The Grass Guide: Bermudagrass

This grass has average nutrient quality, but its persistence and high forage yields makes it ideal for horse pastures.
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The Grass Guide: Bermudagrass
Due to high forage yields and average quality, bermudagrass makes excellent horse hay. | Photo: University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment
Name: Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon)
Life cycle: Warm-season perennial
Native to: Southeast Africa
Uses: Pasture and hay
Identification: Smooth or rough leaf blades attached to the stem with a hairy collar, seed head has three to six spikes with triangular seeds

Like other warm-season perennial grasses, bermudagrass grows best in hot, humid climates, making it an important species in the Deep South.

Bermudagrass shows increased winter kill north of Tennessee or Missouri, but commercial breeding has improved winter hardiness in some varieties. This grass has average nutrient quality, but its persistence even in close grazing or cutting makes it an ideal forage for horse pastures.

Due to high forage yields and average quality, bermudagrass also makes excellent horse hay. It can also handle traffic and can be used for erosion control in hilly pastures

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