Highlights
- Warm-weather plants include Bermuda and St. Augustine.
- Bermuda grass is drought-resistant and gets short.
- St. Augustine grows higher and requires more frequent irrigation.
- Bermuda grass is not shade-tolerant, whereas St. Augustine is.
NewsWhen deciding between Bermuda grass and St. Augustine grass for Southern fields, there is a lot to think about. You’ll need something that can withstand humidity and possibly soft soil, as well as vegetation that can endure dryness or shadow. Bermuda and St. Augustine are two of the most common warm-weather grasses for fields in the southern United States, but they have distinct advantages and disadvantages. Here are some key distinctions between St. Augustine and Bermuda vegetation.
Bermuda Grass Pros and Cons
Bermuda grass is a common warm-season grass for Southern fields because it tolerates heat and humidity well. It thrives best in USDA Hardiness Zones 6–11 and likes a mildly saline soil pH of 6.5–7. 6 to 6.5 .
Pros of Bermuda Grass
There are several advantages to using Bermuda grass on your yard. This grass is not only dry and weather adaptable, but also salinity and insect immune. If your children enjoy running around the yard or having outdoor picnics, bermuda grass will rebound back wonderfully from the foot activity.
Cons of Bermuda Grass
Some residents like to combine grass seedlings to obtain a fuller-looking yard with multiple advantages, but keep in mind that bermuda grass is an invading species. If you combine Bermuda with another grass seed, it has the potential to take over the field. This variety of grass also requires regular trimming to maintain a height of about 1½ inches . While bermuda grass thrives in hot weather, it cannot endure chilly or even shaded conditions.
St. Augustine Grass Pros and Cons
St. Augustine grass, like Bermuda grass, is a warm-weather plant. It likes soil pH ranging from about 5 to 8½ . It thrives best in Hardiness Zones 8 through 10 and is the most popular grass in Florida.
Pros
St. Augustine vegetation can withstand temperatures but also tolerates darkness. If you have trees on your yard, you can be confident that this grass will flourish in both the shadow and the light. This grass is also unconcerned about soil kinds and will thrive as long as the soil is well-draining.
Cons
St. Augustine, unlike Bermuda grass, is not weather resistant. If your yard isn’t getting enough rain, you’ll need to turn on the water or put on the sprinklers. 1 inch of water per week This variety of grass appears luxuriant on the yard, but avoid exposing it to excessive foot activity. St. Augustine vegetation can only withstand moderate foot activity.
Bermuda Grass vs. St. Augustine Grass
Bermuda and St. Augustine grasses are powerful candidates for Southern fields, and some homeowners may combine the two kinds. Finding the correct vegetation for your yard is dependent on where you live, how you want your lawn to appear, and how much work you want to put into keeping it. Consider employing a local lawn care company to assist you in determining the best vegetation variety for your yard.
Sun
Bermuda grass is the finest option for warm yards. Bermuda is the clear victor in wide regions that receive all-day full sunlight. While St. Augustine grass favors complete direct exposure, it can also tolerate some shadow or fewer hours of direct sunlight per day.
Most sun tolerant: Bermuda
Shade
St. Augustine prefers full sunshine, but it can also develop and flourish in partially shaded areas. Bermuda grass, on the other hand, prefers direct sunshine and has a poor capacity for darkness.
Most shade tolerant: St. Augustine
Color
Either of these lawn varieties can improve your sidewalk attractiveness. Both Bermuda and St. Augustine grasses come in a variety of colors varying from vibrant greens to profound blue-greens.
Most colorful: Tie
Blades
Bermuda grass has smaller, shorter blades, whereas St. Augustine grass has wide, towering blades. Bermuda has a delicate to firm structure, while St. Augustine has a coarser texture.
Best blades: Tie
Sod and Seed Options
To fit your tastes, you can find a variety of Bermuda and St. Augustine plants in a variety of hues. While Bermuda grass can be grown from seed or sod, St. Augustine is only accessible as sod. That means you have a few more choices when it comes to buying bermuda grass.
More sod and seed options: Bermuda
Growing Conditions
St. Augustine tolerates a broad range of soil kinds and pH levels. 5 to 8.5 . Although it requires more water than Bermuda grass, it develops well in both sunlight and shade, making it simple to manage your lawn.
More adaptable growing conditions: St. Augustine
Durability
Bermuda and St. Augustine are both heat-tolerant grasses, but St. Augustine is less drought-tolerant. St. Augustine, on the other hand, is a wonderful option for shaded fields because it is shade-tolerant, whereas Bermuda is not. Bermuda, on the other hand, triumphs generally because of its high endurance and resilience to wear and strain.
More durable: Bermuda
Price
Bermuda grass costs about $0.35 to $0.85 per square foot . St. Augustine is slightly less expensive at $0.30 to $0.80 per square foot . Bermuda develops best from seed, but St. Augustine grass can only be installed as cuttings or sod.
More affordable: St. Augustine
Maintenance
Bermuda grass performs best at a low height, so frequent trimming may be required. You’ll also need to trim your lawn on a regular basis to keep grass contained precisely to the yard area, rather than allowing grass blades to spread over pathways or the road. St. Augustine can grow higher than Bermuda grass, but it requires more irrigation. Every year, St. Augustine requires manure. 10 weeks , whereas bermuda grass needs fertilizer about twice per year .
Less maintenance: Bermuda
Mowing Heights
Because of the sturdier, denser blades of St. Augustine, you can let it grow long and robust, allowing you or your local grass cutting service to adjust the mowing height to between 2 and 4 inches. Bermuda grass thrives when trimmed to a height of 12 to 112 inches.
Higher mowing height: St. Augustine
Traffic Tolerance
In high-traffic locations, use Bermuda grass types. While St. Augustine grass will suffer under heavy traffic, Bermuda grass is much more resistant, even in high-traffic areas such as golf courses and fields.
More traffic tolerant: Bermuda
Drought Resistance and Tolerance
Although Bermuda and St. Augustine plants are weather resistant, they need to be watered frequently during the growth season. Bermuda grass, on the other hand, does not require irrigation during the winter months because it remains inactive for the season.
More drought tolerant: Bermuda
Pests and Disease Tolerance
While both kinds of grass can be damaged by leaf spot, brown patch disease, and autumn armyworms, bermuda grass is susceptible to a number of additional bugs and diseases. Bermuda grass parasites, sod webworms, billbugs, and illnesses such as dollar and spring dead spot and pythium can also be problems.
More pest and disease tolerant: St. Augustine
Related Questions
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Which grass is better Bermuda or St. Augustine?
Bermuda grass grows well in zones 7, 8, 9, and 10, whereas St. Augustine grass grows well only in zones 8 through 10. St. Augustine grass is therefore a superior option if you reside along the Gulf Coast or in other mild maritime regions of the nation.
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Will Bermuda grass take over St. Augustine?
Augustine grass? Bermuda blends well with St. Augustine because it rapidly fills in areas in the grass that would take longer to reach with other types of sod. Planting Bermuda grass seed is less costly and will expand rapidly across your yard.
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What type of grass is similar to St. Augustine?
If you want to try something different than St. Augustine grass, we suggest Zenith Zoysia. Zenith Zoysia has a rich, medium texture, broad blades, and a dark green hue. It can even be put during the winter, making it a year-round choice.
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What is Bermuda grass also known as?
It was dubbed “crab grass” in Bermuda. (also a name for Digitaria sanguinalis). Dhoob, drv grass, ethana grass, dubo, dog grass, dog’s teeth grass, Bahama grass, crab grass, devil’s grass, sofa grass, Indian doab, arugampul, grama, wiregrass, and scutch grass are some of the other names.