Bermuda grass
The Kingdom's standard lawn: heat- and traffic-tolerant, and it needs regular mowing.
- Scientific name: Cynodon dactylon
- Family: Grass family
Bermuda grass is what most Saudi lawns are made of, for a simple reason: nothing else practical handles this much heat and use. It grows fast and recovers from foot traffic — but that same speed means regular mowing is not optional.
At a glance
- Plant typeLawn grass
- WateringTwice weekly
- LightFull sun
- Comfortable range5 – 35 °C
- HeightMow at 2.5 – 5 cm
- Growth rateFast
Care guide
Watering
Two deep waterings a week beat daily sprinkling: deep and infrequent drives roots downward and makes the lawn far more heat-tolerant. Water early in the morning to cut evaporation loss and avoid leaving the blades wet overnight.
Light and heat
Full sun. Bermuda will not succeed in permanent shade; patches under trees stay thin and patchy no matter what you do, and the answer there is a different ground cover, not grass.
Soil and feeding
A nitrogen-rich feed every four to six weeks in the growing season, spread evenly and watered in immediately. Cut back in the cooler months when growth slows.
Mowing
Mow regularly at 2.5–5 cm. Never take more than a third of the blade height at once — scalping yellows the lawn and opens the door to weeds. Regular mowing also stops dead thatch building up.
Establishment
By sprigging or laying ready-grown turf in spring or autumn. Turf gives you a finished lawn immediately; sprigging is cheaper but slower.
In Saudi conditions
A lawn is the single largest water consumer in any Saudi garden. Before extending one, consider shrinking it to the area genuinely used for sitting and play, and covering the rest with gravel or a low-water ground cover.
Common problems
- Yellow patches and gaps from uneven irrigation coverage
- A dead thatch layer stopping water reaching the soil
- Weeds colonising thin and shaded areas
- Leaf blight and powdery mildew where watering is done at night
Need a hand?
Routine mowing, calibrating irrigation for even coverage and repairing bare patches are among our most requested services.