If there is a thing that may damage your healthy and beautiful Bermuda grass lawn, it is weeds. Although this turf variety can grow aggressively, weeds are resilient and may spoil the grass quickly. Shade and drought may also cause these plants to be thin, giving weeds a perfect space to develop. But how do you identify and kill the common weeds in Bermuda grass? Read on to learn more.
Common weeds in Bermuda grass are broadleaf and grassy weeds, which you can identify by their physical appearance. The common broadleaf varieties include purslane, cheese weed, pigweed, bur clover, goosefoot, tumbleweed, London rocket, and spurge. The grassy types are crabgrass, annual bluegrass, nutsedge, nutgrass, foxtail, orchardgrass, barnyard grass, goosegrass, and witchgrass.
Bermuda Grass Weeds Identification
Here are more details on how to identify the common Bermuda grass weeds:
1. Grassy Weeds
You can identify grass-type weeds with thin leaves that look like common grasses. It’s hard to differentiate these weeds from the real desired grass due to their grass-like appearance. Once they grow within Bermuda grass, check the turf’s fine leaves and dark green color to differentiate it from weeds.
These weeds include crabgrass, annual bluegrass, nutsedge, nutgrass, foxtail, orchardgrass, barnyard grass, goosegrass, and witchgrass. It’s difficult to control them once they germinate. To kill these grassy weeds, apply the herbicide in June.
2. Broadleaf Weeds
Identifying these weeds from Bermuda grass is easy because of their physical appearance. They have broad leaves, unlike turf, which has thin leaves.
They include purslane, cheese weed, pigweed, bur clover, goosefoot, tumbleweed, London rocket, and spurge. The best time to control broadleaf weeds is in February.
Which Is the Best Herbicide For Bermuda Grass?
To control weeds in Bermuda grass, you must choose herbicides that are safe for your lawn. Some weed killers may kill your turf, too, thus not advisable to use them in your yard.
Here are the best herbicide varieties that eliminate weeds without damaging your grass.
1. Ortho WeedClear
This weed killer has three post-emergence active herbicide components. Its first two elements are 2,4-D and Dicamba, which kills broadleaf weeds in the lawn. The third element is Quinclorac, which attacks grassy weeds like crabgrass.
2. BioAdvanced Lawn Weed
The herbicide also contains Quinclorac, Dicamba, and 2,4-D, which kills both broadleaf and grassy weeds without harming Bermuda grass. However, it has fewer levels of 2,4-D and increased levels of Quinclorac, thus not as effective as Ortho WeedClear.
NB: Avoid applying ornamec Bermuda grass killer on your lawn as it only targets to kill Bermuda turf. It, however, doesn’t harm other grass types like Zoysia and St. Augustine.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What will kill weeds but not Bermuda grass?
A: Spraying grass with a selective herbicide will help eliminate targeted weeds without harming your Bermuda grass. Also, Celsius and Ortho WeedClear herbicides will kill the weeds and leave your lawn safe. Avoid using herbicides like Glyphosate and Ornamec, as they kill almost all plants, including Bermuda grass.
Q: What kills weeds down to the root?
A: To eliminate weeds and their roots in your lawn, apply flaming or boiling water. You may also use a vinegar solution, but it will take days to kill the weeds’ roots completely.
Final Thoughts
Stubborn weeds can ruin your healthy and appealing lawn within weeks. Although Bermudagrass has aggressive growth habits, weeds will still germinate and grow within the grass, destroying your turf. These weeds that may damage grass are of two types; the common grassy and broadleaf weeds.
You can identify these weeds from the common grass by their physical appearance. It’s easy to kill weeds in Bermudagrass using Ortho WeedClear or BioAdvanced Lawn Weed.
However, avoid using ornamec Bermuda grass killer if you don’t intend to kill your turf.
