There are many species of grass, but which type is best for your lawn depends on where you live.
The most popular types of grasses in America are Kentucky bluegrass and Bermuda Grass. Bluegrass thrives in cooler climates, while Bermuda thrives in warmer climates.
This blog post will discuss the differences between Kentucky bluegrass and Bermuda Grass. Which variety would work better for you?
What is Bermuda Grass?
Bermuda grass is a warm-season grass that grows well in all Southeastern states. It is drought tolerant and has a low water requirement, making it a good choice for the xeric landscape.
This grass can be grown in full sun or partial shade. It is best to plant it in areas with afternoon shade, especially if you live in an area of the country where summers are hot and humid. The grass will grow more slowly under these conditions, but it will still grow well.
Why should you plant Bermuda Grass
It is a low growing grass that is great for lawns and golf courses. It stays green year round, especially in the south where it gets hot. It grows well in poor soil conditions. It does not need to be mowed as often as other grasses.
Bermuda Grass vs Kentucky Bluegrass
Bermuda grass and Kentucky bluegrass are two of the most popular choices for lawns, but which one is better suited for your home?
Here are 5 reasons you should choose bermuda grass over kentucky bluegrass:
1. Drought Tolerance
Bermudagrass is much more drought tolerant than bluegrass. It has a deeper root system and does not need as much water to survive. This means that it will be able to survive in areas that have low levels of rainfall, and will also be able to tolerate periods of time without any watering at all. Bluegrass on the other hand needs regular watering especially during the hot summer months or it will die out quickly.
2. Heat Tolerance
Bermudagrass is much more heat tolerant than Kentucky bluegrass. This makes it ideal for areas where temperatures can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit regularly during the summer months, like Texas and Arizona for example. Bluegrass on the other hand cannot tolerate high heat levels so it is not recommended for these types of regions unless you plan on using a lot of irrigation to keep it alive.
3. Growing Season
Bermudagrass has a much longer growing season than bluegrass which means that you can get two cuttings per year from your lawn instead of just one with bluegrass. The first cutting usually occurs in late spring, and the second comes around in mid-summer before temperatures start to cool down again for fall. Bluegrass on the other hand only grows during springtime when temperatures are cooler, then dies out until next spring when it starts growing again once more if conditions are favorable enough for it to do so (temperature being one of them).
4. Seasonal Appearance
Bermudagrass stays green throughout most of the year unlike Kentucky bluegrass which turns brown during winter months due to lack of sunlight exposure from less daylight hours available at this time of year (especially in northern regions). This makes Bermuda grass an excellent choice for people who want their lawns to look green all year long even though they may have snow on them during winter months!
5. Ease of Planting
You can install bermuda grass yourself without hiring a professional landscaper or contractor because its installation process is fairly simple compared to installing Kentucky bluegrass seed which is highly technical and requires specialized equipment that most homeowners don’t have access to!
Choosing Kentucky BlueGrass Over Bermuda Grass
Here are 5 reasons you should choose kentucky bluegrass over bermuda grass:
1. Kentucky bluegrass is more tolerant of shade
Bermuda grass is a warm season grass and does not tolerate shade very well. It will often turn brown or yellow when shaded by trees or other plants.
Kentucky bluegrass can handle some shade, but it performs best in full sun. It also requires less water than bermuda grass so you can water less frequently and still keep it looking good.
2. Kentucky bluegrass looks better longer into the fall season
Bermudas are notorious for turning brown quickly after the first frost hits in the fall because they don’t have any cold tolerance, but kentucky bluegrass can withstand temperatures as low as 10°F (-12°C). This means that your lawn will look great right through to the end of the year without any special care!
3. More varieties available for kentucky bluegrass vs bermuda grass
Bermuda grass is a hybridized variety of buffalograss, so there are not many varieties available to choose from. There are several types of kentucky bluegrass, though, that you can choose from. The most common is the “tall fescue” variety which is a little bit hardier than the “fine fescue” variety and has a finer texture.
4. Kentucky bluegrass requires less maintenance than bermudagrass
Mowing height for bermuda grass should be kept at 1 ½ inches or lower to prevent scalping (lawn damage caused by mowing too short) in the hot summer months. Mowing height for kentucky bluegrass can be higher (2-3 inches) and still look good without causing scalping. This means you can spend less time mowing your lawn!
5. Kentucky bluegrass looks better when fertilized more frequently than bermuda grass
Fertilizing kentucky bluegrass every 2 weeks during the growing season will help it stay green longer into the fall season and keep it looking lush all year round. Fertilizing bermuda grass only once per month will make it brown quickly after a frost hits because it doesn’t have any cold tolerance.
FAQs
Can you mix Bermuda with Kentucky bluegrass?
Yes, Bermuda and bluegrass can be mixed. The bluegrass is a slow-growing grass that will eventually overtake the Bermuda. It is best to mix about 25% of bluegrass with the Bermuda.
Is Bermuda grass same as bluegrass?
No. Bermuda grass is not the same as bluegrass. Bluegrass does not like hot weather and is more common in the northern states.