Weed Control for Bermuda Grass

Are you worried about the weed growth on your Bermuda grass? Below, learn the weeds commonly found in Bermuda grass and how to get rid of them.

Bermuda grass is turf grass that is a favorite among homeowners in the southern region of the United States.

Well-grown Bermuda grass will produce healthy, dense, fine-bladed turf that is appropriate for sports fields, commercial properties, and residential lawns.

Common Weeds in Bermuda Turf

There are two types of weeds you will always find growing in lawns with Bermuda grass.

Grassy Weeds: crabgrass, foxtail, goosegrass, barnyardgrass, nutsedge, Poa annua, and witchgrass.

Broadleaf weeds: pigweed, goosefoot, purslane, London rocket, and spurge.

Weed Control in Bermuda Grass 

Read on for some things to take care of and maintain your lawn, which will help keep the weeds from unfolding.

Here are some simple tips that are good for Bermuda grass:

• Mow at the right height: Letting Bermuda grass grow too high or scalping it too low gives birth to weed issues. In general, the ideal Bermuda grass height is 1 to 2 inches for a residential lawn. Get all your McKinney lawn service needs taken care of with out help.
• Control shaded areas: Highly shaded areas that result in bare spots where grass will not grow are great for weeds to invade. It is mandatory to take measures so that grass will thrive even in the shadiest areas to keep the weeds out.
• Fertilizer use: Using appropriate fertilizers will help your grass be healthy, strong, and it will also assist you in halting any weed growth.
• Hand-pulling: When you begin to see signs of weeds around the outline of the grass, pull them out by using your hand as the first line of defense.

Bermuda Grass Yearly Weed Maintenance Tips

January through April

As a preventive measure against summer weeds, applying a pre-emergent herbicide at the beginning of the year is recommended. It is mostly applied in mid-February in the coastal and central areas and for mountain or piedmont areas is mid-March. Apply a second application around 100 days after the initial application to keep the annual weeds under control.

Add post-emergent herbicides to take control of any existing winter and broadleaf weeds. Do this while the grass is still dormant. Avoid applying post-emergent chemicals in spring when the turf is greening up.

If a weed problem occurs when the grass is starting to green up with warmer temperatures, wait until all the grass becomes fully green before applying the herbicide.

Meanwhile, mow and bag all weeds from the lawn.

Bermuda grass is quite sensitive to some herbicides like 2,4-D. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and proceed with caution when using these chemicals.

May Through August

Apply the second round of pre-emergent herbicide in early June for those living in North Texas cities.

Weeds will grow if you do not apply the pre-emergent in time. Control them with post-emergent herbicides.

Use selective weed control during the summer. If any annual grassy weeds occur, then pre-emergent herbicide is an ideal choice.

For the best control and the least damage to your Bermuda grass, always add post-emergent herbicides where weeds are actively developing.

September through December

In the fall months, September-November, control many annual winter weeds by applying pre-emergent herbicides.

Add broadleaf weed herbicides to Bermuda grass to control chickweed, henbit, and other winter season broadleaf weeds.

Use selective herbicides to eliminate annual bluegrass and winter grassy weeds.

Pre-Emergent Weed Control In Bermuda Grass

A pre-emergent weed killer means that you apply it before the weeds start to pop out in your lawn. This needs to be applied before germination. Aim for 2-3 weeks before your area has its final freeze of the season. Several types of pre-emergent herbicides can be successfully used to treat different kinds of Bermuda grasses and weeds.

For example, crabgrass preventers can eliminate the common crabgrass weeds. While the crabgrass weeds will germinate, the herbicide will prevent them from growing or sprouting.

Pre-emergent is mostly applied in spring or at the start of May as the temperature starts to warm up to 55 degrees Fahrenheit and in the fall or in September when the temperatures are below 70 degrees Fahrenheit and dropping.

If you are looking for an organic alternative to pre-emergent, then you can use corn gluten. It is essential to apply this herbicide to your entire lawn and water thoroughly as weeds can invade any area of your lawn.

Learn which weeds are controlled with pre-emergent herbicides.

Post-Emergent Weed Control in Bermuda Grass

Post-emergent weed control is effective when the weed issue has already occurred, and you want to keep it under control. You can find many variations of herbicides depending on what types of weeds you want to eliminate and the variety of Bermuda grass you need to save.

The post-emergent chemicals are mostly used in early summer when the weeds are actively growing. You need to be careful when applying these herbicides and consider things such as, application rate, timing, and which specific Bermuda grass type you have.

It is essential to understand the difference between selective and non-selective herbicides when buying post-emergent chemicals.

Selective herbicides will eliminate specific weeds and that’s it. A non-selective herbicide can kill all plants that it comes in contact with, including your grass.

Final Thoughts

Bermuda grass is a great turf grass to choose for your lawn. From seed or sod, it grows swiftly into a rich, green lawn.

It is highly tolerant of drought and heat. A healthy Bermuda grass lawn will also naturally resist weeds. You just can’t go wrong with Bermuda grass.

M Valdivia

As a seasoned content manager with a background in education and human development, I bring a unique perspective to lawn care and landscaping topics. For the past four years, I've specialized in creating clear, helpful, and research-backed content for homeowners across North Texas and beyond. While I don’t have a landscaping degree, I collaborate closely with lawn care professionals to ensure every article is accurate, practical, and easy to follow.