Mowing Bermuda Grass, what is the best way?

In this blog post, we’ll talk about the best practice for mowing Bermuda grass. This is a lot different from mowing other types of grasses, so it’s important to understand what you need to do before you go out and start mowing. Bermuda grass is the tallest of all lawn grasses and can be hard to mow.

Mowing Bermuda Grass, what is the best way?

In general, the most crucial point for mowing Bermuda grass is the correct cutting height. From January to April, use a cutting height of around 1 inch. From May to August, increase this to 2 inches. And from September onwards until the evening temperature gets below 70 Fahrenheit, increase the height slightly to let more leaves surf.

What is Bermuda grass

Bermuda grass is a consistent warm-season grass. It returns every year and grows most aggressively from late spring through the hot summer months. This grass is quite sensitive to cold temperatures, unlike Zoysia grass or other cool-season grasses such as turf-type tall fescue grass. Bermuda grass also supports hay and creates good grazing land for livestock throughout the globe’s tropical and subtropical areas. It is often used for sports fields, lawns, parks, playgrounds, golf course fairways, roadsides, graveyards, and other commonly used turfs.

Bermuda grass is comparatively easy to care for primarily because it does not require much attention throughout the year. You can grow a beautiful lawn by mowing, freshening, watering, and manuring the grass as needed. Under ideal conditions, the hulled seeds can take root within 3 to 7 days. If the environment is not perfect, it is typical for Bermuda grass seeds to take 14 to 21 days for growth to occur. However, in less optimal conditions, it can take longer.

When and how to mow Bermuda Grass

● January through April

Cut the lawn a little shorter than the usual summer trimming stature. The mower should be set to a height of about 1 inch. Be careful not to set the lawnmower too short, as it may scalp the lawn. This should be accomplished just before lawn green-up, which generally occurs during late April or in the early hours of May. If possible, use a mower with a bagger to gather the clippings and eliminate deceased material left from winter inactivity. Otherwise, the lawn can be hand collected to remove the unnecessary dead leaves.

A strong mower blade will neatly cut the grass knife blade and assist in removing the leaves. Dull mower blades pull rather than cut the grass blades. The resultant ragged ends on the blades make the grass more vulnerable to illnesses. Refine the mower blade each year or as necessary during the expanding season.

● May Through August

Bermuda grass’s best mowing length is from 1 to 2 inches varying on the site and managing system, and is verified by the lawn’s circumstances. At the start of the season, you should cut the grass at the height of 1¼ to 1½ inches to create a bench point. This would be the calculated detachment from the mower blade to a tough surface and can be decided by using a small ruler. Mowing heights below 1 inch will necessitate a reel-type mower to attain relevant results. Over the next few mowings, steadily decrease the mowing height in as small an increment as possible. Examine the lawn after each mowing. Once at a height where the grass does not look nice, or it seems too slender or scalped, then increase the mowing height back to the prior setting. However, cultivars of Bermuda grass that are modified to tolerable growth in preferential shade may be best cut at a 2-inch height.

During cycles of environmental pressure due to high temperatures or a lack of rainfall, increase the mowing height until the stress is reduced. Always mow the grass with a razor-sharp mower blade using an insulating-type mower, which allows the clippings to decay on the turf. The mower blade demands to be refined regularly. In most cases, about once a month, or at least before the growing season starts. If you notice that the bag picks up soil, like sand, mowing, check if the blades are still sharp. This can be needed more than once a month. Change the blades when they can not be sharpened anymore.

● September through December

Continue to mow the Bermuda grass lawn at the typical mowing height until the weather begins to cool. Once evening temperatures fall below 70 °F, marginally raise the mower to let more leaves surface. This will permit the turf to become adopted by the time it gets even colder or get the first frost.

Bermuda Grass cutting height

Pros and cons of Bermuda grass

● Pros

There are numerous benefits to planting Bermuda grass. One of the major ones is that this type of grass is straightforward to sustain and is appealing to the eye. It is also relatively stable and has an excellent recovery rate, making it appropriate to be planted even in high-traffic areas. Bermuda grass is also a relatively inexpensive grass seed compared to others.

– Resilient

Bermuda grass can survive high traffic without easily wearing out. Therefore, it is often used on golf courses, athletic fields, or soccer fields. Bermuda grass does not easily damage, and when it does, it has the benefit of regaining its health quite quickly. Also, it can survive periods of drought better than any other type of grass, meaning that it is appropriate even in extremely hot temperatures.

– Easy to Grow

As long as you are offering the proper conditions to Bermuda grass, it will take little protection to make it succeed. You should make sure it gets enough daylight, better if grown in a place with little or no shade.

Bermuda grass is known to take good care of itself. You will not be required to provide as much nourishment as with most other types of grass, and it needs less water.

– Cheap

As equated to other grass seeds, Bermuda grass is not as costly. Also, since it involves minimum protection, it will not cost as much as other grass types that necessitates more watering and fertilization.

– Durable

Bermuda grass is durable and adaptable to different types of soils. This also explains its reputation.

Bermuda grass is derived from warm areas, such as India and Africa. This means that it is made to flourish in warm conditions and will easily overcome scarcities.

– Resilient to Pest Damage

When it comes to Bermuda grass, you can be confident that the grass will grow up plentiful with the right amount of light without any major issues such as pest destruction. Its defiance also means that it will withstand assaults from pests quite easily, without any major consequences.

● CONS

Despite being easy to sustain and a popular choice for a variety of uses, Bermuda grass does come with some drawbacks that are worth noting, especially before choosing to plant it.

– Ill-Fitted for Cold Weather

Bermuda grass is known for its resilience, but the truth is that it is a grass type that works much better in hot climates than in cold ones.Indeed, this grass might drop its color and lush look with several consecutive days of cold weather.

You can prevent this by over-seeding your grass before and during the winter, but if you are residing in a cold climate all year long, Bermuda grass might not be for you.

– Aggressive

Bermuda grass is also known as Devil’s grass because it manages to grow quickly and extensively. If you plan to sow it in your lawn, you will need to keep an eye on it or spread it to flower beds, pavements, or even your neighbor’s lawn.

– Requires Mowing

Bermuda grass is easy to maintain with little care, but you will need to mow it quite frequently to avoid it growing too much and too fast because of its aggressiveness.

You might also need to apply a lawn fungus monitor to prevent it from stretching too much around your garden in places you do not want it to grow.However, you will still want to mow your lawn once a week. If you cannot mow your lawn at least once a week, you should think about planting another type of grass.

– Needs Sunlight

Bermuda grass does not necessitate much care, but if there was only one thing you should concern yourself with when planting this grass, it is sunlight. Without enough sunlight, this grass will not stay alive, no matter how much care you put into it. With too much shade, Bermuda grass becomes thin and erratic.If you have trees or if you are planning to plant Bermuda grass in a place with a lot of shade, consider changing the grass type.

– Susceptible to Nematode Damage

Even if some roundworms are useful to plants, others are dangerous and might affect other plants in your garden. To prevent a nematode assault on your lawn, modify the soil with organic stuff before sowing Bermuda grass.Examine your lawn for damage and look for dry scorches and insects frequently and take care of the issues your lawn might have as rapidly as possible.

Grass Types and Ideal Lengths

Type of soil and water required for Bermuda grass

Bermuda grass grows best when soil pH is between 5.8 and 7.0, but it can withstand more acidic conditions. In fields with excessively acidic soil, regular concentrations of lime may be required to keep pH at the best possible level for nutrient accessibility.

The seeds of this grass must have a slim soil cover to develop correctly. Best practices include raking down the area you intend to seed and then gently covering each seed with about ¼ inch of soil after planting the seeds. Once sowed, rake gently over the area to stimulate improved soil connection.

Bermuda grass has the largest growth ratio, more than any other warm-season grass. It grows in both directions with above-ground stems called stolons and below-ground stems called rhizomes. While its fast growth rate can make this grass difficult to control, this quality helps the grass sustain heavy use.

As part of a lawn, Bermuda Grass requires weekly rainfall or proper irrigation to stay dark green, thick, and lush. Typically, lawns need 1 inch of water every 7-10 days if there has been no substantial rainfall. It is important to make sure to water intensely and infrequently. For example, apply 1 inch of water on a single day. Throughout the fall, try to water Bermuda grass less regularly once you reach November, water the lawn only once a month, and continue with this winter pattern. In March, you can return to a regular irrigation schedule.

Best Lawnmower type for Bermuda Grass

There are two main types of mowers in the market:

• Reel mowers      
• Rotary mowers

Reel mowers have razor blades that twist perpendicularly and apply a scissoring case to cut the grass.  Golf courses are commonly cut with reel mowers which are dragged by a tractor. A reel mower that people drive does not cut tall grass very well or very effortlessly.

Rotary lawnmowers mostly have a solo blade that revolves horizontally in the bottom of the mower, like the paddles of a plane. Rotary lawnmowers are the most flexible type and succeed with most varieties of grass. These are safer than container mowers at cutting long and stiff grass.

If you cut your Bermuda grass regularly, a reel mower is ideal because it produces a tidier cut. They can also be easily adapted to low grass heights. Grass pieces can be left on the turf and preserved with low to normal potency levels if clipped at the appropriate height and regularity. However, the clippings will not result in hay, and they will require additional traces of nutrients. Eradicate the clippings only if the quantity is so extreme that clumps produce. If you have a more irregular mowing schedule, a rotary mower is probably the best option for you. It can better cope with higher Bermuda grass. And due to the wider choice of models, it is often more cost effective.