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Bermuda Grass (?) Eradication #873705

Asked June 18, 2024, 7:59 PM EDT

I have a large area which I am converting from lawn to a native Pollinator garden. I have used layers of cardboard with mulch on top to smother the grass. This has been very successful, except for some very tough, non-lawn grass, with tough, deep roots that spread in all directions, which is coming up in the mulch in several places. I think it might be Bermuda grass but I’m not sure. I’m digging it up but it’s a slow process. How can I get rid of this grass, without using Roundup or other poisons? Thank you.

Jackson County Oregon

Expert Response

Bermudagrass is not an easy weed to control, especially when it must be controlled selectively within an already planted turf, garden, or landscaped area. It can be managed nonchemically with a persistent program of removal, or over large areas by cultivation and by withholding water during the summer to desiccate the stolons and rhizomes. Mulches of black plastic or geotextile landscape fabric can also be effective over large areas if light is excluded. Control with herbicides requires careful timing and often more than one application.

Here is a publication for you to review:

https://ipm.ucanr.edu/pmg/pestnotes/pn7453.html


Chris Rusch Replied June 20, 2024, 11:15 PM EDT

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