Posted on 05/17/2011 3:09:57 AM PDT by freejohn
Being born and raised in South Florida, I saw and played on many lawns as well as golf courses and park playgrounds that were entirely Bermuda grass!
Moving northward (Virginia) .. The very word Bermuda is followed closely with .. "WEED"!?
Why is this?
I can't Keep the fescue, rye or bluegrass growing in my "forest" type home setting and I'd almost bet that Bermuda would solve the problem!?
Well-l-l .. Maybe not! 8)
(Loads of oak trees, heavy clay and too much shade)
I know bermuda wont survive winters up here but I'd still like to know why Northerners call it a weed?
Dandelions.
You can smoke it ?
I call St. Augastine sod a weed. It’s crab grass by another name. Bermuda grass doesn’t spread as bad. I wouldn’t say it’s a weed.
The problem with Bermuda is that when flying in to the island, your plane is apt to disappear without a trace....
Bermuda.
Huh?
Growing up in Memphis, Bermuda was always the favored.
It does, however, require sun and a light to sandy soil.
When I moved to the countryside, I was more into grass that did not need to be so manicured.
Fescue should be the best for you.
It does tolerate some shade.
In heavy shade, you should have beds of shade tolerant ground covers such as vinca, not grass.
There are many that will thrive in shade, and require minimum care and maintenance.
All areas can be different, depending on many variables from
PH and weight of the soil, to temperature extremes.
I think you are going to have a problem with bermuda and that much shade.
My SiL had bermuda in the area between the sidewalk and street. He put the fertilizer to it and it looked as good as his zoysia lawn.
I’ll never forget my surprise on moving from S.Fla to Raleigh, NC and seeing a St. Augustine lawn, complete with chinch bugs. !!
There are so many possibilities. Pardon me for a moment while I “triangulate” a response.
My guess is that in more northerly “Southern” areas, where bluegrass and fescue grow, Bermuda can move in and ruin the look of the lawn. Bermuda has a very low, dense growth habit, and has to be kept cut at less than 1” or it gets stalky and weedy looking, whereas “northern” grasses are much more upright, and are usually cut to a height of 3-4”. If Bermuda gets into an established lawn, it’s going to make it look like it has developed mange.
I forgot to mention....Any plant or grass that grows where you do not want it is a weed.
Bermuda, in good conditions, will spread to areas where you do not want it, as in flower beds.
It has a running root system and can spread rapidly.
A weed is any plant that is not where a human wants it.
Check with local landscapers, nurserymen, etc. Is there a native grass that might fit your needs?
Here in Texas, the native grasses (big and little bluestem, sideoats, buffalo grass) flourish, but the suburbanits still think they must have St. Augustine. All this does is waste water.
I think that’s what I have here in Northern Virginia. Quite a mess, never fills in enough to be a real lawn, spreads everywhere, hard to kill.
We have a shaded yard that has bare spots under mature trees, some oaks and a magnolia. Being on a hill we need something to grow there because of erosion. I am aware of vinca as an annual flower for shaded areas that has to be repurchased and planted each year. I would like a grass, but anything that will hold the soil in place would do. Any thoughts?
Fescue stays green all winter. Bermuda doesn’t. Fescue stays where you put it. Bermuda doesn’t.
“I think that’s what I have here in Northern Virginia. Quite a mess, never fills in enough to be a real lawn, spreads everywhere, hard to kill.”
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Are you referring to Bermuda? I think N.VA is probably a bit far north for optimum growth.
Yes, the very narrow blades of Bermuda can be resistant to the
contact herbicides that act through the blade or leaf.
There is a newer, shade-tolerant bermuda grass (tifgrand).
Otherwise look into shade tolerant fescues (creeping red fescue).
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