Bermudagrass in Strawberry Plantings
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Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) is a drought tolerant, warm-season, perennial grass that actively spreads vegetatively by both rhizomes and stolons. It also has the ability to spread by seed. Spikelets on seed heads (typically 3 to 6) are similar to crabgrass and are present from mid-summer through autumn. While extremely vigorous, bermudagrass is favored by warm weather, so it does not become a problem until later in the season.
Bermudagrass underground stolon.
(Photo: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org)
Bermudagrass stems and foliage.
(Photo: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org)
Management:
- Avoid cultivation, which spreads rhizomes and stolons.
- Chemical control is recommended and must be repeated as plants readily regrow from rhizomes and stolons.