Bermuda in my new St. Aug (Floratam) lawn
Tampa Rob – posted 29 October 2003 09:27
I looked through previous posts, and don’t have a clear answer. Here’s my dilemma:- I have a 5,000 sq. ft lawn, which was sodded in April.- Bermuda is overrunning parts (from the neighbor, I don’t have an issue with it, it’s my old lawns fault) of the lawn.- I’m getting clusters of Bermuda EVERYWHERE, however.
Here are my questions:1 – Is it possible that when I mow and bag that Bermuda is spreading to other parts of my lawn? I have to empty the bag 3-4 times a mow.
2 – Is there NOTHING that will kill this stuff from my St. Aug?
3 – would a “fence” of some sort stop the Bermuda from coming over?
Thanks in advance. This forum helped me pick my grass (instead of Paspalum).
TR
redbird – posted 29 October 2003 12:50
TR,Use the search engine for the archive to this forum (Grass Types) and type in “bermuda grass in st. augustine” or “bermuda in st. augustine.” There are numerous replies to this topic – including one from the editor of the forum, Phil, describing a 3-step chemical program fror suppression (you can’t kill it outright w/o killing the st. augustine). Barriers help – I have my main front lawn areas separated from the roadside areas (which are covered w/wild bermuda grass) with decorative mulched islands. When the bermuda attempts to travel underneath the soil, the sprouts pop up in the island (3′ wide) and I spray them. So far, it seems to do a good job controlling intrusion. Also, bermuda can be somewhat suppressed by cutting your st. augustine high and shading it out – and by limiting your use of fertilizer, which st. augustine likes, but bermuda craves.
Good Luck.
Mike
Dchall_San_Antonio – posted 31 October 2003 08:29
Installing a canopy of trees is probably not an option, huh? My house came with one so I have no problems with bermuda. It just can’t get enough light here.
I agree with redbird on his point about tall grass. Mowing the St Augustine at the highest setting is a good way to shade out the bermuda. Tall St Aug grows dense while tall bermuda grows thin. The St Augustine should dominate and push out the bermuda. If you are mowing shorter than 2 inches, you are really favoring the bermuda over the St Augustine. Bermuda really loves to be mowed at 1 inch or lower.
Tampa Rob – posted 02 November 2003 07:01
Dchall, redbird –
Thanks so much for your help.
I’m going to try at least two (shade, barrier) of your recommendations..
I’ll report back -TR
I almost forgot Do Not over water. Floratan /Seville all strains of St. Augustine are suseptible to fungus from over…
I am from the north and it has taken me five yrs to learn and undertand seville lawns. No 1…
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