Which statement accurately describes Bermuda grass in Wisconsin?

Which statement accurately describes Bermuda grass in Wisconsin?

• A. It is a cool-season grass widely used in Wisconsin
• B. It is a warm-season grass not recommended due to winter kill risk
• C. It is the most drought-tolerant grass in Wisconsin
• D. It tolerates extremely cold winters with no issue

Answer: (B)

Bermuda grass is a warm-season turf that loves heat and full sun, but it is not cold-hardy enough for Wisconsin winters. In northern climates like Wisconsin, extended freezing temperatures cause Bermuda to die back or suffer winter kill, so it won’t persist reliably year to year. That’s why it isn’t recommended for Wisconsin lawns; cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, or fine fescues are far better suited to withstand our winter conditions and green up reliably in spring. While Bermuda is fairly drought-tolerant when it’s actively growing, its inability to survive the cold is the defining reason it’s not appropriate here. The statements suggesting it’s a cool-season grass used in Wisconsin, or the most drought-tolerant grass in Wisconsin, or that it tolerates extremely cold winters with no issue, don’t fit the climate realities of Wisconsin.