Bermuda Grass vs St. Augustine Grass | Warm Season Turf Types in Texas

In Texas most residential lawns have either bermudagrass or St. Augustine grass. Both of these turf types are considered “warm season” meaning they thrive in warmer climates and perform poorly in cooler areas. Today we’re going to compare the two different types of turf to find out which one is better suited for you. Both grass types, when cared for properly, can create beautiful lawns. If you’re looking for general maintenance tips, or trying to identify which grass type you have in your lawn, this video should help.
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[@x2100]

I have St Aug at the front and Bermuda in the backyard. It keeps things interesting.

[@LawnInsider]

Which one does more encroaching in your case?

[@x2100]

Hey @@LawnInsider, love your channel too! This is the first season for the Bermuda and encroaching isn't a problem yet. I think the Bermuda will be the encroaching one, as it can creep into the St. Aug when I don't keep a very close eye on it.

[@brickrehab8074]

I put St Aug around the tree in my front yard because of a large tree and the amount of shade it has. I find that if encroaches into the Bermuda.

[@x2100]

@@brickrehab8074 now how to keep the encroachment under control 🤔 or just let it run wild?

[@brickrehab8074]

@@x2100 it’s a little game I guess. Which one will take over? If I can get my Bermuda down to 1” I wonder if the St. Aug will be able to thrive?

[@danielledegruise8307]

St. Augustine is so plushy and beautiful and nice to walk on barefoot. Don't hate me but if you look up Bermuda--some places call it a weed. Bermuda weed. 😂 But to each his own! I love love love St. Aug and I hope I eventually can get it in my front yard since I have it only in the back. My front yard looks horrible with the Bermuda. So thin and flat.

[@TexasRivermedic]

And kids can roll around on St Augustine and not itch

[@michaelw2797]

Straight to the point and direct. Amazing job.

[@amarshall621]

Awesome video- just subbed. I think I’m going to follow your advice on tearing out our st aug and going Bermuda.

[@Dlemonaid]

Thanks for the good information and getting right to the point without rambling on. I watched a few other videos that took the presenter 20 minutes for what could have been said in 10

[@LawnInsider]

Appreciate it! Thanks for dropping by!

[@shadowdrinkerx]

I live in the blistering heat of west texas, I keep my bermuda taller...around the 3 inch mark. We have to due to the amount of sun/heat we get. It does very well at length as well.

[@joesheriwirkus975]

I have Bermuda grass live in south texas I cut mine at 4 inch and got great lawn.

[@kellydragna7632]

Thanks again for the information. I live in the Los Angeles area and in my neighborhood nearly everybody has St. Augustine.

[@LawnInsider]

No problem! It can make a beautiful carpet when it’s properly maintained.

[@erics.4546]

Awesome video! I've had St A for about 10 years and we're potentially moving to a house where they are laying Bermuda sod (it's a new build). I'm excited for the change, as being in Austin and living in a corner lot, I have to water a LOT. Plus, like you, I much prefer mowing low

[@michaelzorro2738]

We had St. Aug lawn when I was younger... It was much harder to take care of... Mowering... Edging... I scalped it once a year the mess was terrible. Yes the fungi was there. We had the best lawn on Brentwood Dr. Am 70 years n retired... I would not have a St. Aug lawn in one's retirement years. Keep up the good work.

[@LawnInsider]

Thanks for watching, Michael! I had St. Augustine growing up! But at the time wasn’t as fanatical about yard work!

[@lawnpanda]

I love my TifTuf short cut front yard....and my Zoysia medium cut back yard. Kinda a nice mix of the two. Zoysia is awesome in the shade.

[@LawnInsider]

I have short Bermuda in both places. Underrated plus for short grass: easier to pick up the dog poop haha

[@josephgonzales412]

St. Augustine's other nickname is "carpet grass" and it feels like that when walked on. When younger, my kids loved its thickness and enjoyed tumbling and doing cartwheels because of its cushioning advantage. I've never had fungus, bald spots or bug infestation, but then my lawn is 25 years old. It is mowed in different directions to make it stand straight up. It tells you when its thirsty, stays beautifully green and thick all year round in South Texas. It grows well and beautifully under the shade of the Live Oak trees I have. When watered deeply, it sends down deep roots to take care of itself. Even during droughts, my lawn survives while others don't.

[@wilsonline90]

carpetgrass a different type of grass that looks like St Augustine, but it's a different species..

[@kkevinj1]

I call mine St Fungistine for sure, never thought of my grass as a carpet, Well as far as walking on it goes, it ok cut low

[@TexasRivermedic]

I’ve had St Augustine in both Texas and California and never had an issue with disease. It has always grown very well in shade with no bare spots. It will definitely tell you when it needs water and I wait for it do exactly that during times of drought or water restrictions and it looks normal the next day

[@georgeoliva8975]

I’m all in on St Augustine but moving and have Bermuda so I’ll see if I can learn to love it

[@LawnInsider]

To each their own! I think I could learn to love St. A, but i already know I love mowing low.

[@mr.gambino313]

Great video!!!

[@LawnInsider]

Thank you!

[@chesterbledsoe8196]

Im new to the lawn thing i want short bermuda but my question is if the front yard gets at least 8 to 9 hours od direct sunlight is that enough

[@kkevinj1]

Im tired of St Aug, trying out Bermuda soon, I love walking in the portions of wild Bermuda in my lawn that are cut short, the lower I cut the Bermuda, the tighter the blades get and they are much smaller, common good enough

[@kingofqueens777]

I have a mixture of St Augustine and Bermuda but I like the St Augustine grass because it’s thicker and it looks nicer so I want to get a grass seed and have it all St Augustine but I don’t think grass seed is going to convert it. I need to have it all turned over.

[@matprang4508]

So if I have both, I’ve got to pick one of the other because I’d have to raise and lower my low height all the time which sucks late to the game on this one moved into a house and it has both and I even think it’s got some zoysia as well 😢

[@firstpond]

Your poor neighbor…

[@freddyg1210]

Love your content, just subscribed. Just recently started reading up on Bermuda since my backyard is Bermuda. But it has a lot of bare spots and it is not thick at all. I live in South Texas. So my question is. I bought the seed from the big box store to overseed along with a starter fertilizer (18-24-6). Is this the right approach to get started? I always cut it at around 3-4" in height. But now I want my lawn to look green and thick like you have mentioned in your videos. I've got 2 little girls that want to run around in the yard but right now its not inviting at all with some weeds and not at all thick grass. Thanks in advance

[@LawnInsider]

Bermuda is pretty good at spreading as long as you’re not getting too much shade. I usually recommend that you avoid putting down Bermuda seed with your existing Bermuda sod, as they won’t match. If you don’t think you have any hope at all that those spots will ever fill in naturally, then seeding isn’t a bad option. As far as mowing height goes, you’ll definitely want to drop it down to get that thick, carpet like feel!

[@freddyg1210]

@@LawnInsider Thank you for your response. My back yard is all sun, the only shade is under my kids rainbow swing set. I will definitely mow short and hope it fills in. Thanks again!

[@joshuapalacio6047]

We have st augustine what's a good weed and feed and pre emergent for fall/ winter this kind of lawn

[@LawnInsider]

You can use any of the products labeled for warm season lawns that they sell at Lowe’s or Home Depot and you’ll be fine. Usually our local stores will cater to our local grass types.

[@gamekingkiler]

I like tall grass look

[@LawnInsider]

I’ve actually heard that from quite a few people. I just love walking barefoot on the low cut turf!

[@edbaldow4107]

Thanks for the video. Question to anyone who knows the answer. I just moved into a home in Houston and this is the first time we see grass coming to life. It turns out they had a mix of Bermuda and St Augustine but with Bermuda taking over about 70% of the yard. Thinking Bermuda had a bad rep, I considered killing it to leave space for St Augustine to grow. But now considering its advantages, I was thinking about keeping as is. If I let both grow together, which grass type will end up taking over my yard? Will Bermuda overtake St Augustine or vice versa? Tks.

[@edbaldow4107]

I think I just found my answer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d17PmoqtpLWnisk

[@LawnInsider]

It’s unlikely you’ll ever completely get rid of either without specific action to do so, but if you mow high consistently, the SA will do better and if you mow low consistently the Bermuda will thrive more.

[@RB-hl3ux]

Love centipede grass, but will it grow in Dallas? Thanks 😊

[@LawnInsider]

Centipede can grow in Dallas, you just won’t see as many products geared specifically for Centipede in comparison to bermuda and St. Augustine.

[@brickrehab8074]

What’s a good grass type that would blend well with the Bermuda and tolerate heavy shade?

[@LawnInsider]

Nothing is going to be perfect, but Zoysia is closer than St. Augustine.

[@randynowlin]

I scalped my st augistine down to the dirt and overseeded with brumuda, going to continue to mow low and overseed and hopefully that will do the trick cause I would hate to have to put down. Any advice?

[@LawnInsider]

You'll have to fill me in on how that goes for you! Usually folks will kill off their existing lawn before starting with a new grass type. Mowing low should help the bermuda overpower the St Aug in the long run.

[@chrismccathern4653]

Did it wotk

[@chrismccathern4653]

Work

[@SinghSingh-ci5yc]

So was your bermuda seed or sod? I know that SOD is hybrid and seed is common. previous homeowner did a mixture. I have centipede, st augustine and bermuda.

[@LawnInsider]

Mine was laid as sod. I’ve been the only owner of my home/lawn, luckily.

[@SinghSingh-ci5yc]

Yeah person who bought the home places sod, but threw seed down in areas so now I have common and hybrid mixed with the others. I’ll just be glad when I get rid of the crabgrass. Had a neighbor who wouldn’t cut their backyard allowing a jungle, so now I’ve been steadily fighting the nasty weed.

[@justonpreble3119]

Love your channel. Do you have a lawn service also? Or stick to just taking care of your yard?

[@LawnInsider]

Thanks Juston! I just work on my own lawn. I’m actually a teacher and a coach in my day job. Thanks for watching!

[@justonpreble3119]

@@LawnInsider Awesome… To bad your neighbors to the left and right haven’t jumped on the reel low mowing band wagon 😁 My 13 yr old boy is starting a mowing business because of your example in our neighborhood.

[@LawnInsider]

That is awesome to hear! Good for him! Love when young people want to start their own business.

[@drewrobinson36]

I like zoysia . Can grow in sun and shade

[@LawnInsider]

If I’m still in this house whenever those trees get big enough (assuming I don’t pull them out), I might become a zoysia man myself.

[@johnhamilton9229]

I like it short, with my rotary short is two inches without scalp. Come to Pinehurst and do a leveling video on my yard. I’ll feed ya.

[@lsa_ram5756]

I need help with my weeds in bermuda I have poa what product can I use ?

[@LawnInsider]

The heat will get it eventually. Certainty is also a good option.

[@lsa_ram5756]

@@LawnInsider Can I blanket spray or just spot treat ?

[@Masteranycraft]

Where can I get St. Augustine seeds?

[@keithmartin3750]

No contest BERMUDA !!!!

[@LawnInsider]

Haha I concur

[@liram1971]

I'm on 1/2 acre lawn fully sodded with st. Augustine. Bermuda has started to take over and 1/2 my lawn is now Bermuda. Hate it but I guess I'm a Bermuda guy now.

[@LawnInsider]

Haha welcome to the club, my friend

[@kristenhartsell6980]

What about Zoysia grass?

[@caldelt]

I'm a person with mature trees so I guess I'm going with St. Aug.

[@ronmamula6462]

Does bermuda die off in the winter like bahia grass

[@LawnInsider]

It goes dormant, but doesn’t actually die. Turns brown until spring.

[@ronmamula6462]

I live in Central Florida a little south of Orlando. Do you think it would still brown here, It rarely ever freezes here...

[@kevinisnguyen]

I've been in a new home for a year now and was following the NitroPhos fertilizing schedule for my Bermuda in Houston. Lawn was looking nice and green but I still had weeds, so recently started paying for a company to take over the fertilizing and weeding. I am still going to mow the law myself and heard that I should be doing it at least once a week? I haven't mowed in about a month since it started getting colder, but when should I start mowing again? Should I be on the lowest setting for my Ryobi mower?

[@LawnInsider]

Hey Kevin, you really don’t need to start mowing again until you start seeing some green in your lawn again. Your first mow you’ll want to scalp your lawn (lowest setting on mower) and the subsequent mows, you’ll probably want to raise it to the 2nd to lowest notch and maintain there.

[@kevinisnguyen]

@@LawnInsider Thanks! I have one other question - I have a corner of my lawn that I threw lawn clippings on thinking that it would be good as fertilizer (before I really knew anything about Bermuda), and it just killed everything in that corner. How do I get it to grow back? Is new sod the only way?

[@TheEhawk83]

You say kill St Aug grass and grow Bermuda, what should I use to kill my St Aug grass in Houston?

[@LawnInsider]

I am a bermuda guy, but I wouldn’t kill off an entire St. Augustine lawn to get there!

[@TheEhawk83]

@@LawnInsider i really don't know what it is. It looks like 2 different grasses and 1/3 weeds, and if I level my yard I am sure 1/4 my yard would be under to much dirt ti survive due to all the tree roots. I have some larger sections of bare dirt that now gets sunlight due to all the clearing of trees going on next door. What seed should I use to seed it?

[@E6ABHnavy]

My backyard has both and I want to kill the SA grass and let the Bermuda take over. How to I get rid of it without harming my Bermuda

[@4242brvrdbd]

So essentially, I just go get a tiller, order a pallet of Bermuda and roll with it?

[@freshprince1751]

Is there any way you could tell me what type of grass I have? Do you have insta page?

[@LawnInsider]

Not entirely sure I could help you, but pretty sure. Instagram page is @lawninsider.

[@gosman949]

What about Zoysia?

[@LawnInsider]

Another great grass! I’ve never personally dealt much with zoysia but it’s pretty when maintained correctly!

[@gosman949]

@@LawnInsider supposedly it is easier than St. Augustine and Bermuda to take care of!

[@BuceriasRodHardy]

BS, if you look at many KZbin videos including how I also mow, you can mow Sab Augustine grass an inch or less and it looks fantastic.

[@My-St.Bermudastine-lawn]

Once your tress grow and produce heavy shade your Bermuda will die out.

[@LawnInsider]

Unfortunately, gotta love HOA rules. Hopefully we’ve moved out by then!

[@seanhatch4425]

Zoysia is better then both...

[@LawnInsider]

Seems like a popular opinion!

[@19656prt]

Both are non native invasives.

[@jaimem35jm]

I’m allergic to Bermuda 🤬

[@yogofroyobitch7154]

Same

[@Johnnyboy200406]

If you have a lot of shade or water Bermuda grass absolutely sucks and will die! Bermuda needs full Sun at least every other day.

[@LawnInsider]

It definitely isn’t shade and cold tolerant. But aside from shade and cold, it’s probably the toughest grass species there is.

[@Johnnyboy200406]

@@LawnInsider in hot sun , there is not a more hardy grass. My eldest once left an air up 20 foot tumble track over a portion for about two weeks in July Sun. It murdered that patch , but just watering it and raking the dead thatch it grew back green in two weeks