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Hybrid Bermudagrass became legal to grow in Utah in July 2024.
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Hybrid Bermudagrass is a warm-season grass and survives drought better than Utah's more common Kentucky bluegrass.
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During research, Hybrid Bermudagrass lasted 3 - 6 weeks without water before showing signs of drought stress. This isn't a sustainable practice, but it promises immense water savings in the face of long-term drought and water shortages. In this photo the green patches are hybrid Bermudagrass and the brown patches are Kentucky bluegrass.
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Since this grass variety is a hybrid, its seeds are not viable.
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The easiest way to install hybrid Bermudagrass is via sod, which rolls out and covers 100% of the area for instant color and weed prevention.
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3" x 3" plugs of hybrid Bermudagrass are a more economical way to install it than sod, though it takes longer.
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Hybrid Bermudagrass grows and repairs itself via stolons (above-ground horizontal stems) but doesn't spread as aggressively as common Bermudagrass. This is another way to plant hybrid Bermudagrass, but it takes a long time to fill in.
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Hybrid Bermudagrass goes dormant from November until May, but you can overseed it with perennial ryegrass for a nicer winter color.
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Hybrid Bermudagrass develops a thick thatch layer, which needs to be removed periodically.
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Pros
- Deep roots
- Aesthetic
- Repairs itself
- Mows low
- Doesn't spread
Cons
- Tan in winter
- Needs full sun
- Thick thatch
- May die in extreme cold
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Locations
Some cultivars of Hybrid Bermudagrass can survive in very cold locations
- Chicago
- Denver
- Philadelphia
- Provo
Hybrids
Four Cultivars of Bermudagrass that can survive in cold locations
- Tahoma 31
- Latitude 36
- Northbridge
- Iron Cutter
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People Involved
Ashley Beazer
Ashley is finishing her last semester of graduate school in Dr. Hopkin’s lab. She is researching Hybrid Bermudagrass as a water-saving option for Utah’s landscapes and sportsfields.
Emily Morin
Emily is a senior studying Plant and Landscape Systems and is fascinated by soil health and water conservation. She will publish an article on hybrid Bermudagrass in Turf Magazine's summer 2025 Water Issue.
Dr. Bryan Hopkins
Dr. Bryan Hopkins began teaching at BYU in 2007, including the Grasses class. Students learn better with hands-on experience and, thus, he plants about 30 of the common grass species in demonstration plots. Not surprisingly, most of the warm-season C4 grasses die out each winter. However, bermudagrass did not ever succumb to winterkill. He was aware that this species uses relatively water and so he began experimenting with it. Glenl Wear, Director of BYU Grounds, learned of this work and was very interested due to the water savings, but also due to it being the best sports field surface in the southern USA. He provided funding for Dr. Neil Hansen, Professor specializing in soil-water-plant relations, and to escalate the research. Dr. Hopkins brought on Hanna Burgin as a graduate student and then Ashley Beazer and Clarissa Peterson too. Their research has proven that several hybrid bermudagrass cultivars are cold tolerant and capable of surviving for several weeks without irrigation. They are continuing to explore ways to lengthen the growing season and to quantify the exact water use.
Clarissa Peterson
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