- Plant common Bermuda grass at a rate of 1 lb. per 1,000 square feet. Use hulled Bermuda grass seed for spring plantings. This processed form of the grass seed germinates quicker. Fall or early winter plantings can utilize the hulled version of the seed that has a slower germination rate. Plant annual grasses, such as ryegrass, with the Bermuda grass to prevent erosion while the lawn or field becomes established.
- Hybrid Bermuda grass species do not produce viable seeds. The grass is propagated to new areas by harvesting plant portions and inserting them into the soil. This can be done with sprigs, stolons or sod. Sprigs include the root and rhizomes of the plant while the stolon is simply the above ground portion of the Bermuda grass. Cutting whole segments of started Bermuda grass from the soil and transplanting it is referred to as sodding. In all cases, the hybrid Bermuda grass is moved once the plants have begun active growth. This occurs when soil temperatures are near 70 degrees Fahrenheit with the best root growth at about 80 F.
- Bermuda grass requires at least a subtropical climate and grows under wet conditions with annual rainfall amounts of up to 100 inches. Irrigate the Bermuda grass if annual rainfall is less than 20 inches. The grass goes dormant under dry conditions and starts growing if adequate moisture occurs. In the warmest climates, the grass stays green throughout the year.
- The U.S. Golf Association Green Section as well as state universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have conducted research into Bermuda grass varieties. Some, such as Sunturf, are used as a lawn grass. Others, such as Tifgreen, are used for golf course greens and fairways. Ormond is noted for a bluish green color and high vigor while the Tifdwarf is noted for its putting quality and is also used on grass tennis courts.
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