Cover the area with a heavy mulch (I don't know the first thing about fruit trees... but check if yours will tolerate mulch touching it), or perhaps cardboard, etc.
You could also install a barrier around the trees and use the solarizing method to attempt to kill the bermuda. This will be a never ending game unless you install a barrier and "draw the line" at where bermuda must stop.
There are many posts regarding the tenacity of Bermuda grass. You might try pulling/digging out all you can then heavily mulching around the tree (do not put mulch directly in contact with with root stock though) By heavily, I mean 6" deep or so. I have a huge pile of mulch in my front yard right now if you need any. I am near 7th ave/Glendale.
You can pull it, but it doesn't really help. It will be right back, because it'll likely have stolons underground that you won't have been able to get out, despite your earnest efforts. If it's right next to more Bermuda grass you're OK with, then the remaining Bermuda grass will send it's evil tentacles right over to regrow where you pulled out the grass you didn't want.
I believe that if you plant several bulbs (like daffodils) around the base of your tree, and then some more around the drip line, grass will have a hard time growing past the bulbs. Some fruit tree guilds work this way- I read about it in "Gaia's Garden" :)
That might work for 'regular' grass, but bermuda will just laugh at your efforts and take over.
You can heavy mulch etc, but that won't be a permanent solution as you are constantly watering and it will eventually come up through the mulch, like Jane said, those stolons are deep and you can't dig them out because you'd kill your fruit tree.... which the bermuda is stealing water from like the jerk that it is.
Steve does dig out the grass. we call it crabgrass, cause I'm a Californian and that's what we call it there. lol
He digs it out, about a foot deep. Roots and all. Then two weeks later he digs the same spot again and gets it all. And yes Virginia, it's gone from the spots he's dug.
What we can't control is the stuff coming from the neighbors or the alley. It's a bear to dig, so there ain't no way I'm letting him dig the alley. [nor would he want too, I think]
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Hi Brittany,
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I've had some really good success with making Kombucha…
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For families who are interested in raising eco-conscious children and living more in balance with nature... Bring your kids to this fun, interactive and informative class on learning more about sustainable living and permaculture. What does it mean…