When to Sow Bermudagrass Seeds
Today, the editor will introduce when to sow Bermudagrass seeds and the planting methods and timing of Bermudagrass, as well as some related introductions. The specific contents are as follows:
Bermudagrass, scientifically known as Cynodon dactylon, is a low-lying herbaceous plant belonging to the Gramineae family and the Bermudagrass genus. The stems are thin and tough, with the lower parts creeping and spreading long on the ground, often producing adventitious roots at the nodes. It can grow up to 30 centimeters tall, with thick, smooth, and hairless stems, sometimes slightly flattened on both sides.
The leaf sheaths are slightly ridged, the ligules consist of a ring of fine hairs; the leaves are linear, usually hairless on both sides. The panicles are spicate, with grayish-green or purple spikelets, small flowers; the anthers are light purple, and the styles are purplish-red. The caryopses are oblong-cylindrical. It flowers and fruits from May to October.
It is widely distributed in the provinces south of the Yellow River and found worldwide in warm regions; it often grows near villages, roadsides, riverbanks, and on wasteland slopes. Its rhizomes spread powerfully, covering the ground widely, making it a good plant for soil and embankment stabilization and commonly used for草坪 or sports field construction. However, when growing in orchards or farmland, it becomes a notorious weed that is difficult to eradicate. The type specimen was collected from Southern Europe. The rhizomes can be fed to pigs, cows, horses, rabbits, chickens, etc., which enjoy eating its leaves; the whole plant can be used as medicine, with the effects of blood purification and fever reduction.
Bermudagrass has developed rhizomes and long, creeping stolons, with strong creeping ability, reaching 1*-2cm in length. Each node touches the ground and takes root, capable of reproducing into new plants; the leaves are lanceolate or linear, 2-10cm long and 1-7cm wide, with two dark lines on both sides of the midrib, and short ligules. Bermudagrass prefers warm and humid climates and moist soil, is not cold-tolerant, grows poorly in cold climates, and is prone to frost damage; it enjoys sunlight and heat (can tolerate 43 degrees Celsius high temperature), grows appropriately when the daily average temperature is above 24 degrees Celsius; when the daily average temperature drops to 6-9 degrees Celsius, growth slows down and starts to turn yellow; when the daily average temperature is 2-3 degrees Celsius, its stems and leaves wither, and it overwinters with its rhizomes and stolons, with the dormant buds resuming growth the following year.
Bermudagrass
Cultivation Techniques
Bermudagrass seeding is generally carried out in late spring and summer when the temperature is high, and the seeds are easy to germinate, with a seeding rate of 30-35 grams per square meter. After sowing, the soil should be covered immediately to ensure the seeds have full contact with the soil, with a soil cover thickness of 2MM. Direct broadcasting with soil can also be done. After sowing, water should be promptly irrigated, with atomizing pipes being a good choice for irrigation equipment, as high atomization can prevent water droplets from washing the seeds out of the soil. Then, a layer of straw or non-woven fabric can be covered to reduce evaporation and promote seedling growth.
It is extremely important to level the lawn bed before planting, as an uneven bed will cause many problems in future lawn management. Before preparing the land, all building waste such as stones, broken bricks, tiles, and various weeds and withered leaves should be completely cleared from the lawn bed. Land preparation is divided into rough and fine preparation, with a plowing depth of 20-25cm being appropriate, leveling the lawn bed surface, loosening the cultivated layer, and using a light-duty roller (150-200kg) to press once. To ensure good growth of Bermudagrass, sufficient base fertilizer should be applied before land preparation, mainly organic fertilizers such as decomposed chicken manure and human urine manure.
Irrigation and Fertilization
Irrigation is one of the main methods to ensure timely and adequate water supply for the growth of lawn grass and an important measure for lawn maintenance and management. Due to the relatively shallow root system of Bermudagrass, timely irrigation should be provided during dry summers. When irrigating, water should be poured all at once to prevent roots from spreading to the surface and reducing their drought resistance. The amount of water and frequency of irrigation depend on specific conditions.
Fertilization can provide the necessary nutrients for lawn grass, and it is one of the main factors affecting the resistance and quality of the lawn. Bermudagrass lawn fertilization can be carried out in early and mid-summer, with fertilizers mainly containing N, P, and K, at a rate of about 30 jin per mu. After fertilization, irrigation should be carried out promptly to allow the fertilizer to dissolve and penetrate into the soil for Bermudagrass absorption, improving fertilizer utilization.
Bermudagrass Lawn
Maintenance Management
Lawn maintenance management is an important measure to obtain and maintain high-quality lawns. If maintenance management is improper, the quality of the lawn will decrease and its lifespan will be shortened. The main measures for lawn maintenance management include lawn mowing, irrigation, and fertilization.
Mowing Management
Mowing is the most basic and important task in lawn maintenance management. Mowing can control the height of lawn grass growth, keep the lawn flat and beautiful, and increase the density of the lawn. At the same time, mowing can also suppress diseases caused by dense branches and leaves. Before mowing, stones, wires, branches, plastic, and other debris should be removed from the lawn to prevent damage to the mower and ensure mowing quality. The mowing frequency mainly depends on the growth rate of Bermudagrass. The mowing frequency varies at different times. The mowing height should follow the 1/3 rule. Bermudagrass, as an excellent soil and slope stabilization plant, is generally mowed 2-3 times a year.
Disease and Pest Control
Diseases and pests severely affect the quality of the lawn. As long as environmental conditions are suitable, pathogens can infect lawn grass, causing diseases. Timely mowing, improving the ventilation and lighting of the lawn, can reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests. At the same time, the cut grass should be promptly removed from the lawn. Scientific and reasonable fertilization should be carried out according to different growth stages of Bermudagrass, applying more N fertilizer in spring; more P and K fertilizers in summer and autumn to improve the disease and pest resistance of Bermudagrass. For lawns with diseases and pests, fungicides and insecticides should be sprayed in a timely manner to prevent their spread, and preventive measures can be taken for lawns without diseases and pests.
Bermudagrass has strong competitiveness with weeds, and general weeds find it difficult to invade its area. Weed control should adhere to the principle of "removing early, removing small, removing completely." Before Bermudagrass forms a lawn, there may be weeds invading, which should be removed manually or with selective herbicides.
Lawn Establishment: Bermudagrass is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Gramineae family and Bermudagrass genus, suitable for warm seasons. It has rhizomes and creeping stolons, with very strong creeping ability. The leaves are dark green, slightly shade-tolerant, drought-tolerant, warm and humid-loving, and have a certain degree of cold resistance. It has a wide range of suitable soil pH (5.5-7.5), growing better in moist and well-drained medium to heavy clay soils, and also grows well in light sandy saline-alkali soil. The optimal growth temperature is 20-35°C, with vigorous growth at 24°C, growth stops when the temperature is below 16°C, and begins to fade and gradually enter dormancy when the soil temperature is below 10°C. The green period in the East China region is generally about 250 days. The suitable sowing time for Bermudagrass in the East China region is from March to September each year. If sown too early in spring due to low temperatures, germination will be slow, affecting the formation of the lawn; if sown too late in autumn due to low temperatures, the lawn will grow slowly, and the seedlings will not be able to survive the winter safely. The artificial seeding rate is 10-12g/m²; the spray seeding rate is about 15g/m², and it can also be mixed with other warm-season or cold-season grass species.
Suitable Planting Areas
Due to Bermudagrass lawn's strong tolerance to trampling, invasiveness, regenerative ability, and resistance to harsh environments, it can tolerate extensive management, with a developed root system, commonly used for landscaping in airports, embankment and reservoir soil and water conservation, expressways, and railway sides for soil and slope stabilization green projects, making it an excellent soil and water conservation plant variety. Choosing high-quality grass seeds from China, the improved Bermudagrass lawn can form a robust, high-density lawn, with strong invasiveness, fine leaf texture, and lawn color ranging from light green to dark green, with powerful rhizomes, creeping growth, forming dense turf, with a wide and deep root system, suitable for golf course fairways, park green spaces, and villa area lawn construction.
That's all for the detailed introduction of when to sow Bermudagrass seeds and the planting methods and timing. Did you get it?