Bermuda
The most widely used warm-season turfgrass in the southern US. Bermuda has fine, dense blades and spreads aggressively by both above-ground stolons and underground rhizomes. It thrives in heat and full sun but goes dormant and turns brown in winter.
- Season
- Warm-season
- Mow height
- 1–2 inches
- Spreads by
- Stolons and rhizomes
- Blade width
- Fine
- Drought tolerance
- High
- Shade tolerance
- Low
- Regions
- Southeast, Southwest, Transition Zone
Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) is the go-to turfgrass for sports fields, golf courses, and home lawns across the South. Its aggressive spreading habit means it recovers quickly from damage and fills in bare spots on its own — but that same aggressiveness makes it hard to contain around garden beds.
Best use: High-traffic lawns, sports fields, full-sun home lawns in the South.
Mowing: Keep at 1–2 inches. Bermuda loves low, frequent mowing. Raise to 2 inches in summer heat.
Fertilizer: Heavy feeder — 4–6 lbs of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft per year during the growing season.
Watering: Moderate need. Very drought-tolerant once established but looks best with regular watering.
Dormancy: Goes dormant and turns brown when temps fall below 50°F. Greens up in spring.
More on Grass Types
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