Bermuda Grass vs St Augustine: The Difference and How to Choose

 

The Bermuda grass and St Augustine are the most common type of grass considered by homeowners.

For a good quality turf and a greener lawn, it is important to choose your grass wisely. But in this article, we will compare Bermuda Grass vs St Augustine and more specifically which one is better.

There are various factors to consider when faced with the dilemma of choosing Bermuda grass vs. St. Augustine grass.

More so, I would like you to keep in mind that each of these types has its advantages and disadvantages, which I will highlight later in the article.

Bermuda Grass

Bermuda Grass is a perennial grass that grows faster in warm areas since it has an excellent drought, wear, and salt tolerance.

Although it can adapt to most soils and climates, it cannot guarantee survival in cold areas such as the northern regions of the United States. In the right conditions, it produces a medium-green dense turf.

It is vigorous and develops faster than most of the related grass species. You can easily plant it from grass seed and will provide a good lawn that can serve as the focal point for your house. It can also be used to provide an extension for outdoor activities.

It grows in tropical, sub-tropical, and transition zones. It is also mostly used on lawns, golf courses, sports fields, arenas and as pasture grasses. It will retain its beautiful green color all year round.

Bermuda grass requires high maintenance; however, the maintenance schedule can be high or low depending on the usage.

This grass also needs frequent mowing topdressing, verticutting, and aerification. You will also be required to regularly fertilize and spray it to control insects, disease,s and nematode pests.

A lawn planted using this grass can attain full lawn coverage in less than a year. If you are located in regions that are relatively cold, you can still have a beautiful lawn with this grass if you buy the Bermuda grass seed varieties developed to be cold tolerant.

For example, you can buy; Pennington Seed 1 lb Bermuda grass seed, Pennington 1 Step Complete Bermuda Mulch, 8.3-Pound, or Scotts EZ Bermudagrass Lawns Grass Seed 10 LB.

The major drawback of Bermuda grass is its poor shade tolerance, especially when used for sports fields and golf courses.

St. Augustine Grass

St. Augustine Grass is used primarily for home and commercial lawns. The incredible feature of this grass is its high shade tolerance and production of quality turf. It is suitable for growth in a wide range of soil types and grows better in soils with neutral pH.

It works well for pastures, creating dense carpet, textured grass blades, and lawns in warm coastal areas. It tolerates extreme summer heat and retains its color even at the low-end hardiness zones range. Its tolerance to salt allows it to grow in coastal regions.

It grows tightly enough to allow average amounts of foot traffic. It also competes well with weeds. Its ability to thrive in tropical and sub-tropical climates makes it a perfect choice for southern homeowners.

It requires less fertilization than Bermuda grass. When you properly fertilize it and mow it weekly, you will be sure to produce a dense and medium green surface.

Some of the significant drawbacks of this type of grass are its low tolerance to lawn traffic. It is susceptible to wear and can’t thrive in an area with repeated foot traffic. It will turn brown during winter if planted in areas that are cooler.

However, you can always repair your lawn using Scotts EZ Patch Lawn Repair for 17520 ST. Augustine Lawns. It is also vulnerable to disease and pests such as the southern chinch bug. If you don’t prefer planting seed, you can order your Augustine Grass today.

Bermuda Grass Vs St Augustine – Factors to Consider

Water requirement

Bermuda grass has lower water requirements

St. Augustine will need twice as much water as Bermuda grass

Temperature Tolerance

None of the grass types can thrive in temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. However, St. Augustine has a higher weather tolerance than Bermuda. However, in stressed conditions, St Augustine is highly susceptible to pests and diseases

The best thing about Bermuda grass is that it does not require a lot of water which allows it to survive during dormant months, unlike the St. Augustine which will be destroyed by pests and disease during such months.

Growth Patterns

The growth pattern of either grass is dependent on your preference. However, personally, I prefer Bermuda lawn from seed and laying sod for St. Augustine.  This is because the Bermuda seeds are less expensive and the St. Augustine sod will give you instant gratification.

Soil Requirements

Bermuda grass has higher fertilization requirements than St. Augustine. In addition to other nutrients such as iron, potassium, and phosphorus, this grass needs more nitrogen

St. Augustine needs less phosphorus and similar amounts of potassium as other grasses. Avoid excess nitrogen as it can cause thatch problem. Ensure the soil has sufficient iron

Traffic Tolerance

Bermuda grass has a higher tolerance to human activity while St. Augustine has a lower tolerance to traffic

Sun or Shade

St. Augustine handles shade better while Bermuda grass thrives in constant sun and does not grow well in the shade.

Bermuda Grass vs St Augustine Final Verdict

I believe that the dilemma of choosing Bermuda grass Vs. St. Augustine will be solved using the information outlined above.

I keep getting questions on my preference between the two, and my answer has always been Bermuda grass. However, my preference does not have to be yours. You can still choose St. Augustine as long as it works for you.

All in all, what we want is to have a beautiful lawn regardless of whether you use Bermuda grass or St. Augustine. But remember to go through the factors I have listed before making your choice.

I hope that this article was helpful. If you're still undecided you should consult a popular lawn care business in your area to come in and provide their advice. Most will do this for free in the hopes that you will hire them to complete to job.

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