Management Tips
Mowing Height: 1 to 2 inches with a rotary mower; 0.5 to 1 inch with a reel mower
Mowing Frequency: Weekly during the growing months; none during winter dormancy
Fertilization Requirement: Single application rates; 0.5 to 1 lb of Nitrogen per 1,000 sq feet during the growing season months. Annual application rates; 2 to 4 lbs of Nitrogen per 1,000 sq feet per year. Application of other nutrients including Phosphorous, Potassium, and others should be based on soil test results.

Description: Bermudagrass is a warm-season, fine-textured grass species that spreads laterally by rhizomes and stolons. It is an extremely drought-hardy, durable, and versatile grass that is a common choice for home lawns in warmer climates. It does not do well in moderate to dense shade. It is relatively quick to establish by seed or sprigs and is most notably known for its superior traffic tolerance, quick-spreading growth habit, fine texture, and low mowing heights.

Common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) varieties often have coarse leaf texture and light green color relative to hybrid varieties. However, improvements in common bermudagrass appearance have been achieved through breeding efforts, and there are many improved varieties available on the market that have finer leaf texture, darker color, and improved density. These varieties are most often planted by seed, but some improved varieties are also available as sod. In addition to seeded varieties of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., there are also hybrid bermudagrass varieties (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. x Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy) available that can only be planted as sod or sprigs. These varieties are typically crosses between common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) and African bermudagrass (Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy). The resulting offspring of these crosses often have superior appearance including fine leaf texture, improved density, dark green color. However, seed of these interspecific crosses is often sterile, and therefore hybrid bermudagrass varieties must be planted vegetatively by sod or sprigs.