bermuda grass in spreading shrubs

4 years ago

For starters, we live in the country and have every possible type of grass growing in our 1.5 acre yard.

Several years ago, I planted 'grow-low' Sumac on the back (south) side of our house to create a loose hedge, which I love. However there's Bermuda grass growing in the area, and the two have become VERY entangled.

The advice of the best nursery in the area was to cut back the sumac and then spray the Bermuda grass with Fertilome Kilzall. (They didn't think Over the Top would kill it). So I have done a fair amount of cutting back, but I really don't see how I can spray with Kilzall or Round-up because A. I now have fresh cuts that could absorb it and B. There's still plenty of Bermuda grass entertwined in the many woody stems that remain. I COULD kill the grass a bit farther away.

Questions:

1. Is there an herbicide that's really effective on Bermuda grass that wouldn't hurt my sumac?

2. How long is a cut of a woody stem considered a fresh cut?

3. Any other suggestions?

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Comments (6)

charles kidder
4 years ago
I think you need to dig it all up and start over. You need a physical barrier to keep Bermuda grass out. Like wall block buried several inches deep.. You may be able to kill it without killing the sumac, but it will just grow back.
dchall_san_antonio
4 years ago
You can use cardboard to mask off the plants from the grass as you spray. My wife and I do it as a team.
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kitasei2
4 years ago
I don’t have any experience with either bermuda grass or the sumac, but I have killed an aggressive campanula growing through creeping juniper by sliding cardboard under the juniper snd burying it with wood chips. For now at least!
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
You can try a herbicide that only targets monocots or grass-like plants. Grass-B-Gon, Fusilade or Ornamec are all brand names that contain fluazifop-p-butyl as the active ingredient and this should kill any grass-like plant, including Bermudagrass, but without damaging any broadleaved plant like the sumac.

It is reported as effective against Bermudagrass infiltration but may take repeat applications for 100% control. In fact, next to glyphosate, fluazifop-p-butyl is the highest rated product for Bermudagrass control but not as indiscriminate in its targets as glyphosate.

I do not have bermuda so cannot attest to its effectiveness personally but it DOES work on any other weedy grasses I have applied it to.
ksmetamaid
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you, gardengal48. I was hoping there might be a product like this.
Jilly
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Exactly what gardengal said — Grass B Gon does work, but like she said, it will take repeated applications. It does not harm other plants, I’ve been using it for years.

Texas here, Bermuda is the bane of my existence. I’m currently battling it growing up through a thick carpet of Asian Jasmine in my hell strip. Impossible to manually pull out.

In regards to it in shrubs and other plants, I reach in and try to dig out any I can get to before using the spray.

Bermuda laughs at barriers (edging, etc). But staying on top of it with pulling and spraying will keep it in check, and eventually you’ll only have a bit here and there. I also, if possible, put cardboard down under my mulch. Doesn’t stop Bermuda, but slows it down.

Good luck. I dream of my next yard (and no one near me) having Bermuda. :D