Bermudagrass can make a good lawn on its own, but it becomes a serious problem when it invades a fescue lawn. With its aggressive runners and spreading growth habit, Bermudagrass can quickly overtake fescue, creating an uneven, patchy appearance. It often spreads beyond the lawn as well, creeping into flower beds and garden areas.
Quick Bermudagrass Control Tips
- Bermudagrass is very difficult to control without harming fescue
- A thick, healthy fescue lawn is the best long-term defense
- Spot-treating Bermudagrass is more effective than blanket spraying
- Most control methods require patience and multiple applications
Why Bermudagrass Is Hard to Control
Controlling Bermudagrass in fescue is challenging because most herbicides that effectively kill Bermudagrass will also damage or kill fescue. Bermudagrass spreads aggressively through both stolons (above-ground runners) and rhizomes (underground runners), allowing it to recover quickly if treatments are not thorough.
Strengthen the Fescue Lawn
The first line of defense is maintaining a dense, healthy fescue lawn. Thick turf shades the soil surface, limiting Bermudagrass spread. Proper fertilization, watering, and fall overseeding help fescue compete more effectively against invading Bermudagrass.
Control Options
- Spot treatment with glyphosate: Spraying Bermudagrass patches with a glyphosate product such as Hi-Yield Killzall during summer, followed by reseeding in the fall, is often the most economical solution. This method will kill surrounding turf and requires repair.
- Selective suppression products: Triclopyr Ester by Hi-Yield and Bermudagrass Control for Lawns by BioAdvanced can suppress Bermudagrass without killing fescue, but they must be applied monthly over several months during the growing season.
What to Expect
Bermudagrass control is rarely a one-time fix. Even with proper treatment, follow-up applications and ongoing lawn care are usually necessary to keep it from returning. With persistence and the right strategy, it is possible to reclaim a fescue lawn and restore a uniform appearance.
Please read and follow all label instructions when applying chemicals.