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There are pros and cons to thewarm-season grass, Bermuda grass (or “Bermudagrass”).

Known botanically asCynodon dactylon,it is great at tolerating heat, drought, and heavy foot traffic.

Itispossible to kill Bermuda grass, though.

Bermuda grass bordering concrete.

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To ensure success when eradicating Bermuda grass, buy a ready-to-use herbicide containing glyphosate (like Roundup).

Water the lawn well about a week before spraying and see to it it doesn’t dry out.

To address the problem of surviving rhizomes, irrigate the lawn again.

Closeup of lawn of Bermuda grass.

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This will generate new growth from the rhizomes left behind, thereby identifying where you still have a problem.

Another method is to dig the Bermuda grass out.

First, mow the lawn so that you might better see what you’re doing.

Bermuda grass separated from bed of other grass by a trench.

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Tip

Everypart of a Bermuda grass plant has to come out.

If you leave one rhizome behind, it will re-sprout.

Lay down a 10-sheet-thick layer of newspaper across the lawn of Bermuda grass.

Closeup showing Bermuda grass' short, dense growth habit.

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Joints in the rows of newspaper should overlap each other by a few inches.

At this point, you’re able to prepare the soil to grow a new lawn.

Using Soil Solarization on Bermuda Grass

Soil solarization is another organic method for killing Bermuda grass.

Bermuda grass bordering concrete.

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A benefit it has over the other methods is that it kills seed, too.

The best time to solarize the soil is in summer, as the hot temperatures will aid you.

Place cinder blocks along the edges to keep the plastic from blowing away.

Bermuda grass paths wending through flower beds.

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Keep the plastic tightly stretched out over the lawn for about 2 months.

Leave one behind and you’ll have to fight another day.

When applying non-selective herbicide in a bed to kill Bermuda grass, you won’t be able to spray.

Golf course with Bermuda grass.

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Spraying doesn’t allow you to target just the grass.

Any spray that strays from the target will kill your flowers.

Instead, apply the herbicide to the Bermuda grass by painting it onto the grass blades.

But it’s easier to use a selective herbicide (one that will kill just grass).

Examples are fluazifop-P-butyl and Sethoxydim.

Since one spraying is rarely sufficient, re-apply in one week.

Protect flower beds against incursion from stolons and rhizomes byedgingthem.

Mulch your beds so that Bermuda grass doesn’t invade via seed.

Protect a lawn by keeping it lush and healthy.