The Difference Between Bermuda & St. Augustine Grass

Growth Characteristics

• Both Bermuda grass and St. Augustine grass spreads by stolons, creeping horizontal stems that root where they touch the soil. Bermuda grass develops a deeper root system with rhizomes that store both water and food reserves. Leaves and stems of Bermuda grass are killed back and turn tan once temperatures drop into the 10 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit range. St. Augustine grass doesn't survive as cold of temperatures as Bermuda grass, but St. Augustine grass tends to stay greener longer as temperatures drop in fall and winter. Temperatures above 65F promote best growth in both species.

Cold Hardiness

• Warm-season grasses are best grown only in the southern half of the United States. Bermuda grass survives colder winter temperatures than St. Augustine grass. Bermuda grass lawns are appropriate for areas south of southern Missouri and southeastern Virginia. St. Augustine grass is best grown farther south where winters are much milder, roughly south of a line from Red River to Montgomery, Alabama to coastal South Carolina.

Qualities

• Bermuda grass lawns demonstrate excellent drought and salt spray tolerances. The deep green leaf blades are narrow and fine textured. Considerable foot traffic doesn't damage the turf, therefore making it exceptional for use on playing fields and golf courses. Typical mowing height for Bermuda grass is low, in the 3/4- to 1 1/2-inch range. By contrast, St. Augustine grass lawns develop a coarse leaf texture with only good drought and salt spray tolerances. These lawns do not hold up well to lots of wear and are maintained at much higher lengths to maintain green color and increase resilience in drier soils. Mow St. Augustine in the 3- to 4-inch range.

Limitations

• Besides winter cold, other environmental conditions make one grass a potential better choice for your landscape and needs. While shade is never a good situation to develop a dense, healthy lawn, Bermuda grass is much less tolerant of even light shade. If your soil is plagued by nematodes, expect more harm to manifest on a Bermuda grass lawn. More frequent mowing and thatch build-up becomes more problematic with Bermuda grass, too. According to Clemson University, Bermuda grass requires a higher level of maintenance than a St. Augustine grass lawn. Expect more diseases to occur in a St. Augustine lawn, however.