Bermudagrass at a Glance: General Characteristics and Care

Adapted from The Revised Georgia Gardener's Guide by Walter Reeves and Erica Glasener.

Overview

Warm-season grass: green summer, buff/brown winter. Superbly adapted to Georgia. Hybrids (Tifway 419, TifSport 94) are sterile sod-only; common bermuda seeds readily and invades beds.

Color & Texture

• Common: lighter green, coarser, many seedheads, aggressive bed invader.
• Tifway (419) sod: dark green, medium-fine, excellent drought tolerance.
• TifSport (94) sod: emerald green, holds color late fall, low-growing, traffic-resistant.

Light Requirement

Full sun only. Thins in partial shade.

Planting

• Common seed: anytime summer. Till thoroughly; mix lime/starter fertilizer. 1–2 lbs seed/1,000 sq ft mixed with 5 lbs sand/grits. Mulch thinly with straw.
• Hybrid sod: early summer (thick by Sept). Dormant sod can be laid winter (water in Dec/Jan!). Butt pieces tightly; hatchet-trim edges.

Maintenance

• Fertilize: after 50% spring green-up. Every 4–8 weeks summer. Sept "Winterizer" helps winter survival.
• Drought: goes semi-dormant.
• Weeds: correct maintenance first. Jan: glyphosate on dormant lawn for green winter weeds.
• Mow: ¾–1.5 inches.

Improved Seed Options

'Riviera' and 'Princess 77' are deeper green, sod-like seeded varieties.