How to get rid of Bermuda grass?

**clovis** · #1 08/17/12, 10:10 PM

I have a small area in our flower bed that has Bermuda grass growing in it. I'm not sure what type of grass it is, to be honest.

For a while, I referred to the grass as a Johnson grass, even though I'm pretty sure that it isn't really Johnson grass. My wife googled it, and believes it is Bermuda.

At any rate, the grass has very long roots or underground runners.

We've been trying to pull and dig up any and all roots, even getting the shovel and potting tools to carefully dig up and remove any signs of these root/runners.

Just the other day, I even dug the entire area up and carefully sifted all the dirt, trying to remove this grass.

We are hoping to re-landscape...we are planning to put one expensive plant right where this grass is growing.

Is there anything that will kill this? Should I keep digging it up? Will I eventually get all the roots, or is this a fruitless endeavor?

Bearfootfarm · #2 08/17/12, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Is there anything that will kill this?

Roundup (Glyphosate) will kill it.
It spreads from both seeds and stolons (roots) so unless you get EVERY piece of the roots, you may be spreading it by digging

It may take several years to get it all unless you spray and then immediately plant another grass to choke it out

wally · #3 08/18/12, 05:51 AM

It took me several years and several sprays of round up to get the burmuda under control in the garden and orchard. once you have it under control you will need to stay on top of it..this weed will grow faster than yellow squash here,

Belfrybat · #4 08/18/12, 08:49 AM

MOVE. Seriously -- even with Roundup you will have some come back each year.

farmerDale · #5 08/18/12, 09:54 AM

Spray it in the fall, when the weed is weakest. At this time, it is pumping food reserves down to its roots. The glyphosate follows the flow, and kills the plant roots and all. Then you should only have to spray once... If you are ok with spraying at all.

**clovis** · #6 08/19/12, 09:42 AM

Thank you for the replies!!!!

This isn't what I wanted to hear. I do hate to use Round Up, but I may not have an alternative. FWIW, there was a brand new bottle at an estate sale that I missed out on by 2 minutes, which is frustrating. My dad may have some.

Also, FWIW, we are hoping to landscape the front of the house, and the plants we want to buy are expensive. I thought we would start with a few plants at a time, and you guessed it, the first plant would go right where the bermuda grass is growing.

Again, thank you!!!!!

possom · #7 08/19/12, 10:13 AM

If the beds are empty at the moment cover them with plastic sheeting or old carpet until next spring. I dont like using chemicals around the house, admittedly they do work better, but if I can kill out unwanted weeds and grass without using them that is the avenue I will take.

Randy Rooster · #8 08/19/12, 10:27 AM

Possom - no offense but I dont think you know very much about bermuda grass

possom · #9 08/19/12, 04:15 PM

No offense taken. That's how I remove unwanted grass and weeds from beds is by covering them with a black plastic and starving them to death with lack of sunlight.

If that will not work then by all means let them know before they waste the time trying it.

Farmer Dave · #10 08/19/12, 05:37 PM

I've used Roundup and Spectricide on Bermuda grass and just can't get rid of it. I put in a couple of raised beds about ten years ago. I dug down two feet trying to dig up all the Bermuda roots...it's impossible. Two feet down the roots were like rope and were one eighth of an inch thick. I put down two layers of 3mil black plastic and filled it in with dirt. In a year or so the grass was back so I removed all the dirt again and those stiff Bermuda roots had punctured and grown through the plastic. I gave up...there is no way to completely get rid of it...short of a backhoe.

mary,tx · #11 08/19/12, 07:17 PM

I have bermuda grass growing where I planted my blackberries. Since I have had to water the blackberries occasionally, the bermuda has flourished. I've tried and tried and tried to dig it out, and in the past I have even sprayed in that area a time or two. I've decided to, instead, dig out the blackberries and put them somewhere else, before I go back to spraying.

Too bad it isn't so unconquerable in the pastures.

Forestdude · #12 08/20/12, 10:06 PM

Bermuda grass has invaded my backyard raised beds this summer. It is a nightmare. The worst part is that I actually planted that stuff. It does make a nice yard though.

Narshalla · #13 08/20/12, 11:47 PM

Personally, I'm a fan of the "flamethrower" method, though your neighbors will probably object. Of course, if they have the same problem, then they might want to borrow your flamethrower!

rockhound · #14 08/21/12, 05:12 AM

I got Bermuda grass out of my garden by moving. It was fairly fast, and no chemicals!

Cliff · #15 08/21/12, 08:55 AM

I don't see why using black plastic wouldn't work? You'd have to cover the entire garden area. In fact a poster in a recent thread cleared her whole garden of a similar grass by using black plastic. She showed pics. She said when she removes it she plans to leave a three foot perimeter of the plastic to prevent re-infestation. Sounds workable to me and I plan to try it.

Danaus29 · #16 08/21/12, 01:51 PM

Ortho Grass Be Gone. That stuff works like a dream on the toughest grass I have sprayed it on. Even the dreaded clumping razor grass (no clue what it's called but it's the worst grass I've ever fought) dies after being treated once or rarely twice with the Grass Be Gone.

I don't like using poisons but I got tired of getting my hands cut up and hurting my back fighting this grass.

bluemule31 · #17 08/27/12, 12:07 AM

Glyphosphate , the effective ingredient in Round-up, will kill it but it will keep coming back periodically. My suggestion, and I think it's a good one, is to buy it at your co-op in a two and a half gallon jug if you think you will use very much of it. You'll save a TON of money that way. I bought it that way (called Cornerstone) and still have plenty left. Less than $40 and twice as much % gly than round-up bought at HD or Lowe's.

fireweed farm · #18 08/27/12, 12:21 AM

I have a similar pest grass, it's a nightmare.
Why wouldn't a thick gauge black plastic not work? Thick enough that it can't poke through, and gets' no sun. Plants need light, so smother it. Then leave it- for even an entire year if that's what it takes.
Not sure your climate. But no matter what, if you did it now it would weaken the plants before winter. Then leave it down until at least mid summer next year. Then till. Then wait. Maybe you need to put it down again until spring.
Make sure to go 5-10' wider than your actual garden plot.

Roundup in your veggie patch? Why bother growing your own if you're too lazy to weed?