5 Secrets to Fast-Track Bermudagrass Growth on Golf Greens

Bermudagrass is one of the default choices for golf greens. Unlike most cool-season grasses, it has a unique grain that can influence ball roll, adding extra challenge to the game.

In addition to how it affects play, bermudagrass is prized for its exceptional resilience. As a warm-season grass, it thrives in warm climates and has excellent heat and drought tolerance. It spreads quickly, allowing it to recover effectively from damage and withstand heavy foot traffic. These characteristics make it ideal for high-use areas like golf courses and other sports fields.

With proper care and a few insider strategies, you can accelerate bermudagrass growth and maintain pristine greens that balance playability and aesthetics.

Factors That Influence Bermudagrass Growth

Bermudagrass accounts for approximately one-third of the total maintained turfgrasses, covering an estimate of 393,610 acres of turfgrass across US golf courses in 2021.

A fine-bladed grass with a beautiful dark green color, bermudagrass spreads through above-ground stolons and underground rhizomes. This growth habit allows it to quickly fill bare areas and form a dense, resilient turf—a characteristic particularly useful in golf greens where consistent coverage is required.

Several key factors influence the growth and performance of bermudagrass. Understanding and optimizing these elements can help you maintain a fine-textured dense turf.

Sunlight Exposure: Bermudagrass thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Open golf courses are perfect for its needs, but shaded areas can inhibit its growth and spread.

Soil Quality and Preparation: Well-draining soil rich in nutrients is essential. A soil test can help identify deficiencies and guide fertilizer applications and amendments to improve conditions.

Maintenance Practices: Regular mowing, proper fertilization, and aeration are crucial to maintaining healthy turf and encouraging rapid and uniform spread.

Effective Strategies to Get Bermudagrass to Spread Faster

Proper care and maintenance are key to maximizing the spread and resilience of bermudagrass and supporting its rapidly spreading growth habit. Regular mowing, adequate watering, and fertilization are some strategies that will help you accelerate upright leaf growth while improving its durability and overall health.

1. Maintain Optimal Mowing Height

Warm-season grasses like bermudagrass perform best when mowed at an optimal height, typically around 1.5 to 2 inches. On golf greens, however, the grass may be mowed even lower—sometimes daily—to maintain playability. Besides maintaining the ideal height, regular mowing helps prevent thatch buildup, promoting a healthy, dense turf.

To minimize stress on the grass, always follow the one-third rule: never remove more than one-third of the blade height in a single session. Always keep your mower blades sharp to ensure clean cuts, which reduces the risk of disease and encourages faster recovery.

2. Deep and Infrequent Watering

Watering deeply but less often forces the roots to search for moisture deeper in the soil. This deep root structure allows bermudagrass to access water stored below the surface, improving drought tolerance and supporting healthy, vigorous growth even during dry periods.

To maintain optimal moisture levels, set up an irrigation system to deliver 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, ideally spread across one to two watering sessions. Allow the soil to dry out between sessions to strengthen the roots and promote healthier, more resilient turf. Water early in the morning to minimize evaporation and ensure the grass has enough time to absorb moisture effectively. In extremely dry periods, provide supplemental watering to prevent stress and keep your grass from wilting.

3. Fertilization

Applying a balanced fertilizer specifically formulated for warm-season grass varieties like Bermuda provides essential nutrients that fuel growth and spread. Regular soil testing helps determine nutrient levels and allows for precise fertilization adjustments. Fertilizing at the right time, especially during active growth periods, optimizes nutrient uptake, supporting vigorous growth and helping bermudagrass form a dense, fine-textured, and vibrant lawn.

4. Sod Installation for Immediate Coverage

Installing bermudagrass sod offers instant coverage, bypassing the time-consuming process of seeding. This approach is particularly beneficial for areas requiring quick establishment, such as high-traffic sporting fields and golf greens. Bimini Bermudagrass sod, valued for its dense turf, fine-bladed grass, and dark green color, is a preferred grass type for achieving a professional-quality surface where performance and aesthetics are important.

5. Dethatching and Aeration

Dethatching is the process of removing the layer of organic debris that can accumulate on the soil surface, improving water and nutrient penetration. Meanwhile, aeration involves perforating the soil to improve air circulation, relieve compaction, and promote deeper root growth.

Both practices are essential for maintaining healthy greens and encouraging faster, more uniform spreading. It is recommended to perform these tasks annually, particularly during the growing season, for optimal results.

Why Bimini Bermudagrass is Ideal for Golf Courses

Bimini Bermuda is an improved bermuda variety cultivated to become a premier grass solution for golf courses, sports fields, and other high-traffic areas. It is developed specifically for resilience and performance, offering several standout features:

Traffic Tolerance: Bimini has been proven to tolerate heavy foot traffic, ideal for high-use areas. According to a study by Oklahoma State University (OSU), it ranks as the most traffic-tolerant variety among other bermudagrasses.

Tensile Strength: Known for its high tensile strength, Bimini withstands wear and tear, ensuring long-lasting durability.

Drought Resistance and Early Spring Green-Up: Bimini boasts a deep root system that improves its drought tolerance, and its early green-up ensures a lush surface for a longer period than other warm-season grasses.

Aesthetic Appeal: Bimini creates a visually appealing and smooth playing surface with its fine texture and dark green color.

Overall, these qualities make Bimini Bermudagrass the leading choice for golf courses that require fast-growing, resilient grass to ensure exceptional playability throughout the season. With its rapid establishment, dense coverage, and ability to withstand high traffic, Bimini is the ideal option for maintaining high-quality greens year-round.

Ready to experience the benefits of Bimini for yourself? Find a Bimini grower near you and get started today!

Bermudagrass Frequently Asked Questions

How can I make bermudagrass spread faster?

To accelerate bermudagrass spread, maintain the recommended mowing height, water deeply but infrequently, and fertilize regularly. Aerating and dethatching also improve soil conditions, promoting healthy growth.

What is the one-third rule for mowing bermudagrass?

The one-third rule advises removing no more than one-third of the grass blade’s height in a single mowing session. This practice minimizes stress on the grass and encourages lateral growth.

Will bermudagrass take over other grass?

Yes, bermudagrass is highly aggressive and can overtake other grass varieties. For this reason, it’s not advisable to mix it with other types of turf, as it will dominate and outcompete them.