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Post by Gianna on Aug 4, 2018 15:00:31 GMT -5
Nasty stuff. Growing up we called it Devil Grass. Today I started the war against Bermuda grass in the back garden. It's invaded the blueberry enclosure, among other places, so in the plan to renovate that, comes Bermuda grass eradication effort. The soil is so good in there, the B Grass just loves it, especially with the run off from watering the BB pots. Yesterday afternoon, I spent some time watering a patch of soil, and today, I was digging and weeding. The rhizomes can go down a foot or more. And any little bit not found can grow a new plant. You have to respect something so successful.
The plan is to get as much as I can. But some will come back. It always does. And those little tender shoots will be zapped with a careful, targeted application of round up. Gasp!
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Post by brownrexx on Aug 4, 2018 19:32:32 GMT -5
We visited Costa Rica a few years ago and the empty lot across from out hotel was covered with Bermuda grass. I had never really seen that type of grass before but it had covered the entire lot and it felt really spongy to walk on and had runners all over the place. I felt like it would grow over my feet if I stood still too long. We liked to go to that lot and look for birds and I tripped over those stupid runners several times but I did see some gorgeous birds including a toucan.
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Post by Gianna on Aug 4, 2018 20:27:43 GMT -5
I don't like it in my garden, but there is much to be admired about Bermuda grass. Around here, some people use it as a lawn (whether they want to or not, lol). Unfortunately it does go brown in the cool of winter, but does come back every year in spring. It forms a thick, tough thatch when mowed.
This afternoon, I dug more of the grass out of the Blueberry enclosure. Then moved a few of the pots (pruning them as I went.) Then cleared a nice 8 X 10 area, put a sprinkler on it, then covered with plastic to keep the moisture from evaporating. I'm hoping to get in there again tomorrow to do more digging.
When an area is cleared as much as possible from the grass, I like to cover it with thick mulch. Maybe next year, I'll plant pepper plants next to the pots to take advantage of both run-off from the pots, and shade. A few years ago I had great pepper plants and fruits growing in Nov/Dec taking advantage of blueberry run-off water. This water is either rainwater or usually pH adjusted and often has fertilizers in it.
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ceresone
Junior Member
Posts: 33
Joined: June 2017
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Post by ceresone on Mar 29, 2019 9:04:42 GMT -5
Talked to a man from Scotts few years ago.told me it spreads 3 ways roots,runners and seeds. And the roots can go down 8 feet. I just laugh. When I see someone who thinks they can get rid of it. Been fighting it 52 years on my farm. Its winning. I will be cremated so it can not find me
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Post by spacecase0 on Mar 29, 2019 12:34:07 GMT -5
keeping it below freezing works, but have not yet figured out how to do this in the summer.
keeping it under something that totally blocks the sun for a few years also works.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Mar 29, 2019 14:03:58 GMT -5
Solarization supposedly works well if you have enough sunny weather in the summer. You need about 6 hot, mostly sunny weeks.
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Mar 29, 2019 14:29:11 GMT -5
I never really considered it a foe. I tried to work with it instead of against it. I just kept it trimmed so it didn't take over.
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ceresone
Junior Member
Posts: 33
Joined: June 2017
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Post by ceresone on Mar 29, 2019 15:53:16 GMT -5
I have covered with solid plastic for 5 years . Took it up . And I had 8 feet of white runners going to the far edges. I have sprayed it, and covered with plastic. Bought the new spray must for it sprayed every week for 4 weeks, it grew better. You have heard the joke a bout how a roach could survive a atomic bomb? Well, it will be sitting on Bermuda grass!!
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Mar 30, 2019 8:37:57 GMT -5
I don't know what climate you're in, but in most climates clear plastic works much better for solarization.
Clear plastic sets up a greenhouse effect so soil temperatures get much higher. Under solid plastic you're just starving bermuda grass for sunlight - under clear plastic you are COOKING it. Solarization kills pathogens, nematodes and weed seeds in the soil, too. Unfortunately it also kills beneficial soil organisms, so there is that downside.
But it only works if you get at least 6 consistently hot weeks. If you have a cool or cloudy summer climate it's probably not going to work as well.
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Post by spike on Mar 30, 2019 10:58:54 GMT -5
I have covered with solid plastic for 5 years . Took it up . And I had 8 feet of white runners going to the far edges. I have sprayed it, and covered with plastic. Bought the new spray must for it sprayed every week for 4 weeks, it grew better. You have heard the joke a bout how a roach could survive a atomic bomb? Well, it will be sitting on Bermuda grass!! OMG LOL I think I wet myself I was laughing so hard
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Mar 31, 2019 11:25:38 GMT -5
I feel this way about Spanish Needle and wild blackberries. Except that they both need pollinators. But heck, the roaches will probably learn to pollinate the wild blackberries so they can eat the rotting berries. Can roaches, Bermuda grass, and wild blackberries form a complete ecosystem, I wonder? Oh, I guess they'd also need some soil fungi for decomposition.
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Post by Hensaplenty on Mar 31, 2019 15:18:17 GMT -5
HATE Bermuda grass, but we have SO much of it in the south. You just have to learn to live with it and battle it as you are able.
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ceresone
Junior Member
Posts: 33
Joined: June 2017
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Post by ceresone on Apr 1, 2019 16:56:51 GMT -5
I will always wonder about the young person on another forum years ago that wanted Bermuda grass lawn at her newly built home. I told her of the battle she would have with flower and garden beds. She was rather cocky when she told me I didn't know what I was talking about.
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Post by brownrexx on Apr 1, 2019 17:16:23 GMT -5
She was rather cocky when she told me I didn't know what I was talking about. I guess that you had the last laugh. HaHaHa
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