Q. We are going to be removing about 3500 s.f. of bermuda
grass. What is the best and easiest way to do this ?
grass. What is the best and easiest way to do this ?
A. I am assuming this is common bermudagrass, not hybrid
bermudagrass. Many of the hybrid bermudagrasses are more restrained in their
growth and easier to remove and keep under control. Common bermudagrass is more
wild or rank in its growth and more difficult to remove and get under control.
The easiest way I feel would be to irrigate and lightly fertilize the
bermudagrass and mow it a couple of times so it is growing well and healthy.
bermudagrass. Many of the hybrid bermudagrasses are more restrained in their
growth and easier to remove and keep under control. Common bermudagrass is more
wild or rank in its growth and more difficult to remove and get under control.
The easiest way I feel would be to irrigate and lightly fertilize the
bermudagrass and mow it a couple of times so it is growing well and healthy.
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| Sod removed with sod cutter in prepartion for the installation of desert landscaping |
You don’t want the Bermuda to enter into any kind of
dormancy before you try to kill it and remove it. Once the bermudagrass is
happy and growing well then you will try to kill it. The best time to remove it
is in the fall when it is sending energy reserves into its roots and stolons.
There is a net movement of stored energy in this direction in the fall. In the
spring there is a net movement of materials towards leaf and shoot growth. You
will not get the best control in the spring but it is what it is.
dormancy before you try to kill it and remove it. Once the bermudagrass is
happy and growing well then you will try to kill it. The best time to remove it
is in the fall when it is sending energy reserves into its roots and stolons.
There is a net movement of stored energy in this direction in the fall. In the
spring there is a net movement of materials towards leaf and shoot growth. You
will not get the best control in the spring but it is what it is.
Like I said, get it happy and growing well and when you have
a solid stand of grass which has been mowed then spray it with Roundup. Make
sure that you use a spreader/sticker in the spray mix and follow the directions
precisely. I would also use distilled water, not our tap water since it is
quite alkaline. Some people have reported a better kill with Roundup if there
is a small amount of nitrogen mixed with the solution. You can take a
tablespoon of ammonium sulfate or urea per gallon and put it in the mix as well
if you want to but it is not necessary in my opinion. It is important to get an
even application of Roundup over the entire grassy area. You do this by
spraying the Roundup in an East West pattern first and then spray the second
time in North South pattern so that you get good coverage.
a solid stand of grass which has been mowed then spray it with Roundup. Make
sure that you use a spreader/sticker in the spray mix and follow the directions
precisely. I would also use distilled water, not our tap water since it is
quite alkaline. Some people have reported a better kill with Roundup if there
is a small amount of nitrogen mixed with the solution. You can take a
tablespoon of ammonium sulfate or urea per gallon and put it in the mix as well
if you want to but it is not necessary in my opinion. It is important to get an
even application of Roundup over the entire grassy area. You do this by
spraying the Roundup in an East West pattern first and then spray the second
time in North South pattern so that you get good coverage.
When you spray, you should be moving your spray applicator
at a speed of about 3 ft./s over the area. Do not stop and give some areas a
larger dose. You’re just wasting chemical. Keep the applicator moving at all
times when your spraying. It is important to keep your spray applicator moving
at the same speed across the area slightly overlapping the sprayed area each
time you cover it. Let the grass dry for 10 minutes or so and repeat the
application in the opposite direction. Do not irrigate for 24 hours after the
application.
at a speed of about 3 ft./s over the area. Do not stop and give some areas a
larger dose. You’re just wasting chemical. Keep the applicator moving at all
times when your spraying. It is important to keep your spray applicator moving
at the same speed across the area slightly overlapping the sprayed area each
time you cover it. Let the grass dry for 10 minutes or so and repeat the
application in the opposite direction. Do not irrigate for 24 hours after the
application.
Give yourself about 10 days and you should see the grass
beginning to decline. Roundup does not work quickly so do not expect to see
dead grass the next morning. It won’t happen. Rent a sod cutter and cut the sod
out as deeply as you can. Once the sod is removed begin irrigating the area
heavily and frequently and apply a light application of fertilizer to try to
stimulate any bermudagrass which is remaining.
You will probably see spots of bermudagrass trying to come
back in seven days if it is hot outside. Spot spray these areas with the same
Roundup solution as soon as you see them emerging. Stay on top of these spots
and kill them as you see them. Do not let these get out of control. This is
very important. I am not telling you to keep an old solution of Roundup. Every
time you spray you need to mix up a new batch. These solutions are not stable
very long and begin to disintegrate fairly quickly.
back in seven days if it is hot outside. Spot spray these areas with the same
Roundup solution as soon as you see them emerging. Stay on top of these spots
and kill them as you see them. Do not let these get out of control. This is
very important. I am not telling you to keep an old solution of Roundup. Every
time you spray you need to mix up a new batch. These solutions are not stable
very long and begin to disintegrate fairly quickly.
Once you feel you have most of the bermudagrass under
control you can begin to develop your landscape. If you are putting in desert
landscaping with rock mulch, the bermudagrass will reemerge where you have your
drip emitters around the new plants. You can Spot spray this emerging
bermudagrass with Roundup making sure none of the spray lands on desired
plants. It is okay for it to land on the soil or rock but not on green leaves
or stems of living plants.
control you can begin to develop your landscape. If you are putting in desert
landscaping with rock mulch, the bermudagrass will reemerge where you have your
drip emitters around the new plants. You can Spot spray this emerging
bermudagrass with Roundup making sure none of the spray lands on desired
plants. It is okay for it to land on the soil or rock but not on green leaves
or stems of living plants.
Other chemicals you could use around shrubs and groundcover
plants for bermudagrass control are Fusilade and Poast but they can be a little
sketchy in their control. You can also grub new growth out with a hoe when you
see it but do not let the grass go to seed or get very old or it will get
established again. Bermudagrass will not grow in complete shade so making sure
you are shading the soil with rock,
mulch or competitive groundcovers like turfgrass is good control.
plants for bermudagrass control are Fusilade and Poast but they can be a little
sketchy in their control. You can also grub new growth out with a hoe when you
see it but do not let the grass go to seed or get very old or it will get
established again. Bermudagrass will not grow in complete shade so making sure
you are shading the soil with rock,
mulch or competitive groundcovers like turfgrass is good control.
There is more information on Bermudgrass here.