How to Prevent Bermuda Grass
- 1). Apply a pre-emergent herbicide in early spring, before the growing season begins. Apply this to areas that you know have Bermuda grass problems, or to the whole lawn or garden if your area is completely infected. This will help to stop Bermuda grass from growing before it even starts.
- 2). Remove any growing patches of Bermuda grass by pulling the weed out with your hands. You may need a small spade to dig under the ground a few inches to get all of the roots. Pulling by hand is the most effective way to remove Bermuda grass patches without harming your plants.
- 3). Cover Bermuda grass with black mulch, black landscape fabric or black tarp. Cover the infected area, as well as 2 feet beyond the area in every direction, for best results. This coverage will prevent the Bermuda grass from receiving the sunlight required to grow, and will also help to dry out the grass.
- 4). Refrain from watering your Bermuda grass during the growing season, from mid-spring to late summer. Covering the infected areas will help to prevent them from receiving any rain water. Without water, the grass will gradually dry out and die.
- 5). Treat the covered, drying infected areas every two weeks. Rake away any dead and dried roots or seeds, and till the soil 6 inches deep to bring other roots to the surface so that they can dry. If you can completely dry out all Bermuda grass seeds and roots, you can prevent it from returning in later years.
