I know I am 2 years late to this forum but I've been battling bermuda grass, specifically, for at least that long. I am trying to kill a lawn full of the stuff to plant native plants here in Austin that don't use so much water. I agree with Greg in S. Nevada. You must dig it out and then dig it out again. Bermuda grass is invasive and, as he said, it grows by rhizomes (root type structures that travel underground until it finds suitable conditions to send up shoots and grow). The key is to kill or remove the rhizomes, since these roots are the brains of the operation. So, after many trials and tribulations involving much of the suggestions made here, this is what I've found works. I dig it up as deep as I can. Sift through the dirt and remove any pieces of root I can find. I know there will still be roots down in the dirt because it is pretty impossible to get all the roots, so then I solarize. I first rake the dirt to even it out and water it deep. You want to do these things before putting down plastic to break up the dirt and wet soil conducts heat better than dry soil. Put down clear plastic during the hot summer months(gotta be clear, black doesn't work to kill bermuda as well), which in Austin Texas is June through Sept. or longer but remember the hotter the better. Make sure the plastic is tight to the ground and leave the plastic for at least a month or until it starts to degrade. I use clear painter's plastic in 1ml to 4ml. You'll want to put brick or rocks around the edge of the plastic and seal it as to keep in as much heat as possible. Then I remove the plastic, mix in a good compost, and plant. I then keep a vigilant eye out for any stray bermuda grass that may have made it through this process. When I see a growth of bermuda, I get the shovel out and remove it. This diligent process has kept my beds that I've dug and solarized bermuda free for 4 years. And, even after all this time, I will still see a little sprig of bermuda every now and then. But, put in the effort in the beginning and you will be happy you did. Otherwise, the bermuda will just grow back from underneath cardboard, through the bottom of your raised bed, from underneath black plastic, etc. Hope this helps someone! I hate bermuda grass. And, my friends all hate it, too, because they have to listen to me talk about digging it up all the time.

Oplismenus hirtellus undulatifolius I believe. Here is a link that might be useful: Basketgrass This post was edited by saltcedar on Wed, Oct 2, 13 at 9:08

It seems that there are many recommendations for eradication. The one that worked for me, and allows me to plant immediately - dig it up, filter the stolens out, and plant. Bermuda can grow deep, survive drought and neglect. I overhauled a very large front yard with a simple tool - a square shovel (called an Irish shovel, don't know why)after enough rain to soften the soil. My lot is impenetrable ancient marine terrace of silt, clay and sand. It's fairly easy to sift the stolens from the dirt via a wire mesh on a frame that fits a wheel barrow, or you can simply throw out the grass layer. Yes, you can do solarization, you can do round-up, you can do rototilling for however long it takes... but imho the prep is everything. Fighting resprouting grass is miserable, neverending work. Spend the time up front sifting the bermuda grass out and spend zero weeding time fighting it later. My neighbor did not bother to remove the bermuda, and it comes back every year, even with mulch. Many of the previous posts are spot on - rototilling will not eliminate bermuda. The comment of 'tilling destroys the soil structure' is highly subjective to the type of soil. If I had not completely turned and amended my garden then nothing would grow. It would be helpful if you posted your soil type or did a 'jar test' so that others can make recommendations. Hope this helps ... diana

I resoded my yard last spring and i went this route. 1. Sprayed entire lawn with 2% Glyphosate solution. 2. Let sit for 2 weeks. 3. Tilled up lawn. 4. Let sit for two weeks. 5. Sprayed entire lawn with 2% Glyphosate solution. 6. Tilled and sodded. I was able to get rid of some Bermuda, and most all of the weeds.