Types of Bermuda Grass and the Best Varieties for Lawn, Hay and Golf | CG Lawn (2023)

Looking to improve your landscaping by switching to a Bermuda grass lawn? Bermuda grass is scientifically known as Cynodon dactylonlow-maintenance lawnwhich is typically grown from Bermuda grass seed. The seed you choose determines the quality and variety of the grass.

Different types of Bermuda grass strains generally have ashort germination time, due to the natural removal of the protective layer on the seed once planted. Shelled seeds usually sprout faster than unshelled ones.

Bermuda grass seeds are loved by homeowners and lawn care professionals because they thrive in a variety of soil types. Additionally, Bermuda grass is also drought tolerant and one of the most popular warm season grass species to pick.

Different types of Bermuda grass

There are two broad categories of Bermuda weed: Hybrid Bermuda and Common Bermuda.

Bermudagras hybridsincludes tif varieties whileCommon Bermuda Grasstypically includes seeded varieties.

Let's take a closer look at each of these two types of Bermuda weed strains below!

Common Bermuda Grass

This variety is also called seeded Bermuda grass. It shows a light green hue with a rough texture.

Despite having a lower shoot density compared to hybrid varieties, Bermuda grass has a higher nutritional value, making it best suited for making forage and hay for livestock. It is also excellent as a lawn grass because of its dense growthwithstand high levels of pedestrian traffic.

However, regular Bermuda grass is not suitable for lawns and public parks – this is where the improved regular Bermuda seed strains come into play.

Due to their relatively deeper rooting and denser growth, these improved strains are a great alternative for high traffic lawns. They can thrive on lawns, public parks, and even athletic fields.

Besides, they arecheaper to maintaincompared to hybrid Bermuda grass varieties.

Recommended Bermuda Grass Seeds:

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Bermudagras hybrids

This strain is also known as a “sterile vegetative hybrid”. It is a cross product of two species of grass: common Bermuda and African Bermuda (Cynodon transvaalensis).

Hybrid Bermuda grass must be developed using vegetative methods such as turfing, plugging, or sprigging; since it does not produce seeds.

Each of these vegetative methods is explained below:

• Sods – here patches of grass are taken from an existing lawn and installed/planted in the desired area.
• Plugs – where seedlings are grown in trays and then transplanted into the desired bedding.
• Sprigging – installing sections of grass called sprigs.

exceptions

There are a few exceptions to the seeded and hybrid Bermuda grass species, including "Structure 10' and 'Princess'. For example, the former cannot set seeds when isolated, but will do so if pollen from another species of Bermuda grass is nearby.

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That'Princess’ – meanwhile – is a hybrid Bermuda variety that differs from all other hybrid Bermuda in that it produces seeds. However, it can be easily distinguished from seed varieties as it is darker in color with a softer texture.

What is the Best Type of Bermuda Grass for Golf Greens?

Golf courses typically call for hardy, fast-healing grass varieties; Characteristics shared by most Bermuda grass varieties.That's why I love Blackjack Bermuda for golf greens.

Blackjack-Bermuda-Gras

Get Blackjack Bermuda seeds here

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Over the years, several Bermuda grass varieties have been recognized by turf professionals as the first choice for golf courses. This is largely due to their ability to withstand drought and wear and tear.

Below is a detailed overview of some of the best types of Bermuda grass that you might want to consider if you are a homeowner laying a new lawn or if you are the maintenance manager at your local golf club.

Blackjack Bermuda grass is one of the most preferred varieties of this type of grass. It is known for its dense coverage, making it one of theDear Grassamenfor areas with frequent foot activity.

But why is Blackjack Bermuda grass preferred over the other varieties? For starters, it's one of those strains that stays dark green and vibrant throughout the summer months.

Here's what you can expect from Blackjack Bermuda weed:

• Thick and full of density for a carpet-like feel
• Great tolerance for shadows
• drought tolerance
• cold tolerance
• Great sowing success and germination rate
• Very fine texture for better drought resistance

This variety of Bermuda grass does well when planted in well-drained soil. It's a thoughGrass species with high shade tolerance, it is best grown in full sun. If you plan to seed your lawn with Blackjack Bermuda grass, do so when the soil temperature is around 65°F and at a rate of 2-3 pounds per 1,000 square feet.

Buying Guide to Bermuda Weed Strains

If you're unsure which type of Bermuda would be best for your home lawn, the guide below addresses popular varieties that are most common in home gardens.

Best Bermuda grass species for home lawn

When it comes to lawnaesthetic appearance,and the ability to resist lawn diseases should be the first two decision considerations when looking to improve the lawn in your yard. But before you plant Bermuda grass of any kind, make sure you have itgood irrigation available.

As such, hybrid Bermuda strains are the best as they recognize the distinctive appearance of common Bermuda grasses while exhibiting fewer disease problems than other Bermuda grass species. The only downside - perhaps - is that they require more proper lawn care if you want to keep your yard looking beautiful. Here's a rundown of some of the best Bermuda weeds for the home—all hybrid strains—that thrive in lawns.

Tif Way 419

This is my home lawn Tiflawn mix. It grows fast and fills out quite thickly. It's a great mix for dogs or when it's under heavy use as it's very resilient and regrows faster than other Bermuda types. Tifway 419 is also very durable and disease resistant and you can mow it closer to the ground and it will thrive.

TifSport

Among the desirable traits of this hybrid, introduced in 1997, is its superior turf texture and density. In addition, TifSport Bermuda grass is fairly cold tolerant and hardy.

TifSport turfs can only be made by vegetative propagation as they do not produce seeds.

Tifway II

This is an improvement over the original Tifway Bermuda grass. Tifway II is said to perform betterTolerance to frost and nematodes. In terms of looks, this hybrid Bermuda weed really shineshigh shoot density.

TifGrand

This hybrid Bermuda strain is excellent for lawns as it maintains its beautiful foliage even when soil conditions deteriorate. TifGrand Bermuda grass is known to better retain its rich green leaf blade hue even under insufficient nitrogen conditions.

This hybrid Bermuda grass does not produce pollen and is more disease resistant than most common Bermuda grasses.

In addition, TifGrand grows relatively faster and is very shade tolerant. Lawn care experts recommend mowing TifGrand lawns once they reach a height of about two inches. TifGrand also goes by the trade name PP21017.

Other Bermudian Grasarten

Yukon

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This fine-leaved Bermuda weed variety is a strain you'll find on many golf courses around the world. It features a rich green hue that makes it visually appealing. Because it is a lower-growing variety, Yukon grass is typically mowed to about 1/4-in.

With a seed rate of around 2-3 pounds per 1000 square feet, this Bermuda grass variety is perfect for turf application. With proper soil temperature, moisture and nutrients, Yukon Bermuda grass will sprout within 7-10 days.

From the sixth to eighth week after sowing, it begins to develop its rhizome system, resulting in a dense turf. Yukon turfs are usually playable after 60 days, especially if you feed them thatbest fertilizer for Bermuda grass lawn.

Oasis Mixed Bermuda Grass

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This strain is a cross of several improved common Bermuda grass species, hence its relatively higher genetic diversity and broader range of adaptation.

Such seed mixtures tend to exhibit the desirable traits of their component cultivars while exhibiting fewer individual cultivar deficiencies.

Research has shown that Oasis turf quality outperforms regular Bermuda grass by up to 20%. As such, turf specialists recommend it for use on golf course fairways and tees.

Here is a detailed list of the desirable attributes of the Oasis Bermuda blend:

• Lush green-light green color.
• Medium soft to medium coarse leaf structure.
• Short-medium height.
• Excellent traffic tolerance.
• Fairly good drought tolerance.
• Fair - good cold tolerance.

Best Types of Bermuda Grass for Hay

Forage Bermuda grass varieties can withstand the ups and downs that come with hay production—because it is a perennial grass. Different Bermudagrass cultivars exhibit different desirable traits that all make them suitable for hay production.

Below are some of the best Bermuda weed strains for hay production!

Tifton 85

Tifton 85 is a cross of Tifton 68. It is a cold tolerant South African Bermuda strain. Because Tifton 68 is easily digested but has poor cold tolerance, its hybrid version Tifton 85 exhibits the desirable trait while also masking the undesirable trait.

The most common and popular method of establishing Tifton 85 is sprigging. In hay production, yield is a key success factor and Tifton 85 excels in this respect. With broad leaves and large stems, this Bermuda strain is known to produce the highest yields and highest digestibility among recommended Bermuda weed strains for hay production.

Russel

This hardy Bermuda grass species is also popular with hay producers. Given sufficient moisture conditions, Russell has been known to produce yield levels comparable only to the Tifton 85 mentioned above.

This Bermuda variety also exhibits a relatively denser but shorter forage at maturity. Russell is also easier and quicker to make than Tifton 85. It can be made by sprigging.

Coastal Bermuda Grass

This hybrid forage Bermuda grass variety is a mainstay of hay production. In the southern United States, an estimated 15 million acres of hay and pasture are made up of coastal Bermuda grass. Being a tall strain, Coastal is known to produce twice as much forage as is normally produced by most common Bermuda grasses.

Its lining quality is also quite superior compared to most common Bermuda types.

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Alex K.

Hello, Alex Kuritz here. Growing up, I remember my family having one of the best lawns in the neighborhood. Rich green and lush. Growing up, I did a lot to tend and take care of not only my family's lawns, but my neighbors' as well. I can say I have years of experience and I am here to share it with you.