How to Kill Garden Bermuda Grass Without Chemicals
Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) is a type of grass common in the southern United States as both a weed and a landscaping plant. It is most often used as lawn grass in backyards, golf courses and in sporting fields. The very characteristics that make Bermuda grass popular--it grows quickly, is hardy and resistant to drought and disease--also makes it occasionally difficult to kill when it invades a garden. Organic gardeners can eradicate Bermuda grass several ways without resorting to toxic herbicides.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Lawn mower
- Sod cutter
- Newspapers
- Mulch or potting soil
- Plastic tarp
- White vinegar
- Spray bottle
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1
Use a standard lawn mower, and trim the Bermuda grass to a height of one to two inches. This makes managing and killing the grass easier.
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2
Remove the Bermuda grass manually. This option is ideal for gardeners who want immediate removal. Use a sod cutter, and dig out the grass. Cut to a depth of three to four inches to remove all of the grass' roots. Lay the Bermuda grass upside down in the sun to kill it.
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3
Kill the Bermuda grass with newspapers. This option is best for individuals who want a low-labor method and wish to immediately plant over the grass. Place a layer of of non-glossy newspaper over the grass, 10 to 12 sheets thick. Overlap the sheets to completely blanket the grass. Sprinkle the newspapers with water to make them heavier and prevent them from blowing away.
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4
Pour five to six inches of mulch or potting soil onto the newspaper layer. The mulch or soil and newspaper combination will kill the Bermuda grass over the next eight to 10 weeks. During this time, you can plant other shrubs, flowers and plants in the potting soil and mulch mixture.
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5
Solarize the Bermuda grass if the grass is in an area that receives six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day. Though unsightly, this low-labor method works faster than the newspaper technique. Cover the Bermuda grass with a plastic tarp, and weigh down the tarp's edges with heavy objects. The sun's heat will bake the grass and kill it.
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6
Spray the Bermuda grass with pure white vinegar poured into a plastic spray bottle. This option is ideal for small patches of Bermuda grass. A daily application of white vinegar will kill the grass in one to two weeks.
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