As you might know already, there are several types of grass you can choose from to spruce up the ground of your home or your business. Different grass types have different maintenance needs and will affect the appearance of your lawn in different ways.
If you are looking for a lush and resilient ground, that tolerates well the heat and dry periods, Bermuda grass might be your best choice.
Since there are so many options available to you, before making your final decision, you should be aware of the benefits and drawbacks of planting Bermuda grass. To help you get information about all the Bermuda grass pros and cons, I put together this essential guide, designed to help you in making up your mind.
Check out my full ultimate guide for Bermuda Grass.
What Is Bermuda Grass?
Bermuda grass is a popular choice of grass for many, as it can stand warmer climates and tolerate moderate to heavy traffic.
There are several theories concerning where the name came from.
One has to deal with the fact that even if originally from India and Africa, this grass was introduced to North America passing via Bermuda. Others say that Bermuda grass invaded the Bermuda area and quickly grew into a pest, which is why it is also known as the Devil’s Grass.
Bermuda Grass is known for requiring constant and abundant sunlight to grow healthily, therefore it is best suited to tropical and subtropical climates. In such conditions, this grass will be able to thrive, either alone or mixed with other varieties of grass seeds.
However, because it tends to be a rather durable type of grass, with the right maintenance, Bermuda grass will be able to handle even colder weather climates. Today, you can grow it from grass seed, sod, or even grass plugs.
This type of grass is also characterized by a long root system, that allows it to grow in almost all soil conditions. Additionally, it has a fast recovery period, making it suitable for a range of applications such as sports fields and fairways, among others.
So now that you have a clear idea of what this grass type is, let’s look deeper into what are the benefits and drawbacks of planting Bermuda grass.
Check out my article on St Augustine versus Bermuda Grass.
The Pros Of Bermuda Grass
There are several advantages to planting Bermuda grass. One of the main ones is that this type of grass is extremely easy to maintain and attractive to the eye.
It is also quite durable and has an excellent recovery rate, which makes it suitable to be planted even in areas of high traffic. Bermuda is also a rather cheap grass seed, compared to others.
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It Is Resilient
Bermuda grass can withstand high traffic without easily wearing out. This is why it is often used on golf courses, athletic fields, or soccer fields.
Bermuda grass doesn’t tear up easily and when it does, it has the great advantage of recovering quite quickly. Additionally, it can withstand periods of droughts better than any other type of grass, meaning that it is suitable even to extremely warm temperatures.
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It Is Easy To Grow
As long as you are providing the right conditions to your Bermuda grass, it will take little maintenance to make it thrive. You should ensure it gets enough sunshine, better if planted in a place with little or no shade and you are pretty much set.
Bermuda grass is known for taking care of itself most of the time.
You won’t need as many fertilizers as with other types of grass nor as much water. The fact that it is easy to grow can also mean more frequent morning, as you’ll read in the section about the drawbacks of this grass type.
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It Is Rather Cheap
Compared to other grass seeds, Bermuda grass is not as expensive. Also, since it requires minimal maintenance, it won’t cost you as much as other grass types that require more watering and fertilization.
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It Can Grow On Nearly All Soil Types
Bermuda grass is resilient but also adaptable to different types of soils. This also explains its popularity.
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It Can Withstand The Heat
Bermuda grass originated in warm areas, like India and Africa. This means that it is made to thrive in warm climates, and that will easily tolerate droughts.
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It Can Be Blended With Other Seeds
If you are looking to create a unique lawn, Bermuda grass might be a great choice for you, as it allows you to blend it with other seeds, for creative and unique results.
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Pest Damage Is Not A Major Issue
When it comes to Bermuda grass, you can be sure that with the right amount of sunlight, your grass will grow abundant without any major issues such as pest damage. Its resistance also means that it will withstand attacks from pests quite easily, without any major repercussions.
Sounds like your dream lawn?
Well, the reality is that it is not as great as you might be thinking by now. This is why, now that you know all the advantages of Bermuda grass, you should take a good look at the drawbacks that come with planting this type of grass.
Indeed, only with complete information on hand will you be able to make the right decision in terms of planting the most suitable lawn.
Check out my full ultimate guide for Bermuda Grass.
The Cons Of Bermuda Grass
Despite being easy to maintain and a popular choice for a variety of uses, Bermuda grass does come with some disadvantages that are worth noting, especially before deciding to plant it. Pay attention to this section to find out whether this grass type suits you or not.
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It Does Not Tolerate Cold Very Well
I’ve said that Bermuda grass is known for its resilience, but the reality is that it is a grass type that works much better in extremely hot climates than in cold ones.
Indeed, this grass might lose its color and lush appearance in several consecutive days of cold weather.
You might avoid this by overseeding your grass before and during the winter, but if you are living in a climate that is cold all year long, Bermuda grass might not be for you.
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It Is Quite Aggressive
I mentioned that Bermuda grass is also known as Devil’s grass because it tends to grow quickly and widely. If you are thinking about planting it in your garden, you’ll need to keep an eye on it, or it might creep on flower beds, sidewalks, or even to your neighbor’s lawn.
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You’ll Need to Mow It
Yes, I mentioned that Bermuda grass is easy to maintain with little care, but because of its aggressiveness, you’ll need to mow it quite frequently, to avoid it growing too much and too fast.
You might also want to spray it with some lawn fungus control to avoid it spreading too much around your garden in places you don’t want it to grow.
However, you’ll still need to mow your lawn once a week. If you can’t handle mowing your lawn at least once a week, you should consider planting another type of grass.
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It Requires A Lot Of Sunlight
Bermuda grass doesn’t require that much care but if there was only one thing you should worry about when planting this grass, that would be sunlight. Without an adequate amount of sunlight, this grass will not survive, no matter how much care you’ll put into making it grow.
Under the shade, Bermuda grass becomes thin and patchy.
If you have trees or if you know you are considering to plant Bermuda grass in a place with a lot of shade, consider changing grass type.
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It Tends To Be Susceptible to Nematode Damage
Even if some nematodes are beneficial to plants, others are harmful and might affect other plants you have in your garden. To avoid a nematode attack on your lawn, amend your soil with organic matter before planting your Bermuda grass.
Inspect your lawn for damage: look for dry parches and insects frequently and take care of any issues your lawn might have as quickly as possible.
Check out my article on St Augustine versus Bermuda Grass.
The Bottom Line
If you are looking for lush and green grass, Bermuda grass is the right choice for you, if that you can ensure it gets enough sunlight and that you are planting it in a rather warm climate.
Hopefully, now that you have a clearer idea of the Bermuda grass pros and cons, you should be able to make an informed decision on whether or not it is the right grass type for your lawn or not. As a rule of thumb, if the advantages outweigh the drawbacks for you, go on with planting Bermuda Grass!
Remember that even if Bermuda grass is a very popular choice for different situations and uses, it is not a one size fits all. As you might have noticed, you’ll have to comply with several conditions before deciding to plant it.
If you feel like you can deal with frequent mowing and that you have the right weather conditions for this grass type, don’t hesitate to plant Bermuda grass: you won’t get disappointed!
