Management strategies for preventing and recovering from bermudagrass winterkill

Abstract

Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp. Rich) is a warm‐season grass that is widely planted throughout tropical, sub‐tropical, and even temperate climates, and it generally requires fewer inputs than most cool‐season turfgrasses. In recent years, the area of adaptation for bermudagrass has progressively expanded to cooler climates due to the development of more cold‐tolerant cultivars. The expanded area of adaptation as well as the reduced inputs required to maintain healthy turfgrass have made bermudagrass a popular choice in areas of marginal adaptation. In these areas, the greatest threat to bermudagrass health and survivability is winterkill. This management guide seeks to describe winterkill: what it looks like, what causes it, and where it occurs. Additionally, this management guide describes best management practices to both prevent winterkill and recover bermudagrass from winterkill damage.