- Bermuda grass does best in warm, tropical and sub-tropical climates. Because it is drought resistant and loves the sun, Bermuda is ideal for desert or low-water environments. Once temperatures dip below 60 degrees F, the grass goes dormant and turns brown. It will perk up again when temperatures rise.
- The grass can grow quite quickly but, unlike other grasses that sprout up vertically, Bermuda grass grows up and out, like a carpet. It spreads out, covering large amounts of ground and pretty much anything else in its path. Moderate mowing is usually enough to keep the grass in check and moderate watering to keep it green. The grass also grows quickly either from sod or seed.
- Because of its dense, spreading nature, Bermuda grass is ideal for large areas that get a lot of abuse. Golf courses, pastures, playgrounds, parks, sport fields and lawns with abuse from pets and kids are ideal options. The grass also has a salt tolerance, also making it ideal for large coastal areas. In fact, Bermuda grass has been planted along the coast to help prevent soil erosion as the deep roots keep soil in place.
- Even though the grass is tough, it is often fraught with pest problems. Insects that particularly dig Bermuda grass include mealybugs, Bermuda grass mites and three types of worms: armyworms, cutworms and sod webworms. The grass can tolerate a low population of these pests, but if it becomes overrun, chemicals may be needed to control the insects.
- Bermuda grass is tough to control and even tougher to remove. The tendrils like to snake beneath cracks in the pavement, flowerbeds and anywhere else they can possibly reach. Because the roots are massive and deep, they create a web system beneath the soil that can only be removed by very deep tilling.
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