Organic grass/weed control

[Beekissed]

Here's a link about it: http://www.sunset.com/garden/earth-friendly/how-to-remove-bermuda-grass-00400000052080/

It sounds like solarization is one of the methods recommended. There has to be some deterrent to it or it would cover the whole US. Maybe certain soils that are more inviting and encourage growth more? Maybe adding or creating an imbalance of those nutrients could cause it to slowly dwindle away?

We have a lot of moss here in the lawn and it chokes out good grasses. We found that adding more lime to the soil to decrease the acidity seemed to slowly starve out the moss. Not the same as your Bermuda grass but there has to be some kind of Kryptonite for it or it would grow in all soils and in all areas. What do the other areas that do not have this grass have that keeps it from growing there? What keeps patches here and there but none in between?

Folks are actually planting this stuff intentionally??? http://www.bermuda-attractions.com/bermuda_0000ee.htm

 

[Southern by choice]

I am from the North originally... we didn't have it there.
When we moved here I loved it... until... LOL
It is a hot weather grass that does well in poor soil but if there is great soil it grows. It is everywhere here. It doesn't like shade. Full sun- it thrives. A few drops of water and it is like wildfire.
I have tried the heavy black dble layer and in some places it still comes through in others it was so foul smelling underneath ... like dead fish.
I will check out that link! Thank You!

 

[Beekissed]

I wonder if a person would confine a bunch of chickens or even pen some pigs on a section one wants to garden later and let them do what they do to it if that would kill it or just make it explode like wildfire from all the manure?

 

[Southern by choice]

Well 250 + chickens free range... not killed. Then we had a few pens and it did get killed quickly. Removed the pens and birds... Filled RIGHT BACK IN!

I have some pics of it... I will see if I can find them it is crazy. Of course where the areas here are flooded... no grass... Bermuda hates too much water.
I noticed you are in WV! BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY!!!!!! But those rocks... we call 'em boulders here! LOL

 

[Beekissed]

I wonder if a person would set up drip irrigation in the garden rows if that would discourage the Bermuda from breaching those areas? Probably couldn't keep it wet enough to actually do that, huh?

Boulders? Yes..those things that bend the tiller tines when we till and bend mower blades when we mow! But at least they don't spread and grow more...I think. Some would argue with that!

I think it's very pretty in some areas of the state and I love the climate....fat girl doesn't do well in hot and humid.

 

[bonbean01]

Yup...we burned it too and that made it worse...same as the sedge grass in the pasture...burning it was a big mistake....some things we learn the hard way.

 

[Bossroo]

In Cal., all of my neighbors and I have tried the Sunset recomendation for years ... let us just say, DREAM ON ! Unless one gets every bit of root and every seed it will be back with a vengense. From personal as well as my neighbors' experience, Roundup works if applied 3-4 times during the growing season until new seed is introduced by wind, birds, etc.

 

[Southern by choice]

yeah this is a tough grass. Round up would work but only temporarily. We try not to use stuff like that on the farm. Looking for more organic ways, less chemical.

 

[Beekissed]

You just need to fence that yard off and turn in the sheep! One of the warm season grasses mentioned as good graze for sheep was the Bermuda. Might as well do something with that nasty stuff....

 

[Bossroo]

You just need to fence that yard off and turn in the sheep! One of the warm season grasses mentioned as good graze for sheep was the Bermuda. Might as well do something with that nasty stuff....

Well, that may sound good, however those sheep will consume any number of bermuda seeds and when one turns them loose into a new pasture... guess what seeds + fertilizer is spread there ? Also,the sheep will do nothing to consume the roots, so that too will regenerate the bermuda grass.