The use of biostimulants, including microbial inoculants, have increased over the past decade due to potential benefits including increased nutrient uptake, enhanced growth, and improved stress tolerance. However, minimal research has been conducted on warm-season grasses and questions still exist regarding inoculant application timing, frequency, and need for supplemental nitrogen. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate microbial inoculants in comparison to one another and synthetic fertilizer with respect to their impact on bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) establishment, growth, quality, and function. Microbial inoculant applications in the field did not consistently increase bermudagrass normalized vegetation difference index, turfgrass color, nor turfgrass quality compared to the non-treated check. However, carbon efflux measurements increased following inoculation. In the greenhouse, greater bermudagrass root (R) and shoot (S) weights were observed in response to fertilizer treatments, while microbial inoculant treatments resulted in R and S weights similar or less than the non-treated check.