Bermuda or St. Augustine grass?

[Anne_in_VA]

We're getting our yard tilled and regraded and have gotten 3 quotes for the work.  We've been asking for quotes on Bermuda sod, but the last contractor suggested we go with St. Augustine rather than Bermuda as St. Augustine requires less water after its established, requires less mowing and fertilizer,  is less prone to weeds coming in and doesn't creep into flower beds etc as much as other grasses.

One contractor doesn't use St. Augustine at all, and the third one hasn't quoted it yet but we've asked him to.  It appears that St. Augustine is more expensive than fescue or Bermuda, but that's not really a concern at this time.  I really want to get the best for our area and lawn.

DH and I are busy, what with work, family, church and other activities so we don't really have the time or inclination to spend a lot of time on taking care of grass and I don't want to hire a company to do it either.

We're in SE VA which is growing zone 8a.  

So, what do you think?  What has been your experience with Bermuda and/or St. Augustine? Which would you recommend and why?  

[zibazinski]

St Augustine is a hardy grass but it feels and looks like crabgrass. I hate it but it makes sense.

[Tennesseer]

How much of the grass will be under trees/receive shade, Anne_in_VA?

[gooddecisions]

I wouldn't choose Bermuda because it turns whitish/strawlike all winter. It looks dead half the year, unless there is a hybrid that doesn't go through that. Or i suppose you could overseed every year to avoid it, but that's not low maintenance anymore. Also you better be sure it gets full sun or it would like terrible even in the green months.

If you have neighboring yards, they may not like it spreading to their yards, I know I wouldn't because of the deathlike appearance. 

[zibazinski]

Have you thought of ground cover as opposed to grass?

[Anne_in_VA]

We have a very sunny yard with very little shade.  We have a black walnut tree in one corner, and another small, slow growing tree near the fence, but other than that, no shade. We have over a 6k of yard not includung, so I don't think ground cover would work.  Also, we're in coastal VA and have clay and sandy soil with a high water table.  Some areas of our yard are just clay below the topsoil and others are very sandy.  Not sure why the difference.

DH is leaning towards St. Augustine, but asked me you ask you guys what you think and why.  I know I've seen the Bermuda grass lawns and seen  how they turn brown as soon as it gets cool, but I'm just not sure. 

[gooddecisions]

I am in Virginia too. Bermuda isn't a common selection other than maybe a golf course. But my friend had just bought a new house and had a house warming in April. Her whole lawn looked like it was killed and then I realized it was Bermuda. Since it was April, every other lawn was lush green (except the patches where the bermuda had spread to neighboring yards)and hers was the eye sore. It wasn't until May that it finally turned green again and then by November it was brown again. I suspect they will want it replaced. Nobody wants to have the ugly yard.

[Blonde Granny]

St.augustine takes a lot of water.....lots and lots of water.  Bermuda will spread on its own and goes where it wants. I can't stand eith of them.

[gooddecisions]

I would add, that Bermuda is fine if it is common in your area. It is not common in my area, which is why I associate it as an invasive, ugly, hard to kill weed and not grass. If you are in a neighborhood, just don't be the outlier.

[Anne_in_VA]

Thans for the info gooddecisions.  We're in a neighborhood and I haven't noticed many bermuda grass lawns that I remember.  Most lawns are green or greenish brown in the winter, so I think they're either St. Augustine or fescue.

More to think about.

[gooddecisions]

In central va, we turn irrigation on for 15 min in the early morning, 3 days a week in July and August. It is green and beautiful with minimal effort year round. I don't know what kind we have though. I am sure whatever is most common.

[Anne_in_VA]

Gooddecisions - what do you have in your yard?  I'm about 7 miles from the ocean, so salt isn't a problem.  

[Deleted]

I "inherited" Bermuda grass when I bought my house. I don't have an issue with it, probably because I don't know anything different. When it's not cut too low and mostly weed free, it's very pretty to me. Not cutting it low is suppose to help prevent weed growth, but I just like the way it looks. I'm in the south, and it does need to be mowed weekly during the summer. If I mow it myself, I tend to get fewer weeds. When I use a service, I tend to get abundant weeds. 

Ive only ever watered it regularly during one particularly dry summer in over 10 years. It does turn brown over the winter, but so do most yards here. In spring, any weeds in my yard green up before the grass does.

[Deleted]

Jun 19, 2017 8:12:24 GMT -5 gooddecisions said:

I would add, that Bermuda is fine if it is common in your area. It is not common in my area, which is why I associate it as an invasive, ugly, hard to kill weed and not grass. If you are in a neighborhood, just don't be the outlier.

That's the attitude here in the Midwest. Too bad-it thrives here!

[Tiny]

Jun 19, 2017 5:54:51 GMT -5 gooddecisions said:

I wouldn't choose Bermuda because it turns whitish/strawlike all winter. It looks dead half the year, unless there is a hybrid that doesn't go through that. Or i suppose you could overseed every year to avoid it, but that's not low maintenance anymore. Also you better be sure it gets full sun or it would like terrible even in the green months.

If you have neighboring yards, they may not like it spreading to their yards, I know I wouldn't because of the deathlike appearance. 

As an aside: one side of my back yard is probably some sort of Bermuda grass - I have no idea what it is - I call it Lazarus Grass cause it comes back from the dead.  I kind of like it.  It dies (turns brown) every fall  and then springs back to life (turns green and lush) every spring. It's kind of "invasive" though - no weeds grow in it - not even dandalions ... and it keeps trying to take over the flower beds.   I kind of wish the rest of the yard had this grass - the other side of the sidewalk is just grass grass with clover, creeping Charlie, violets and a couple of other weeds all battling for supremacy.   The Lazarus Grass side of the yard is ONLY Lazarus grass.   I do nothing - no weed and feed no fertilizer. 

 

[WholeLottaNothin]

I had no idea there was this much to know about grass

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

We have fescue in the summer and rye in the winter.