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SALT LAKE CITY — The man in charge of keeping the campus green at the University of Utah is calling for the state to lift its ban on a so-called "noxious weed."
He thinks it could be part of the answer to long-term worries about drought.
Senior Crew Lead for the University of Utah, Lorenzo Lopez, said Bermuda grass uses dramatically less water and thrives in many areas where other grasses don’t.
"This could be a great opportunity for Bermuda grass. I think it's one of the answers. It's not the complete answer," said Lopez.
But Lopez is not allowed to do it.
Lorenzo Lopez's lawn crews can't even experiment with Bermuda grass. The state long ago declared it an enemy in the war on weeds.
Rich Riding, Noxious Weed Program Manager with the Utah Department of Agriculture said the plant is a threat.
"This weed is one that we've looked at and we've decided that it really poses a threat to the state,” said Riding.
Rich Riding of the Utah Department of Agriculture said Bermuda grass is way too aggressive, choking out nearby lawns and farm crops.
"It will come right across the fence line into your neighbor's yard. And then he's got it,” Riding said.
But to Lopez, aggressiveness is one of Bermuda's virtues
“That's exactly the advantage. It's aggressive and will fill itself in. Where I'm spending thousands of dollars trying to reseed and keep bluegrass, Bermuda will take care of itself,” said Lopez.
Bermuda is allowed only in the St. George area because Washington County officials petitioned for an exemption from the ban.
Gary Turner, Turner Turf Farms, said he wasn’t successful at growing the plant.
That's exactly the advantage. It's aggressive and will fill itself in. Where I'm spending thousands of dollars trying to reseed and keep bluegrass, Bermuda will take care of itself.
–Lorenzo Lopez, Senior Crew Lead for the U.
"It's legal to grow here, but I haven't been able to,” said Turner.
Sod growers and golf courses have had mixed success.
Steve Larsen, Superintendent of Sunbrook Golf Club, said best results have come from the “noxious weed.”
"For the city courses, with the soils and water we have, it seems to help the best to have Bermuda,” said Larsen.
All agree, Bermuda is less thirsty than other grasses. In times of drought that could be helpful.
"There's a place in our society for it. And I think that day is coming,” Turner said.
"In the cooler climates, I would classify it more as a weed as well. But I think down here it does have some very good uses,” said Larsen.
The state granted Washington County its exemption just because conditions there are different.
"Washington County is more like Arizona and southern Nevada than it is like Utah,” Riding said.
Lopez said it ought to be allowed in Salt Lake County, too. He believes the ban was imposed — in a different era — to protect agricultural interests.
"We're no longer an 'AG' county as much as we are an urban county,” said Lopez.
"The problem with allowing it in Salt Lake County is then it has the capability of spreading, Like I say, it's not neighbor friendly,” Riding said.
Lopez argues that all grasses spread like weeds. The key is learning how to control them.
