Choosing the right grass for your lawn is not an easy task, as there are so many choices. You have to think about factors like regular maintenance, pricing, the climate, location, and physical appeal while picking a variant.
It is better if you learn about different types of grasses before deciding which one is best for your lawn. This helps you make a practical decision. You should learn about the key differences between cool-season and warm-season variants.
Here, we will take a close look at the differences and traits of two popular grass variants- namely Bermuda and St. Augustine. Keep in mind that both these grasses have several sub-variants, and their looks and attributes can vary accordingly.
01. Color
Different cultivars of Bermuda and St. Augustine grass are developed with the aim of creating different and enticing hues. These cultivars have varying colors. Celebration Bermudagrass is known for its deep blue-green color but Latitude 36 Bermudagrass has a darker green shade. The same applies to the variants of St. Augustine. It is hard to say which looks better- it comes down to your aesthetic preference.
St. Augustine Colors:
- Palmetto St. Augustine: Emerald Green
- Raleigh St. Augustine: Medium Green
- CitraBlue St. Augustine: Deep Blue-Green
- Floratam St. Augustine: Medium Green
Bermuda Grass Colors:
- Celebration Bermuda grass: Deep Blue-Green
- Tifway 419 Bermuda grass: Blue-Green
- Discovery Bermuda grass: Dark Blue-Green
- Latitude 36 Bermuda grass: Dark Green
- North Bridge Bermuda grass: Bright Green
02. Texture and blade width
Bermuda and St. Augustine grasses have different blade widths, which is how you can identify them. St. Augustine has thick, tropical grass blades and a coarse texture. Bermuda grass has hair-like grass blades that feel soft to the touch.
St. Augustine grass blades are 8–9 mm wide, while Bermuda grass blades are only 1.67–1.7 mm wide. If you like your turf to resemble a golf course, Bermuda grass is the better option. Ultimately, it is up to your personal preference.
03. Shade tolerance
St. Augustine outperforms most other grasses in shade tolerance. Most St. Augustine varieties are quite shade-tolerant, except a few like Floratam. CitraBlue performs very well in this aspect. Bermuda grass fares poorly in shade tolerance compared to competitors like Zoysia. If you still want a shade tolerant Bermuda grass variant, choose Celebration.
04. Growth habits and mowing heights
The cultivars of both Bermuda grass and St. Augustine need different mowing heights for the desired outcome. The ideal height does not remain the same throughout the year. Bermuda grass should be kept at 0.5–1.5 inches in height, while for St. Augustine, the ideal height is between 2–4 inches. You should be careful about using the right mowing heights, as different varieties have varying growth speeds.
All Bermuda grass variants spread and grow using both rhizomes and stolons. A rhizome runs under the soil horizontally and strikes new roots downwards. Sometimes, stems shoot upward, too. A stolon is a stem that grows above the ground and produces a plant clone on it. St. Augustine spreads using above-the-ground runners, or stolons. That is why it copes with weeds better than Bermuda grass.
Since Bermuda grasses grow both above the below the soil, it fares better in wear tolerance, drought tolerance, and injury recovery. Also, Bermuda grass grow more aggressively. However, because it encroaches on your driveways and sidewalks, it requires more maintenance. Since Bermuda grass requires more mowing, St. Augustine is the preferred option in terms of growth habits and mowing heights.
05. Wear Tolerance
Bermuda grass is highly wear-tolerant and have better injury recovery than St. Augustine grass. However, a superior St. Augustine variety, ‘CitraBlue’, has the best wear tolerance and injury recovery capability among St. Augustine varieties. Bermuda grass is more durable and has higher endurance to withstand heavy foot traffic with a high recovery rate. This is why it is commonly used in sports fields and golf courses.
06. Drought tolerance vs. Drought resistance
Drought resistance and drought tolerance are different. Drought tolerance refers to the ability to survive through drought. On the other hand, drought resistance means maintaining a healthy appearance during drought conditions, but only for a certain period. After that, the grass needs water to survive. Both grass varieties require approximately one inch of water every week, including rainwater.
St. Augustine grass has high drought resistance and moderate drought tolerance. However, Bermuda grass is good in both drought resistance and tolerance. Therefore, it thrives well in hot and dry climates. Celebration Bermuda grass, a popular variant, developed in Australia, is highly drought-resistant and drought-tolerant.
07. Salt tolerance and soil preferences
Soil types impact grass growth and performance significantly. Along with different soil types, like loamy soil, sandy soil, clay soil, pH levels also impacts grass health and performance.
Both St. Augustine and Bermuda grass grow in different soil types. However, sandy and loamy soil are ideal for St. Augustine grass. This grass is also highly salt tolerant, which is why it is often found near coastal regions.
Bermuda grass, on the other hand, is tolerant of both alkaline and acidic soil conditions. It is also highly tolerant of soils with high salt content. When it comes to salt tolerance and soild preferences, Bermuda grass is a clear winner because of its adaptability.
08. pH and fertility
Proper nutrition and nourishment are essential for all types of grass to grow well. Just sunshine and water do not suffice. Both Bermuda grass and St. Augustine grass require some macro- and micronutrients like phosphorous, nitrogen, iron, potassium, sulphur, and manganese for proper growth.
St. Augustine grass thrives in soils within a pH range of 5.0 – 8.5, while Bermuda grass, grows well in soils with a pH ranging from 6.5 to 8.0. For proper growth of St. Augustine grasses, there is a need for soils with good drainage.
09. Main pests
Insect and pest infestations are common for both Bermuda and St. Augustine grasses. Some varieties of St. Augustine grasses are prone to chinch bugs. Initially, the Floratam St. Augustine variant was claimed to be chinch bug resistant, but this is no longer the case. Sod webworms, grubworms and fall armyworms can also damage St. Augustine grass.
Bermuda grass is usually attacked by billbugs, mites, fall armyworms and webworms. Fortunately, insect control products are available to effectively manage these pests.
10. Main diseases
Both St. Augustine and Bermuda grasses are susceptible to various diseases. St. Augustine grass is prone to different turfgrass ailments like gray leaf spot, brown patch, pythium, SAD, etc. However, the Palmetto St. Augustine variant is resistant to sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) and lethal viral necrosis (LVN). These viral diseases cannot be controlled with fungicides. The two most serious diseases affecting St. Augustine grass are brown patch and gray leaf spot.
Bermuda grass is commonly affected by diseases such as spring dead spot, dollar spot, brown patch, leaf spot, and pythium.
Wrap up
Both St. Augustine and Bermuda grasses have their strengths and weaknesses. The performance of each cultivar varies, as they were developed with different goals in mind at different times.
