Permanently Removing Bermuda

2 years ago

We want to permanently remove some Bermuda grass from our backyard, to create a gravel path. What is the best way to do this, without using chemicals? Dig it out at the root? (I think the roots are 3 feet down)

We plan to use a machine to remove the top layer of grass and then put down a good quality landscaping fabric.

We have two corner trees that get watered with bubblers, so the water needs to be able to drain away.

Any tips would be appreciated. I often see neighbors painfully pulling up weeds in their gravel. They spray weed killer, which only turns the weeds brown, so they still have to pluck them up.

I understand that even when you remove the Bermuda, birds will drop seeds so we will have to deal with that at some point . But just want to avoid lots of growth to begin with.

Featured Answer

marmiegard_z7b

2 years ago

Bermuda is notoriously aggressive for growing under , over & straight through barriers. But I had a a little better experience with creating some beds in my former Bermuda lawn. However I did use Roundup plus it down newspaper & thick layers of soil & compost & avoided really digging down or tilling for the first year. Plus for several areas I took advantage of a natural barrier such as street curb or driveway.

But I did maintain some wooden raised beds and some rock edge beds in mid-yard, again with a spritz of chemicals , so, a small DMZ around the bed for if any sprigs tried to make a run for it. I would not have been able to allow the Bermuda to get real close. So, I don’t think it will work if your vision is a gravel path with a nice sharp edging of Bermuda alongside it. You might be able to make a paver or stepping-stone path set in the lawn— the bigger the paver the better, and set in sod cut- outs, I think sand filler to level is recommended but I’m not a stone or paver expert, with the stones set an inch or so above soil level but below your mow- height— even then you’d need some string- trimmer work for the edges & gaps between, and the Bermuda will want to throw runners over during the growing season, but at least the stones/ pavers themselves would be impervious. Plus this is easier to do if you have an area where the Bermuda is struggling—a shadier mud-prone zone you can often manage a paver/ stepping stone path because the grass isn’t happy. I know people must do various kinds of paths , so you might try some searches. but the only for sure way is completely concrete or aggregate or something. Generally you don’t want to try to create lots of meanderings through a vigorous Bermuda lawn, so choose your battles and materials for where you really need something.

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Comments (7)

callirhoe123
2 years ago
Don't use landscape fabric. Weeds seed into it and are very difficult to remove. Bermuda grass is very difficult to eliminate, It spreads both underground and by seed. You can dig it out (hard work) but it is difficult to get it all. What sort of path do you plan to make. Where does it lead?
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HALLETT & Co.
2 years ago
You are signed up for pulling weeds when you put in a gravel path. Weed cloth will keep weeds from coming up from below but they will happily germinate in the gravel. As to killing the grass sans chemical just tack down black plastic where the path will go for a couple months and the heat of the sun will kill the grass (if it gets sun). I eliminated all my grass (corner lot…) with a 6” layer of arborist mulch that quickly smothered the grass.
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callirhoe123
2 years ago
The plastic will kill the grass beneath it, but if the borders of the path are Bermuda grass it will simply recolonize the area when the plastic is removed.
Jilly
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I’ve had Bermuda at every house I’ve lived in, and for paths or new beds, we dig up the grass then use cardboard or thick layers of newspaper under gravel/stepping stones. Yes, you’ll be pulling out Bermuda here and there for a while, there’s just no way around that, but IME less and less each year.

As mentioned, don’t use landscape fabric. Trust us on this … it’s an absolute nightmare to deal with. Bermuda just laughs at it.

There’s really no such thing as permanently removing Bermuda if there’s any within miles of you, but as I said, each year should get better with diligence about keeping it pulled up.

I don’t like using chemicals, but sometimes it’s necessary with how aggressive Bermuda is. “Grass B Gon” is good to have on hand — it’s much, much easier to pull it up after it’s been sprayed. I use it for Bermuda that grows in my Asian Jasmine ground cover.

ETA: We always used/use some sort of border on our paths. It won’t keep the grass out completely, but helps. If you don’t, you’ll need to edge quite often to stop the Bermuda creeping over and under.
katy3816 thanked Jilly
katy3816
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks everyone for the advice. i didn’t realize bermuda grows over and under. It appears weeds will always be in my future then 😏
katy3816
Original Author
2 years ago
Callirhoe123 - We’re keeping a centre patch of grass, with a gravel path wrapping around the edge of the garden. i guess the bermuda will grow under the barrier.