Reasons for Bermuda Grass to Die Out

Cultivation

• Bermuda grass is not tolerant of shade. Watch your lawn carefully throughout the day. If you notice that a shadow is being repeatedly cast over the same area of the lawn, this could explain why that part of the yard is dying out. Lack of water may also contribute to browning and dying. When ordinary light and water are present and grass is still dying out, you may have poor-quality soil. Turfgrasses like Bermuda grass should be fertilized once a month to keep it healthy and bright green.

Patch Diseases

• Brown patch is a common disease of Bermuda grass. As the name suggests, brown patch manifests itself as patches of dead grass. Patches may grow bigger and blend together over time. Fungicides may be used to control the spread of the disease. Take-all patch is similar to brown patch, but grass turns more yellow in color than brown. Areas of the lawn affected by take-all patch may become thin or sparse in nature as they begin to die out.

Insects

• Chinch bugs are a common Bermuda grass pest. The winged insects are less than 1 inch long with black bodies and feed on Bermuda grass, creating yellowing, dead grass. Chinch bugs are most active when weather conditions are hot and dry. Grubs are also damaging to Bermuda grass. Identifiable by their white, C-shaped bodies, they are common in the summer and fall. The pests feed on roots to kill grass.

Prevention and Management

• Keep Bermuda grass well-drained. Standing water encourages disease and weakness, making the plant more susceptible to insect attack. Do not fertilize heavily with nitrogen, as this may cause take-all patch disease. Water the grass in the morning, giving it time to dry out during the heat of the day. If grass is continually stressed or disease-prone, raise the height of your mower. Bermuda grass should not be kept very short. When insects are present, treat the lawn with pesticide to prevent and manage the infestation.