Bermudagrass
Cynodon dactylon
Grows fast and heals fast — the reason it dominates warm-climate sports turf. It has almost no shade tolerance, and that same speed means it gets scruffy quickly if you skip a cut.
At a glance
| Family | Poaceae |
|---|---|
| Season type | Warm-season |
| Heat tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Cold tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Shade tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Wear tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Drought tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Mowing height | 10–40 mm |
| Propagation | Seed / Sod / Plug |
| Upkeep | Medium upkeep |
| Native range | Africa, Southern Europe, Asia |
Growing conditions
| USDA hardiness zones | 7–10 |
|---|---|
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Watering | Medium |
| Growth rate | Fast |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Common problems | Sod webworm / armyworm / Dollar spot / Winter kill / Weed invasion |
How to grow it
Climate and sun
A warm-season grass near the top of the table for heat and wear. It spreads by both stolons and rhizomes, so damage closes over remarkably fast. It has almost no shade tolerance — six hours of direct sun minimum.
Planting
Seed, sod or sprigs, planted once soil temperatures pass about 20°C in early summer. It spreads hard and will invade beds and neighbouring plots, so install a root barrier at least 20 cm deep.
Watering
Exceptionally drought tolerant; rainfall alone usually does after establishment. Even when it fades in high summer, a soak brings the colour back within days.
Mowing
Fast growth means one or two cuts a week in season, at 10–30 mm. The lower you cut, the denser it gets — and the more often you mow.
Feeding
Monthly nitrogen through the peak growing months holds colour and density. Stop feeding nitrogen from autumn, which only worsens winter kill.
Problems and winter
Sod webworm and armyworm can strip the leaf overnight. It goes fully brown and dormant in winter, and in colder regions a hard winter can kill plants outright. Overseed with perennial ryegrass in autumn if you want winter colour.