Andy Gibson. But now knowing that you have plenty of knowledge of the two, I believe you can make the right decision. Centipedegrass is often called the lazy mans grass since it has low mowing, watering, and fertilizer requirements. How can I identify if I have centipede grass? So it grows extremely rapidly and can often take over an area. However, there are some notable differences between the two: Bermuda grass can withstand drought, unlike Centipede grass. The turf grows and spreads fast, needing mowing after 5-7 days. Bermuda Grass requires about one to 1.4 inches of water. Fast-growing with a dark blue or gray-green coloring, Bermuda grass is capable of providing a luxuriant turf. It also doesnt require daily watering. This is why it is not a choice for people living in the northern regions of America. Because of its deep fibrous roots can tolerate scorching and dry conditions, thus the most drought-tolerant warm-season grass. Centipede has a creeping stolon from which new roots and shoots develop, thus spreading. Centipede and Bermuda grass are two common turfs that can become stunning lawns in the right circumstances. Therefore, it is less than ideal for very shady areas or yards. Which is better, Bermuda grass or centipede grass? Bermudagrass advantages include: Widely adapted Tolerant to a wide variety of growing sites Heat and drought tolerant Aggressive growth Very few pest issues High-quality turfgrass that performs very well Moderate level of maintenance to achieve best results Tall Fescue advantages include: Grows well in shaded areas Unless it is completely removed, which is difficult, Bermuda grass will keep coming back. Apply nitrogen-rich fertilizer during these times and those times only! The thick rhizomes, which are also present in other invasive grass species, allow them to propagate and seed easily through the soil while its stolons help it creep on the ground. However, it doesnt recover quickly from injuries or high foot traffic. When youre deciding what grass to create your lawn with, there are two main things to consider: traffic and climate. Centipede grass is slow-growing and does not recover quickly from wear. Uses of Centipede Grass vs Bermuda Grass. Spectracide vs Roundup Which is the Best Weed Killer? These include the level of soil acidity required for each species, their cold tolerance, and their ability to recover from stress. This makes it perfect for people with tight schedules. Your email address will not be published. What does Centipede grass look like? Turf species all come with pros and cons; Bermuda grass (Cynodon spp.) Copyright 2023 Lawn Model | Powered by [Chris Wheeler, Centipede Grass Vs Bermuda Grass (Comparison, Pros & Cons), Pros and cons for Centipede vs Bermuda grass. When we talk about traffic, we are really asking what your lawn is used for. Bermuda grass is resilient, which means that it doesnt have too many pressing needs other than mowing and keeping it trimmed back. Meanwhile, it propagates through its stolons and rhizomes that are continuously creeping on and beneath the ground. centipede grass) require certain growing conditions to thrive, but it could be a great option for withstanding your dog's urine. St. Augustine grass and centipede grass are two of the most common warm-season grasses. Keep the soil moist as your centipede grass sprouts to ensure that your lawn grows evenly and beautifully. Centipede grass is a vibrant, light green grass with slim blades and a fine texture. Centipede grass grows best in sandy soils with a pH level between 4.5 and 6.0 (source). Bermudagrass needs full sun to thrive and doesnt withstand shade. It also tolerates heat and sunlight effectively, thus, it is very suitable for warm and sunny regions. This thrives in full sun. Meanwhile, fertilizing can be done once every spring and once every fall. Centipede grass doesnt thrive in well-fertilized soil, and it needs acidic soil to thrive. Centipede grass and bermuda grass grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 to 10. Bermuda grass is a go-to choice for homeowners because of its popularity. You can still mix others grass types with centipedesfor a lush lawn. The main differences between Centipede grass vs Bermuda Grass are: It will take up to 21 days for Bermuda Grass to germinate, whereas it will take Centipede grass up to 28 days. Bermuda lawns should be dethatched when its thatch grows over inch. Centipede grass does not like alkaline soil. That said, if youre using it to replace your current lawn grass, you may need to take some extra steps to prepare the soil. The runners or stolons lie laterally close to the earth from the parent plant. It is also widely used in Kansas and is presently gaining widespread acceptance in Missouri. Paul has a two-acre yard on red clay soil in Southeast Texas. This is why they are perfect for dry seasons. Thriving Yard is an affiliate for companies including Amazon Associates and earns a commission on qualifying purchases. (Answered!). It can survive with little or no fertilizer application, reducing costs, time, and effort. Once all the grass is gone, its time to add your new plants. Theres a good chance you may have to mow more often and work harder to keep the grass from spreading beyond the boundaries of your lawn. Bermuda grass is very aggressive in nature. Centipedegrass is prone to weeds when young, while bermudagrass resists weeds. Centipedegrass is less durable, while bermudagrass is more durable. This grass species is extremely high-maintenance and requires a lot of nutrients. If youre in a state that has extreme cold or wet seasons, you should remember to not sow during those times. BEST BERMUDA GRASS: Scotts Turf Builder Grass . Celebration Bermudagrass easily stands out from other popular bermuda grasses on the market. This article breaks down the centipede vs bermuda grass debate. I write about everything about lawn care and gardening and the dread-it-but-still-need-to-do-it chores around the yard, like cleaning out the gutter guards. However, each grass . The main difference between centipede grass and St Augustine is that the Centipede grass is slightly smaller and has pointed ends. Despite their similar outdoor landscaping use, they give different touches depending on their color, densities, and maintenance level. Add actual nitrogen fertilizer to your soil during tilling for the best results. If it looks bare or scalped, reset it to the previous height. As described earlier, Bermuda grass naturally has a green (darkish to be specific) color but when exposed to cool climates, it adds a greyish tint to the leaves. Bermuda lawns are popular in Americas Southern states. Centipedegrass, on the other hand, is almost always apple-green, has larger blades than bermudagrass and doesn't grow in as dense. For the best growth, it needs at least 6 hours of full, direct sunlight every day, so make sure to consider how much sunlight your area gets. These signs of water stress can show as the fading of the color of grass or it appearing wilted. It can get damaged easily and is slow to recover. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Not drought tolerant. It is not only drought and heat-tolerant, but it can also withstand heavy traffic. St. Augustine grass works great to grow in the shade, while Bermuda is very dependant on getting full sun hours to grow strong and lush. Centipede and Bermuda grass are two popular perennial lawn grass types for warm climates, but they have some key differences. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages that may or may not be applicable to your situation. He specializes in lawn care and has helped hundreds of his clients get as close to the perfect lawn as possible. Meanwhile, its rhizomes spread from under the surface and basically spreads out roots for the grass. Here are the benefits of Bermuda grass: It quickly grows from seed or sod into a dense lawn that is capable of out-competing weeds and is highly tolerant of insect and disease pests. This means that if your lawn has plenty of trees and shady spots, your Bermuda grass will likely develop dead patches and bare spots. Where the rainfall is below 20 inches, irrigation can be introduced to supplement it. The Ultimate Lawn Care Calendar Month-By-Month Guide to a Beautiful Lawn, Types of Lawn Fertilizers How to Choose the Right One, Types of Grass Seed: How to Choose the Right One. Both Bermuda grass and Centipede grass can be considered durable since they can withstand high temperatures. This grass has hairy or sparsely hairy dark green leaf blades that form a dense turf. This dormancy is its way of protecting itself and it causes the grass to change color from green to greyish-green. You might have seen some of your neighbours use Bermuda grass on their lawn and got mesmerized. The optimum soil temperature for this grass is 80oF. Planting centipede grass involved a fair amount of labor but once its already established, it then only needs little maintenance. Should You Water Your Lawn After Applying Fungicide? This is aside from the fact that Bermuda grass grows faster than Centipede grass. A yearly total of 1 pound per 1,000 square feet is all thats required. Thank you for reading! Should I Bag My Grass Clippings If I Have Weeds? Which Plants Keep Copperhead Snakes Away? When it comes to nitrogen fertilizers, you should only apply a yearly treatment of 0.5 to 1 lb (226.8 to 454 g) of actual nitrogen in the early summer once your lawn turns green. Once planted, this thick-bladed, lush green grass takes solid root and spreads easily, covering a large landscape evenly with ease. But they grow up to 6 inches long. Centipede grass needs to be watered frequently for the best results. If a soil test indicates that the pH is beyond the limits for Bermuda grass (5.8 to 7.0), you can use phosphorus to raise the pH or sulfur to lower it. Centipede may be a slow grower, but it is aggressive to surrounding plants. Bermudagrass has high fertilizer requirements. The leaf blades of Bermuda are dense, dark green, and fine-textured, forming a beautiful carpet-like appearance when grown on a lawn. In fact, the need for well-draining soil is one reason centipede is prevalent in areas that have sandy or loose soil. Centipedegrass spreads by stolons, while bermudagrass spreads by rhizomes, stolons, and seeds. Conversely, bermudagrass requires full sun to survive. Benefits of Each Grass Type Bermudagrass establishes very quickly, making it ideal for homeowners wanting a quick lawn without the wait of other species. It would still do well in partial shade, but 6 hours of full sunlight would bring the best out of it. What are the pros and cons of centipede grass? I thought centipede would keep bermuda grass . The main question of homeowners that are planning to have a lawn: What grass should I use? Well, relatively, yes. 4:17 pm Andy Gibson. See Can You Mulch Centipede Grass? However, centipede grass can tolerate partial shade and needs significantly fewer nutrients. Even then, its crucial not to add actual nitrogen to your grass in the winter since it could kill your grass completely (source). Its the perfect temperature to overseed its grass seeds. It has a deep root system and high tolerance to foot traffic, making it fun to do activities on. Its prime soil conditions are high in potassium and iron yet low in phosphorus. Yes, it can withstand heat and dryness, but it doesnt mean that if you dont need to water it. It enters into dormancy around 50 degrees and can sustain severe damage below 30 degrees. One of the best qualities of centipede turf is its ability to grow in soil that isnt particularly fertile. Another feature of this type is its rough stolons that creep on the surface. This grass species is extremely high-maintenance and requires a lot of . Apart from some hairs, Bermuda grass leaves are relatively smooth. Additionally, it cannot survive in alkaline soil. Since it can also propagate through seeds, it found its way to the US as early as 1916. Written by southernmedia September 30, 2020 During summer, you should provide 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week to keep it from drying. It wears easily in heavy foot traffic areas. The position of the Hallucigenia's head puzzled scientists for several years. It does not grow well in hot, dry areas and will die if not supplied with adequate moisture. This warm-season turf requires 6 hours of sunlight per day. It should then be left until its leaves start to curl and footprints become more pronounced on the turf. You can learn more about this here. When necessary, apply less than 2 pounds of nitrogen fertilizer per 1000 square feet of lawn annually in spring and fall. Once established in the lawn, Bermuda grass can endure heavy foot traffic while Centipede can only take lighter as it can be harmed easily. Main Differences Between Bermuda Grass and Centipede Grass Bermuda grass can tolerate high foot traffic while Centipede grass can't. Centipede grass can experience an iron deficiency in alkaline soil while Bermuda can tolerate growing in extreme soil conditions such as high pH and salinity. Centipede grass grows best as a lawn in areas with a low pH and sandy, poor soil. Centipede grass is a poor cold-tolerant grass and hence suffers from winter injury in snowy conditions. Bermuda grass also grows aggressively, often becoming difficult to contain around flowerbeds, walkways, or driveways. During the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn, you might notice an unsightly brown tinge to parts of your lawn.Or maybe even all of it!Either way, its not the most encouraging sight My name's Gibson. Keep in mind that Bermuda grass doesnt tolerate shade. This means that if you hate watering your lawn or live somewhere where the humidity is low, Bermuda grass is an ideal choice for your yard. However, its resilience can make it hard to maintain. Bermudagrass leaves are dark green, dense, and fine-textured, while centipedegrass leaves are wide, yellow-green, and coarse-textured. Bermuda has a slightly higher degree of cold tolerance compared to centipede grass. Its leaf blades are 15 to 30 mm long, coarse-textured, and yellow-green. Bermudagrass is a fast-spreading sod-forming perennial grass native to Africa but widespread across tropical and subtropical regions. Centipedegrass can quickly wear if exposed to high foot traffic or has excess moisture. This is the reason it is the turf of choice for golf courses and sports grounds in the American South. It spreads easily via seeds and stolons and forms a thick mat of grass across the lawn. We do not specifically market to children under 13. Meanwhile, Bermuda needs a soil temperature of 80oF to grow actively to produce a dense and lush lawn. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Unfortunately, it does not tolerate cold weather well. Dethatch your centipede lawn when the thatch is thicker than inch. Like centipede grass, bermuda does not tolerate cold weather well and should not be planted in areas where temperatures dive below 25 degrees. So, centipede grass flourishes in humid coastal states like South Carolina, Florida, Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, and other areas near the coast (source). However, if you get a lot of use out of your lawn and you dont mind the extra watering, then Bermuda grass is for you. Nevertheless, given the right conditions, Centipede grass is still a low-maintenance grass you can rely on. However, if you live in an area with high humidity and plenty of rainfall, you can water slightly less. Happy gardening! If the stolons stay frozen for a prolonged period, your grass will die. So while they thrive in similar climates, they do not work well side by side. If you are looking for primarily decorative grass that is not used consistently, then Centipede grass is an ideal choice. It can withstand high levels of heat and even drought conditions. As a result, it can grow in soils with a pH ranging from 5.8 to 7.0, If your soil is too acidic, you may need to add lime to make it more alkaline. Most of us love long hot summers, where we can get our vitamin D fix, and enjoy barbecue and pool season to the max.I wish I could say the same for our lawns.Blazing sun, coupled with little Dormant Grass vs Dead Grass How to Tell the Difference & What to Do? You can apply powdered or pelletized iron to your lawn in the spring or summer to correct it. However, key differences do exist between them. The downfall of Bermuda grass is shade and standing water, so you must ensure that your whole lawn is well-drained and in full sun. While heat tolerant, it is not drought tolerant and requires regular watering. Large patches and spot diseases are also rampant. Ultimate Weed Identification Guide With, Best Fertilizer for Zoysia Grass How To Do It, Centipede Grass Pros and Cons When Its Good, Centipede vs Bermuda Grass Comparison Chart. Bermuda grass is fast to cultivate because it can be planted via seeds. The only way you can go wrong on this one is if youll give it too much water. Which begs the question: Bermuda vs centipede grass? In contrast, the leaves of centipede grass are light to medium green in color. With its solid rhizomes and stolons, this tough grass spreads and endures very well, which is why it is one of the most resilient grasses out there. Both types of grass can be suitable for your lawn but choose the one that is more suitable for your time, energy, and resources. Please read our affiliatesdisclosurepage to find out more. Lets look at these differences in detail. Another advantage of using Bermuda grass is its adaptability to soil conditions. Centipede grass is a low-maintenance grass, while Bermuda needs minimal oversight. It may be propagated by plugs, seed, sprigs, or sod. It also needs high fertilizer application when it is actively growing. To keep your centipede grass from getting patchy or leggy, you should keep it short. For more information, check out our Centipede Grass Pros and Cons Article. Centipedes withstand cold above 5 F but will do better under direct sunlight with light shade and at least 40 inches of annual rainfall. This variety of warm-season grass, also nicknamed lazy mans grass, provides a thick turf. Colder climates are not suggested for centipede grass, as extended freezing or frigid temperatures can severely damage the grass. Because it easily breaks, its mostly decorative grass in low-traffic areas. And Centipede is the slowest growing grass that has low, moderate tolerance to cold weather. Ultimately, the best grass for your yard depends upon your soil, shade, and climate. Signs of Lawn Heat Stress & How to Treat It? Soil pH kits are widely available in the market if you need to test the pH of your lawn. It requires more acidic soil compared to most types of grass out there and will not grow in alkaline soil. This is by applying soil pH-lowering additives. Bermuda grass is actually the least shade-tolerant variety of warm-season grass. 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