grass with a landscaping fabric is still a great way of killing it naturally. Start by mowing the grass so short, but do not be tempted to use the grass clippings on the lawn or anywhere on the lawn. 

Mowing the grass sort of prevents uneven bumps under the fabric. Spread the fabric carefully while overlapping the edges to prevent leaving out any space uncovered. The fabric works by preventing the grass underneath from accessing air and other essential nutrients, hence it dies within a week or two. 

Dig up the root system and discard it in a waste container. This method also comes with a disadvantage; it is not selective and can only be used where the grass has spread widely. 

How do you keep Bermuda grass from spreading?

If not dealt with at its onset, Bermuda grass can spread quickly and overtake the lawn in no time. So now the trick lies in preventing its spread if you want to keep Bermuda grass away from your lawn. 

Assuming that it has overtaken most parts, the following methods can help you prevent Bermuda grass from spreading on your lawn; 

Increasing shade

You can let your overhanging trees and plants continue growing. Even though Bermuda grass is vigorous and tougher than most grass species, it will not withstand too much shade because, just like other grasses, it needs sunlight for survival. Then finish it off by scooping it from the root system and filling the bare spots with healthy grass seeds or sods. 

Dry cultivating

The summertime is usually a season of intense heat that is ideal for killing Bermuda grass. Cultivate the grass more often to bring up the rhizomes so that they can be burnt by the intense heat. Then, avoid watering the grass at all, and this will eventually curb the spread of the grass. 

Consistent removal 

The secret to preventing the spread of Bermuda grass is to prevent its growth in the first place. You do this by consistently removing the grass from your lawn the moment you first spot it. 

What grass will take over Bermuda?

The secret to having a healthy, greene,r and thicker lawn lies in choosing the right grass species. This is because some grass species, like fescue and Zoysi,a are very weak and will not withstand the stiff competition from Bermuda grass. Such grass species will be outgrown, and in the fullness of time, the lawn will be overtaken by these notorious weeds like grass.

But some grass species, like St. Augustine and centipede, are a bit more resistant to harsh climatic conditions. These will withstand heat and therefore outgrow Bermuda grass when allowed to grow in the same lawn. 

But that does not mean that they do not need care; without appropriate lawn care, even the toughest grass species will be overtaken by Bermuda grass if not properly tended to. With this in mind, normalize mowing and watering your grass more often. Also, treat the lawn with pest and disease herbicides and feed the soil with fertilizers.