First, I think IMHO its highly likely you'll be unhappy with your Bermudagrass abatement strategy if all you did to suppress it was mulch. Set some time aside this fall to start your program to do it right.

Nonetheless, I like Neem. The {{gwi:56764}}, not the first cheap thing in the sprayer at the nursery.

Dan

Well, that was the final "straw" with the Bermudagrass. We had spaded, tilled, raked, and lasagna layered. The straw is just an added protection. Our lawn is very green but no signs of bermuda in the garden yet (on the surface anyway). I know it will be the very bane of my existence, regardless, lol!!

I purchased 70% neem oil from the farmers association and sprayed tops and bottoms of leaves, and stems on Thursday evening. I'm just wondering if I am doing this as a precautionary measure, how often should I be spraying and if there is something else I should be doing in addition to.

I used to have a landscape design and const business in CA, where Bermuda is everywhere. One yard I did had a slab-on-grade house, and a Bermuda stolon went under the slab in the master bedroom, entered thru a crack, and was under the carpet pad several feet. Still alive, still seeking light.

Neem applied too often can harm plant tissue, if you must as a preventative wait 5-6 days and spray again. Likely root rot is more of an issue than fungus now, until it warms up into the 80s. I'd pull mulch back when you can walk out there.

We'll take some of that water off your hands, too. Severe drought hereabouts.

Dan

Bermuda is just getting started for the year so you won't see problems just yet. If this year is really awful, you could try solarizing the area this fall before it goes to bed for the winter. It'll eventually grow back up from the roots, but you should have a respite.

If you can keep it from invading from the surrounding yard, that is.

Dan,

Thanks so much for the information!! This is my first year using the neem oil. Root rot is my first concern, fungus following. We'll have sun for the next 7 days before another system moves through. I should be able to get in to pull the mulch back and let it dry out a bit.

That's an awful Bermuda story!! It's so beautiful in the yard but it's soooo tenacious!! It grew through our pool liner last year. 80,000 lbs of water couldn't keep it at bay.

Maybe some more ideas for fall since I'm probably going to be beating my head against the wall trying to keep it out?? Nicole, solarizing it before it goes dormant? I'm not familiar with that technique...???

Oh and you can definitely take some of this rain!! It's not even good for the ducks anymore, lol!

Solarizing is basically putting plastic over an area and letting the sun bake it for 4-6 weeks of mostly hot sunny days. It will kill almost everything under it, even the good stuff, so I don't think it's something you'd want to do regularly if you want a thriving, well balanced soil ecology.

When it comes to gardening, Bermuda is the devil but at least the solution -- weeding for the rest of your life -- is low tech, free and a good excuse to sit in the garden on a mild day.