How to Grow Bermuda & St. Augustine in the Same Yard

Grow Bermudagrass and St. Augustinegrass in full-sun sites on most soil types. Irrigate both grasses when the leaves begins to wilt or turn blue-gray, or when footprints are visible after walking on the lawn. Apply 3/4 inch of water at each irrigation.

Mow Bermudagrass and St. Augustinegrass when the lawn is 1 1/2 inches tall, with the lawnmower blades set to 1 inch. Leave the clippings on the lawn to help fertilize the grass. Mow when the grass is dry, and cover the entire lawn, mowing in one direction. Vary the direction of mowing each time.

Fertilize Bermudagrass and St. Augustinegrass in May or June with a 32-0-4 fertilizer applied at a rate of 2 ounces per 100 square feet, or according to the manufacturer's instructions. Apply again every six to eight weeks through October. Water the lawn immediately after fertilizer application if temperatures are higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Remove thatch from Bermudagrass and St. Augustinegrass in early spring with a dethatcher, and put the thatch in the trash or a yard waste recycling bin or on a compost pile. Alternatively, remove thatch by raking the grass vigorously from side to side and top to bottom.

Aerate Bermudagrass and St. Augustinegrass lawns in spring after dethatching, removing 1/4- to 1/2-inch plugs of soil 3 to 4 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches apart over the entire lawn with an aerifier or a hand aerifier. Leave the soil plugs on the lawn surface to break down.