Tigerstripe Bermuda Grass

Tigerstripe Bermuda Grass

Tigerstripe Bermuda Grass Lawns: If you are seeing tiger stripes in your Bermuda grass it’s really no cause for alarm. Your lawn is not dead, and it’s not caused by an infestation of bugs, viruses, or fungus. The odd pattern normally shows after we receive our first frost and is caused by temperature variants in your yard. The greener spots are where the grass is slightly warmer than where the brown spots are.

What to look for

Within a very short time, the entire yard will turn brown. Tigerstripe Bermuda Grass happens because the grass goes dormant for the winter. Just because the grass is brown does not mean the grass is dead. Your Bermuda lawn still needs water during the winter. In South Texas, our soil rarely gets cold enough to freeze allowing the roots to keep growing throughout winter.

Care for Dormant Bermuda Grass

When your lawn goes dormant it doesn’t mean it no longer needs to be watered. Wintertime is also a great time to remove unwanted weeds and grasses that can choke out Bermuda lawns in the spring. When mowing winter grasses that naturally occur do not cut your lawn too short. Keep your mowers blades sharp to prevent riping or tearing the bermuda grass. Cut your grass in the afternoon to allow any dew or frost to evaporate. Even though the grass on the surface is going dormant the roots below the surface are still growing. By leaving your grass taller it holds in warmth which helps the roots grow. For a healthy spring lawn water your lawn once every other week during winter.

Closing

Tigerstripe Bermuda Grass is mostly seen in the various varieties of Bermuda grasses. The Tigerstripe pattern is also a sign of a good healthy bermudagrass lawn. Please visit our Lawn and Landscape site for more tips on lawn care.