Bermuda vs St. Augustine: Difference and Comparison

What is Bermuda?

Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) is a heat-season perennial grass recognised for its nice texture, vibrant, inexperienced colour, and strong increase pattern. Native to Africa, it has grown to be one of the most popular turfgrasses internationally because of its extremely good adaptability to heat climates.

Bermuda grass’s standout capabilities are its high-quality heat tolerance and drought resistance. It prospers in warm, arid conditions and can maintain its lush look even during extended durations of excessive temperatures. This makes it a preferred preference for lawns, sports activities, fields, golf courses, and other excessive-traffic areas in regions with scorching summers.

Bermuda grass spreads hastily through each rhizome and stolons, growing a dense and resilient turf. Its capability to get better speedy from pressure or damage, along with foot site visitors or mowing, makes it a preferred option for high-use areas. Additionally, it is perfect for areas with restrained water resources due to its low water necessities as soon as it is installed.

However, Bermuda grass does have some concerns. It can be invasive and might encroach on neighbouring areas if no longer properly managed. It also tends to go dormant and flip brown in less warm temperatures, which a few house owners locate much less aesthetically pleasing for winter months.

What is St. Augustine?

St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a warmth-season turfgrass seen for its lush and thick growth, making it a popular preference for lawns, parks, and golfing guides, specifically in areas with heat, humid climates. Native to the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean place, it has gained popularity due to its ability to thrive in coastal regions and its attractive dark green shade.

One of St. Augustine grass’s one-of-a-kind functions is its big, coarse-textured blades, which form a dense carpet-like turf whilst nicely maintained. It is coloration-tolerant as compared to other heat-season grasses, making it suitable for lawns with partial colour or in regions with moderate humidity.

St. Augustine grass is fairly drought-tolerant; however, it requires greater water than Bermuda grass to hold its lush appearance. It can deal with salt spray and is normally used in coastal areas close to the ocean, making it a famous preference for seaside houses.

While it is able to tolerate slight foot site visitors, St. Augustine grass isn’t always as resilient to heavy use as Bermuda grass. It has a slower growth rate and may take longer to recover from damage.

Overall, St. Augustine grass is a remarkable preference for residence proprietors looking for an attractive, shade-tolerant grass variety in heat and coastal regions. Proper irrigation and maintenance are vital for preserving it wholesome and vibrant, making it a favoured preference for the ones inclined to invest in garden care in exchange for its lush, deep, green look.

Difference Between Bermuda and St. Augustine

1. The appearance of Bermuda grass is vibrant green with dense and fine texture, whereas, on the other hand, the appearance of St. Augustine is dark green with broad and coarse texture.
2. The growth pattern of Bermuda is similar to rhizomatous and stoloniferous, which happens to spread aggressively. At the same time, the growth pattern of St. Augustine is similar to stoloniferous, which happens to spread moderately.
3. The climate tolerance of Bermuda is that it only grows in warm and arid regions and is drought-resistant. In contrast, the climate tolerance of St. Augustine is that it grows in humid regions and is best for coastal areas.
4. Bermuda is not shade tolerant and requires full sun to grow. While on the other hand, St. Augustine requires shade to grow.
5. Bermuda is highly invasive. In contrast, St. Augustine is moderately invasive.

Comparison Between Bermuda and St. Augustine

Parameter of Comparison	Bermuda	St. Augustine
Scientific Name	Cynodon dactylon	Stenotaphrum secundatum
Appearance	Vibrant green with a dense and fine texture	Dark green with a broad and coarse texture
Growth Pattern	Similar to rhizomatous and stoloniferous that spreads aggressively	Similar to stoloniferous that spreads moderately
Climate Tolerance	Grows in warm and arid regions and is drought-resistant	Grows in humid regions and is best for coastal areas
Shade Tolerance	They require full sun	They require shade
Invasion Tendency	High	Moderate

References

1. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1065657X.2007.10702306
2. https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.2135/cropsci1996.0011183x003600030028x

Last Updated : 13 February, 2024