How to Get Rid of Bermuda Grass While Not Killing Anything Else

Bermuda grass is an invasive weed that is difficult to kill. While the most common method of killing Bermuda grass is the use of herbicides, those chemicals can also kill any nearby plants or lawn grasses. The easiest way to kill Bermuda grass without harming other plants is to dry it out using the sun and a sheet of plastic, followed by physically removing it with a shovel.

Things You'll Need

• Lawn mower
• Clear plastic sheet
• Large rocks
• Shovel

Instructions

1. Mow the patches of Bermuda grass down as close to the ground as possible with a lawn mower. If the patches are very small, you may want to use a weed eater instead. Remove the clippings and dispose of them in the trash. Do this in the summer.

2. Cover the mowed patches of Bermuda grass with a sheet of clear plastic, anchoring the edges with large rocks. The plastic will magnify the rays of the sun and bake the grass until it dies. Do not water the Bermuda grass. Leave the plastic on for 6 weeks in the summer.

3. Remove the plastic and dig up the topsoil to remove any remaining dead grass. Turn the soil to a depth of 6 inches with a shovel to expose any remaining roots. Cover the patch with the plastic sheet again and leave it on for three weeks.

4. Remove the plastic sheet. Immediately plant an ornamental plant in the spot, or seed the spot with your preferred species of lawn grass.

References

• University of California: Bermuda Grass
• Sunset: How to Lose Your Bermuda Grass