Bermuda always wins.

It seems that way in the garden sometimes, but I have a hard time believing it. In wild areas, bermuda grass coexists with other things, and without humans helping the other things along. I'm sure it's possible, just trying to work it out on the small scale.

In "wild areas" Bermuda is native. Is Bermuda native in your area?

Bermuda grass is not considered native here (north Georgia), but it's everywhere due to its popularity as lawn and livestock pasture. There are examples to be seen of the stuff going untended and effectively sharing space with trees, other grasses, shrubs, fruits and vegetables, in one of my garden sections it's coexisting with a very vigorous tomato plant, being an invader doesn't make it dominate everything. I'm not sure what the difference is between garden space and pasture or wilderness, that the bermuda grass behaves so differently, but I suspect shade and pre-existing competitors are part of it.

sure, planting through thick mulch, in particular cardboard, has always worked for me. I assume this is a veg. garden. Then next year the use of self mulching plants like squash or collard will help with the extermination.

I wanted to grow lemon cucumbers there, but my seeds didn't sprout, and in the brief uncovered waiting period, the previously smothered (with a big discarded carpet) bermuda grass sprang back to life and vigor.

I tried a lot of things including scorched earth but never a mulch as thick and deep as you propose. Maybe it will work, but those roots are deep and durable.

Do report back on your progress next growing season.

I have it amongst a coarse fescue lawn (where I don't care so much) but it spreads into my garden paths and beds. I have been using Bayer Bermuda Grass Control spray with some success. It doesn't kill it instantly, but sure knocks it back with multiple applications with no effects on other lawn grasses. I try to keep it off the garden plants but spraying in the aisles inevitably hits the garden sometimes, with no apparent ill effects. It's called 'control' because they don't guarantee death and the label recommends multiple applications. I never seem to get on a regular spray routine for long enough during summer to wipe it out, but things are much better and I will win eventually. You might try this product if all else fails.

Bermuda grows through the entire compost pile 3' high and a pile is full of its rhizomes. It enjoys thick mulches as nothing else around.

At the nursery I work at, many gardeners fertilize the heck out of it, get it growing really good then kill it off. Seems to shock it some how. Several younger years ago, I decided I'd dig down to fing the origination of the grass. Three feet and and about three feet over, that junk was stil going, never found an end or source. I did find many vines hiding under my poured cement edging just hanging out waiting to spring forth. I cleared that back as far as possible then hit it with Round Up. No one can get to the end or source though so Round Up doesn't ever wipe it out, just slows it down.

I've tried pulling that stuff up by the roots in my late grandmother's garden; gave up when it became obvious I'd pull out Earth's core before I got to the end of it. I could try killing it with a powerful poison that goes to the heart of the plant, and that's what locals suggest, but I'd rather give the soil a break, and learn to coexist with it. One obvious benefit is soil full of that stuff is never going to erode any further.

You can only do so much pulling until you hear that POP sound when a rhizome breaks...and you know there's more there that you left behind.

I do not think you will be able to out compete Bermuda grass.

Good luck, and please post your efforts and results

At the nursery I work at, many gardeners fertilize the heck out of it,
get it growing really good then kill it off. Seems to shock it some how.

YES! To kill it, get it growing well, THEN apply glyphosate. You need the
grass to have a good amount of active top growth so the glyphosate can
be absorbed well.

I cleared that back as far as possible then hit it with Round Up.

If you mow and yank and dig and then think glyphosate will "finish the job", you are misled. Glyphosate can only be absorbed by actively metabolizing leaves.

http://lazygardens.blogspot.com/2015/06/how-to-kill-bermuda-grass-in-10-easy.html

Saw 2 little blades of BG trying to grow AROUND the cardboard cap, ripped them out and got ant stung for my trouble. No penetration yet. The cover plants are beginning to visibly sprout. Clover coming in first.

Early in the spring of 2016, the gas company dug about 3 ft down into the Bermuda-choked strip between the sidewalk and the street . I was so happy! I would finally be of that demon plant that I had been battling for years. Nah, the digging and disruption just got the Bermuda all excited. It came back lusher and greener than ever. Spring of 2017, gas company comes back! This time they had to replace a 50 or 60 year old gas main about 8 feet down. Bermuda is all happy and excited once again.

Omg this is hilarious but so sad too. Once started, we are just stuck with it.

If it gets chopped up by digging or tilling, the pieces resprout into new plants. It's like that alien monster from The Thing. You can't let any pieces of it escape!

Well I hate Bumuda Grass (I reckon it's our Couch Grass) so much that I now get excited when I see it.

Some years ago I used the newspaper/cardboard technique on my gar- okay let's be truthful... wilderness. The BG/CG was out of control. And without that head start, I don't see how I would have managed to reduce it to such an extent that now I pounce on it with glee when I see a piece.

I like your 'can do' attitude, Jon. Don't let these wet blankets deter you.

If you start on another patch, make sure you overlap the newspaper (and/or cardboard) and have it thick enough so as to stop penetration. Also, it might be easier to work with if it's wet. On calm days I would lay it dry then water it but sometimes I would soak the newspapers first. It was lots of fun.

The Bermuda Grass/Couch Grass can't get through it. It can get through anything else but it just can't. get. through. thick. layers. of. overlapping. newspaper (or cardboard).

But sometimes you'll see a piece. It's gasping for air (well, light). It has found its way through the teeniest gap, having twisted this way and that. Or maybe there was a little tear or a pin prick caused by a rock. Don't pull it out or you will tear your newspaper/cardboard. Just cut it off. Then go fetch a brick or something handy and plonk it on that spot.

Now obviously when you are constructing your Bermuda Grass/Couch Grass Killer, you need to cover it so that it stays in place and does not look ugly. I use my favourite mulch which is leaves from deciduous trees. They are soft and luxurious. And I live in an area where such trees are all around. I collect trailer fulls.

It's loads of fun fighting the battle of this grass. (BTW I never use any form of poison. I just don't like it.)