Bermuda problem

Dan – posted 03 August 2003 19:07

I hired a landscaper to remove my lawn and put in new fescue sod. Repeatedly, I asked that he treat the grass or soil with whatever means necessary to get rid of the bermuda grass that has infiltrated my front and rear lawn (from the adjacent golf course). He tore out my front lawn without any treatment, and for this reason and others, I terminated his contract. Now, how do I treat the dirt in the front that had the bermuda? It should have been done as I understand while the grass was active. Is it too late? The rear lawn is basically dead (I think) but I’m going to start watering again to activate the bermuca, then treat with Roundup so I can remove it in a few weeks. Any suggestions on how to treat the front??

frenchman – posted 03 August 2003 20:54

Has he already laid the sod in the front yard, if not wait a couple weeks to let the bermuda green up again and spray it with Round-up. Also where are you located. This is the wrong time of the year to be laying fescue. Wait till the middle or end of September. If you lay it now you are going to be playing with fire. Fescue is a cool season grass.

Dchall_San_Antonio – posted 04 August 2003 13:36

For 10 years I’ve been successful keeping bermuda out of my beds using a brick border. Every 2 weeks I edge it and the bermuda has never gotten in.

If you laid a 4 inch wide and deep concrete curb between the golf course and you, you can edge both sides of that when you mow.

Or you could put in a ground cover between you that grows up at least 6 inches high. Bermuda will try to invade that but will certainly be shaded out of it. If you put in a ground cover, you can probably skip the roundup.