Does Tilling Kill Bermudagrass?

Natural Growth Habit

• As a warm-season grass, Bermuda grows rapidly between spring and fall. Depending on the variety, it spreads through seeds, above-ground and underground stems, or stolons and rhizomes. This vegetative stem growth allows Bermuda to populate a yard quickly for a lush turf, but it often invades nearby gardens. Although most rhizomes remain in the top 6 inches of soil, cultivated soils often allow rhizomes to dive deeper for extensive spread. If any rhizome piece breaks off from the main plant, it simply grows a new grass patch and continues its spread.

Tilling Strategy

• Although Bermuda is actively growing in the summer, this is the best season to till your yard because of the extreme heat. Allow your Bermuda to dry out. You can till the soil to pull the root system to the surface. The hot summer sun dries out the rhizomes and stolons as they die back. However, Bermuda is a hardy turf; these pieces can still grow as they lay on the topsoil. Till your yard several times until all the rhizomes are exposed. Carefully discard the turf and root system to prevent any regrowth on your soil. Any seeds that the Bermuda was able to produce may still be hidden in the soil. Pull any seedlings you find after tilling to prevent new root systems from forming.

Black Plastic Alternative

• If tilling doesn't remove all the Bermudagrass, spread black plastic across your soil to kill off this turf. Overlap your plastic to prevent sunlight from reaching the turf through gaps. Pins holding the plastic edges down prevent stolons from spreading out to the sunlight along the sides. You should leave the plastic on for up to one year. Lack of sunlight causes widespread dieback for the Bermuda and also withholds critical moisture. After removing the plastic, till your soil to dislodge the dead turf. Discard any leftover root pieces to ensure that no regrowth is possible.

Shade and Mulch

• An alternative strategy to kill Bermudagrass is through strategic mulching and shading. Spread mulch across the Bermuda, especially as it creeps into garden beds. Your mulch layer should be a minimum of 2 inches deep to suffocate the grass blades from air and sunlight. Tall trees and nearby shrubs also provide deep shade that kills off Bermuda. This turf species does not thrive well in shade and quickly dies back if dark conditions persist.