Can Bermuda and St. Augustine Grass Grow Together?

With many grass varieties available, creating the perfect lawn requires more than simply an eye for aesthetics. The real success of a lush green expanse lies in choosing a grass type well-suited to your specific yard conditions. Factors like sun exposure, soil type, and traffic are essential considerations when selecting the right grass.

For homeowners in warm regions, such as in temperate climates like Florida, warm-season grasses like bermudagrass and St. Augustine grass are favorite options. Both are known for their drought tolerance and ability to withstand heat, and they can be conveniently established as sod or lawn grass plugs, offering quick and effective options for new lawns or repairs. Yet, despite these similarities, they have distinct differences in appearance, growth habits, and sunlight needs. These key characteristics make each grass type ideal for different settings within a yard. Here, we’ll explore what makes each grass unique, compare their performance in various conditions, and answer the question: can they coexist in the same lawn?

Overview of Bermudagrass and St. Augustine Grass

Bermudagrass Key Features

Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) is a native to Africa and has become a widely known lawn grass across the southern US. With its fine texture and dark green blades, bermudagrass provides a dense, uniform appearance, making it popular for sports fields, golf courses, and residential lawns that require durability. Bermudagrass establishes itself quickly through its vigorous spreading habits, forming a thick mat of grass resistant to wear and tear.

A warm-season grass, bermudagrass thrives on a minimum of 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. This grass doesn't tolerate shade well and is best suited for open, sunny areas. Its fast growth rate can be attributed to its extensive root system, which spreads above ground through stolons and below ground through rhizomes, helping it rapidly fill bare patches and recover from high foot traffic.

Bermudagrass is also extremely drought-tolerant. It goes dormant during dry spells to conserve water and returns to its green state when adequate moisture is available again. Its deep root system allows it to access moisture deeper into the soil, making it well-suited to sandy soils that dry out more quickly.

St. Augustine Grass Key Features

St. Augustine Grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), another warm-season favorite, is a coarse-bladed, dark green grass known for its wide blades and thick, carpet-like appearance. Its dense growth provides an attractive look that also naturally prevents weed growth. St. Augustine grass is recommended for more shaded lawns, as it is considerably more shade-tolerant than Bermudagrass. This grass variety requires just 4-6 hours of sunlight in partial shade to maintain its lush appearance, which makes it great for yards with a mix of sunny and shady areas.

Like bermudagrass, St. Augustine grass spreads quite aggressively, effectively filling bare patches. This quick growth helps maintain a uniform lawn, although it may require more frequent mowing during peak growing seasons to keep it at optimal heights. While not as drought-tolerant as bermudagrass, St. Augustine grass performs well in moderately dry conditions with regular watering. For a more in-depth comparison of these two popular grasses, check out our detailed guide on bermuda vs. St. Augustine grass.

Bermudagrass vs. St. Augustine Grass: Which is Better?

When deciding between bermudagrass and St. Augustine grass for your lawn, the best option ultimately depends on your needs, climate, and yard conditions. While these grasses are popular warm-season varieties that thrive in sunny and warm climates, each has unique characteristics that make it better suited to particular environments and uses.

Heat and Drought

Bermudagrass has a significant advantage in terms of heat tolerance. It can withstand high temperatures and prolonged dry spells. St. Augustine grass, while moderately drought-tolerant, does better with consistent watering and may display signs of stress without access to adequate moisture.

High Traffic

Bermudagrass is also a resilient option for lawns experiencing frequent foot traffic, such as from children, pets, or equipment. Its vigorous growth and ability to self-repair make it excellent for high-traffic areas. Nevertheless, St. Augustine grass can also tolerate moderate wear and is better suited for lawns with lighter activity.

Shade Tolerance

Bermudagrass performs best in full sun and may struggle to establish in areas with shade. Meanwhile, St. Augustine grass is much more versatile regarding sunlight requirements. It’s shade-tolerant and performs well in areas with partial sun exposure, which makes it an attractive option for lawns with mixed sun and shade.

Cold Sensitivity

Bermudagrass and St. Augustine grass are warm-season grasses, meaning they will enter dormancy during winter, particularly in regions that experience cooler temperatures. During this dormancy period, they may turn brown, losing their aesthetic appeal until warmer spring temperatures return.

Maintenance Needs

Both grasses require a specific approach to stay healthy. Bermudagrass is best maintained at 1-1.5 inches height, while St. Augustine grass can be kept longer at 2.5-4 inches. Both require approximately 1-1.5 inches of water per week and fertilizing during the growing season will help improve their overall appearance and health. Using a balanced fertilizer will support steady growth and help each grass type withstand stress like drought and traffic.

Can You Mix Bermudagrass and St. Augustine Grass?

Combining bermudagrass and St. Augustine grass in a single lawn may seem a clever way to leverage each of their strengths. However, this mix often presents more challenges than advantages. Bermudagrass is particularly aggressive and can quickly spread and dominate areas where it's not wanted, potentially overtaking the other grass. The result can be an uneven and inconsistent lawn with mixed colors and textures.

Additionally, each grass type has unique maintenance requirements. Bermudagrass needs frequent mowing at a lower height, while St. Augustine grass is kept taller. These different mowing heights and maintenance practices can complicate lawn care, making it difficult to achieve a uniform look.

The Better Approach to Planting Bermuda and St. Augustine Grass Together

Instead of attempting to mix the grasses within a single area, consider planting them in separate sections based on their growing requirements. For example, use St. Augustine grass in shaded areas and bermudagrass in sunny spots. If you prefer to stick with one type of grass for your lawn, adjusting environmental factors to support it can be helpful. For example, trim nearby trees or shrubs to increase sun exposure for a bermuda lawn.

Transform Your Lawn with SodPods Grass Plugs

For homeowners looking to establish or repair lawns, St. Augustine and Bermuda grass plugs offer a convenient and effective solution. These small sections of mature grass come with fully established roots, allowing them to settle and spread faster than starting from grass seed. Grass plugs are also excellent for experimenting with bermudagrass and St. Augustine grass in different lawn areas, letting you assess which type performs best under specific conditions.

When planting grass plugs, products like NutriPod grass fertilizer give your new lawn a boost, supporting faster growth and strong root establishment. With a slow-release formula, NutriPod provides essential nutrients without the risks of over-fertilizing and nutrient leaching, allowing your lawn to fill in more effectively.

Key Takeaways

Bermudagrass and St. Augustine grass have unique strengths that make them well-suited to specific conditions. While bermudagrass stands out in sunny areas with heavy foot traffic, St. Augustine grass is a reliable option for shadier areas. Instead of mixing them in a single lawn, plant each in areas that cater to their strengths. Using grass plugs to test each type in different parts of the yard allows you to find the right fit without a significant commitment to full sod installation.

Ultimately, the best approach to a lush lawn is to select the grass type best suited to your yard’s conditions. With thoughtful planning and care, you can enjoy a resilient, green lawn that thrives year-round.